NBA PLAYOFF TIME......................................2023

My lines .......................

Nuggets -6.47 over Lakers

Nuggets -3.03 over Lakers ...... After trades and final 22 games

Celtics -11.43 over Heat

Celtics off 2 ATS wins and including a big 24 pt win. Heat off ,2 ATS losses,better spot to back the Heat ATS.

We know the Heat are better then the PR gives them credit, 3 pts better puts the line fairly close, they are easily 3 pts better likely more.

At this point I'd lean the Heat ATS game 1, they should get at least 1 ATS win in games 1 and 2.

Celtics should win this series no doubt. I like a Celtics/Lakers final.

Crazy but it could be a 7 seed VS 8 seed final, not very likely though.

Lakers to win series over Nuggets +145 --- 1 unit

Why? The Nuggets are 37-4 at home this season with Nikola Jokic in the lineup. They're 6-0 at home in the playoffs winning by an average of 14 points per game. The Lakers are 2-4 in the playoffs on the road with all 4 losses being non-competitive. They don't seem to have what it takes to upset the Nuggets at Ball Arena, but then again I didn't think that any team in this year's playoff field would.

The last time the Jokic-led Nuggets lost a home game they really wanted to win was more than five months ago. They lost a couple home games late in the season to the Bulls and Nets, but by then they'd already built a huge lead over the second place Grizzlies.

The Nuggets went 92 days without losing a home game with Jokic in the lineup, from December 6th to March 8th. Did no one notice that?

Will you become a Nuggets believer in The Finals?

@MrBator

 No, Nuggets could of easily lost a big lead in game 1. 

Bob oh boy, Lakers coming back after being down big, geez, they could of, would of, should of won game 1.

Not the best result for me to play LA tonight.

LA won ATS on official closing line, I never did check the line later in the day but had I known it went to -7 that's a big line movement I would of taken LA +7.

Covers has -7.5 in Nuggets game .

With LA covering they are now off 3 ATS wins, I like LA to win game 2 SU but don't like to back teams off 3 ATS wins, but I think LA is the right play game 2. This situation is different from other 3 ATS wins but still decide to pass on the game 

@theclaw

I thought Heat would cover game 1 but see Celtics ATS game 2. 

Celtics to win series over Heat (-195) --- 1.95 units to win 1 unit

Celtics to win series 4-2 ( +325). --- 1 unit

I don't think that info is as important as which team is the better team. Because the Nuggets did all that is why the better team would beat them at home.

So if LA is the better team which may be debatable, based on final 22 games LA is the better team, but a small sample size, I am willing to back that info and the fact Nuggets rate poorly for a no. 1 seed.

If the Nuggets prove the info wrong I'll take my losses and live with it .

I have trouble backing a side as well. No conviction = no bet but I might dabble at half

@theclaw

 Good luck bud liking both those plays as well!!

I bet that, too. I got +405 just before the start of Game 1. BetMGM has that prop available at +400, which tells me we're likely not cashing.

@sportschat

@bobmaloogatimesfive

@MrBator

 ........................ As it turned out LA did cover by  half a point.

No clue what LBJ was thinking, he was well below ave 3 pt shooter in regular season was terrible in round 1 like 19.5% and well below ave round 2 like 33% on 3's but when LA needed baskets he kept throwing up 3's and is now 0 of 10 VS Nuggets.

When you need baskets and need to win a game you must be aggressive and attack the basket this also opens up getting FTs, maybe he is tired settling for  long jumpers or just a terrible shot selection at a time the team needed him the most.

That was aggravating to watch to say the least.

@theclaw

 AD was trash last night too. Might be the worst sidekick in Lebrons history 

Yes AD was terrible as well but LA was leading a good part of the game.

LA easily could of won one of those games but got none. That's tough to take if you have LA.

Good Luck Tonight with your plays !!! 

@theclaw

 It's the fatigue. 

My Lines ..,................

Celtics -7.43 over Heat

Celtics off 2 SU & ATS losses and down 0-2, good spot to back Celtics today.

We know Heat are better then regular season PR's make them look, how much better not really sure.

Celtics seem overvalued on the line but this is a good spot to back them, play is on the Celtics.

I didn't get the best line but still think it's a good play.

Celtics have a decent shot to comeback and win the series but they must get it done today to have any hope and they are a good enough road team to do it.

Celtics -4 over Heat --- 1.1 units

Lakers game 3 was a tough spot as they were coming off 5 ATS wins, I didn't get around to posting that game, was busy but I the Lakers down 0-2 naturally seemed the right play but no way I'd take a team off 5ATS wins.

I think Nuggets got some big breaks for the first 2 games to fall the way they did which set them up very nicely.

LBJ in game 3 still jacking up 3's is shocking to me. At one point I think 4th quarter with game tied Nuggets make a 3 LBJ jacks up a 3 misses bad, Nuggets come down, bang another 3 now a tie is a 6 pt Nuggets lead.

LBJ jackup a few more 3's after Nuggets kept building their lead, when LA needed a basket in the worst way LBJ continued jacking up 3's when the guy is terrible all year and in the playoffs making 3's.

Absolutely ridiculous.

AD had 18 rebounds and 28 points on 11/18 FG and only 1 TO.  Not exactly trash.  The Lakers are up against a superior team.  It's as simple as that.  Lebron is old.  His championship days are behind him.  None of you Lakers backers give any credit to the Nuggets.  It's all about what the Lakers did wrong.  

GL @theclaw

 #193 my thoughts as well

You meant 3 ATS wins, right?

Bobmaloogatimesfive was referring to Anthony Davis' poor Game 2 performance, not yesterday's game.

Come on now. Suggesting they got lucky in either Games 1 or 2? The Nuggets Don't Lose At Home (even when they play less than their best).

@MrBator

 You were right on about the nuggets- should have listened - this lakers team is a total letdown