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I know the NBA Finals odds aren’t your dream Kobe-LeBron matchup; you’re probably pissed that you don’t get Federer-Nadal in the French Open odds too, right? But seriously, put down the box of tissue. You’re getting Superman vs Kobe, for cryin’ out loud, It’s not like we’re watching Spurs-Pistons here!

The Lakers vs Magic odds, even without King James and the Cavs, still pit two of the hugest stars in the sport against one another. It’s the best big man in the business, Dwight Howard, versus the best scoring machine this side of LeBron, Kobe Bryant. Interestingly enough, though, the series will be decided by the supporting cast, not the stars.

Lakers-Magic odds: Game 1 Thursday, June 4 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Lakers NBA Finals odds: -280
Magic NBA Finals odds: +230

Follow the link to view the complete 2009 NBA Finals TV Schedule.

Many offshore sportsbook bettors are plenty excited about the NBA Finals odds, as they feel the Magic offer nice value and have a real chance to upset L.A. After all, few pundits expected them to get past the Celtics and, especially, the Cavaliers, so isn’t it time to give them respect? They also swept the Lakers 2-0 in the season series, winning a game at Staples Center. So why can’t they beat the Lakers now?

I’ll tell you why.

First off, home-court advantage will play a role in this series. Yes, the Magic won in L.A. during the regular season and, yes, they won a Game 7 on the road against the Celtics, and those are impressive accomplishments. However, no team in NBA history has won two road Game 7s in one playoffs, so the hoops betting odds are stacked against the Magic. The Lakers have had their hiccups here and there but they’re still dominant at Staples Center. Should the series go to a Game 7, they’d have a decided advantage.

Some basketball betting fans feel we can’t dismiss the Magic’s great regular-season play against the Lakers, especially with Jameer Nelson possibly returning for the series. However, the playoffs are a different beast and the Lakers are much more seasoned in that regard, as Kobe and Derek Fisher’s ring collections suggest. As for Nelson, he may not be 100 per cent if he plays and there’s no telling what could happen to the team chemistry upon his return. Can you say Ewing Theory?

The most important misconception among NBA Championship odds bettors is that the Magic have the advantage in the paint because of Dwight Howard. He is undoubtedly Planet Earth’s undisputed king of the paint, but he’s just one man. After him, the Magic seriously lack toughness and scoring depth inside; that’s a major problem considering how often Howard gets into foul trouble. He had 32 fouls in the Cavaliers series. The Lakers have Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. How can Howard stop all three?

The Magic’s outside shooting has been amazing, with Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and even Rafer Alston draining three-balls like crazy. But outside shooting can go cold; inside scoring is much more consistent, so the scoring edge has to go to the Lakers.

THE VERDICT

The Magic are a cohesive team that spreads the ball around well, so they won’t go quietly against the Lakers. Two or three wins are entirely possible. However, the Lakers have what Cleveland had – an All-World scorer in Kobe Bryant – plus much more depth, especially inside. They’ll be too much for the Magic to handle, as they can beat them in so many ways.

Best sportsbook pick: Lakers in six

Follow the link to join BetOnline and get in on the betting action for the 2009 NBA Finals and receive a $125 initial deposite bonus.

What is your prediction for the NBA FInals?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

But it didn’t happen, and the Magic are a very deserving team. Dwight Howard is becoming a dominant force, and the white-guy-from-Indiana in me can’t help but love seeing how deadly the Magic are from beyond the arc. There is something special about watching LeBron try to do everything on his own, but the Magic obviously play a much crisper brand of team basketball and are entertaining in their own right. I give a lot of the credit for that to Stan Van Gundy, the Magic’s underrated coach.

Can they beat the Lakers though? That will be tough. No one can beat the Lakers when they come ready to play and function as a cohesive unit. I think they’ll do that in four of the games and come away with another championship, but after watching Orlando play against Cleveland I certainly would be surprised if the series went the other way.

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Click Here for Deals on Lakers-Magic Tickets for the 2009 NBA Finals

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Anyway, you’re here for information, and information you shall receive. The 2009 NBA FInals Lakers-Magic TV Schedule is below, with the complete TV listings (all games on ABC) including dates and times. Plus, I’ll hop on here regularly to update the point spread info and results of each game. Here ya go:

Check back throughout the week as, in addition to the Lakers-Magic NBA Finals TV Schedule, we’ll also be bringing you historical information about the NBA Playoffs, the Magic and Lakers, and betting tips if gambling is your thing.

It should be a great finals, but the best player usually comes out on top; which gives the Lakers a huge edge I think. What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The true birth of LeBron James as heir to Michael Jordan’s throne.

Obviously LeBron cannot sit up tall in the throne and own it until he backs his own greatness up with titles, but last night – for the first time – I personally looked at LeBron James and thought, “he really could be the next Michael Jordan.”

For one night, LeBron sat in the throne of the king who came before him. Now, assuming LeBron’s game-winning 3-pointer to beat the Orlando Magic in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals was just a stepping stone, the current King appears well on his way to someday occupying the same throne as the past king. I won’t yet go so far as to say that he could surpass Michael Jordan, but isn’t incredible just to be able to legitimately consider the possibility?

Shots like what you are about to see (courtesy of Robert Littal at Black Sports Online, always johnny-on-the-immediate-spot with great sports videos) are the reason such a future reality can be considered:

Video: LeBron James Hits Game-Winning 3-Pointer to Beat Orlando Magic in Game Two of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals

And isn’t it just perfectly apt that the defining moment in LeBron’s young career came against a team called the Magic? Not only is Magic Johnson one of the of the two people to whom LeBron is most compared (he is really a Magic-Jordan hybrid), but he is starting to make former Bulls fanatics like myself see the same magic quality in him that we also used to believe was possessed by Michael Jordan.

Like everyone else rooting for the Cavs last night, I thought the game was over and then leapt uncontrollably out of my seat and screamed when I saw the shot go in. More amazingly, for that split second between the time when the ball left LeBron’s hands and then rattled in, I caught myself believing that he was going to make it. Of all the testaments to LeBron’s ever-burgeoning greatness, that may be the most prodigious of all.

Unbelievable. Now, for LeBron’s game-winning shot against the Magic last night to truly have the transcendent, eternal meaning that we all believe it will have, he and the Cavs just have to go finish off the Magic. With the momentum of LeBron’s shot and the greatest player in the world on their side, there is no question in my mind that they will get it done and move onto the Finals, one step away from Cleveland’s first major sports championship since the 60s. Which reminds me of a picture we posted a few months back when all the talk of LeBron-to-New-York and LeBron-to-New-Jersey was running rampant:

He continues to lift the entire city up. Amazing.

And now you have read my best attempt to describe my feeling after watching LeBron James’ game-winner last night. Here are some other attempts from the around sports blogosphere:

• LeBron James = Serial Killer — (Black Sports Online)
• Where LeBron Happens — (Plain-Dealer)
• LeBron James won’t shift from his pass-or-shot decisions — (Plain-Dealer)
• Mass suicide avoided in Cleveland thanks to LeBron James three-point prayer — (Bleacher Report)
• LeBron James redefines “The Shot” — (Waiting For Next Year)
• Cleveland, Where God Happens — (Cursed Cleveland)
• A Note on That Shot — (Cleveland Frowns)

The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers come into this series on different ends of the spectrum. The Nuggets are winners of 22 of their last 28 games dating back to the regular season and are hot right now. Meanwhile, the Lakers stumble into this series after a careless seven-game series against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers won’t take the Nuggets as lightly as they did the Rockets but more importantly, after facing such a good defensive team in Houston, playing against Denver’s weak defense should simple.

The Nuggets are a high-scoring but they simply won’t outscore the Lakers, who averaged more points per game in the regular season than the Nuggets. Unless Denver finds a way to slow down the Lakers, which is what the Rockets did, then this series could be a quick one.

The Lakers are 7-0 in the playoffs when scoring 100 points or more and are just 1-4 when failing to hit the 100-point mark.

Online sports bets pick: Lakers in five

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Eastern Conference Finals Series Odds and Prediction: Orlando Magic v Cleveland Cavaliers
Magic vs Cavaliers odds: Cavaliers -850

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a huge favorite to win the Eastern Conference Finals but they have a tough foe in front of them: the Orlando Magic.

The Magic won two of three regular season meetings and gave the Cavaliers all they could handle. The playoffs should be a little different because firstly, the Cavaliers should be fresh. The Magic played six games against the 76ers and seven against the Celtics. That’s a total of 13 games while the Cavs have only played eight in that span.

This series figures to be a long one so the Cavaliers should have the edge as the series progresses.

Furthermore, home court advantage should be key as the Cavaliers have an extra game at home. They only lost one game at home this season without LeBron James so if they can protect their court, they’ll advance.

Lastly, the Cavs play better overall defense. The Magic play good defense is spurts but they are as consistent as the Cavs. Those three factors should lead the Cavs to a series win.

Online sports bets pick: Cavaliers in six

But I do love the playoffs from the perspective of a fan who enjoys watching the best in the world giving their maximum effort and playing at the peak of their abilities. And it is hard not to be completely enthralled with everything that LeBron James does on a basketball court.

Yet, the beauty of the NBA Playoffs is that you do not have to choose which conference finals game you will watch. You can watch them all. The NBA Playoff schedule is staggered with the Eastern conference one day and the Western conference the next, meaning that for a full fortnight (if each series goes 7 games) we should get an outstanding, competitive, intense basketball game each night.

That’s exciting.

And so, since I will be watching the Lakers-Nuggets series, and since our very own KVB is a die-hard Lakers fan, I figured I’d get you all of the information you need to know for the Lakers-Nuggets Western Conference Finals series, including the TV schedule and even links for tickets should you choose to attend the games in-person. All of that information is below, plus some other interesting tidbits and a completely meaningless prediction from me.

(Side note: In the link above on the words “our very own KVB” look at the filename of the picture you are directed to upon clicking the link. It is a photo of Kurt Rambis hosted at The Sports Hernia and the filename is “kurt-rambis-ass-sorcerer.jpg.” You know, I’d never thought about Kurt Rambis in those terms, but I have to say that looking at him in the black specs, mustache, and floppy mullet-like hairstyle, “ass sorcerer” does seem to fit.)

Here are your tickets links and the the Lakers-Nuggets TV Schedule.

And now, let’s take a look at some of the interesting news and notes regarding the LA-Denver Western Conference Finals matchup:

• The Lakers won the season series 3-1, with two of the wins coming by double-digits.
• This is truly a series between an NBA “have” and an NBA “have not.” The Lakers have won 14 championships including the five they won in Minneapolis, while the Denver Nuggets have never won an NBA championship. In fact, the Nuggets are the only active former ABA team to have never captured a title in either the ABA or the NBA. Interestingly, with neither Cleveland nor Orlando having captured the ultimate prize, the NBA will crown a first time champion unless the Lakers can grab title #15.
• The same 10 ESPN experts who were unanimous in choosing the Cavs to beat the Magic were split 7-3 in favor of the Lakers. All of them see the series going at least six games, and all three people who chose Denver picked the series to end in six, obviously because Game 6 will be in Denver.
• The Lakers outrebound the Nuggets 43.9-41.6 in terms of their season average. This statistic surprised me, as I would have thought that the rugged (thuggish?) Nuggets would have grabbed more rebounds than the laid-back Lakers.
• With one more title, Phil Jackson will surpass Red Auerbach as the coach with the most NBA titles in history.

Okay, so there you have a few interesting news and notes. Now time to offer up a prediction for a series that should be pretty intense…

Coming into the playoffs, I assumed that the Lakers would roll into the NBA Finals, but I had not seen Denver play. After getting a close-up view of the Nuggets during their series with the Mavericks, I came away extraordinarily impressed.

Are they a tough, rough, hard-nosed team that borders on dirty? Absolutely. Does that style of basketball succeed in the playoffs? Absolutely.

The Nuggets play with incredible energy, especially at home, and after watching the Lakers get waxed twice at Houston when the Rockets were without McGrady and Yao Ming, I don’t think the Lakers stand a chance of beating the Nuggets in Denver. Seriously.

So that just leaves the Nuggets needing to win one out of four in LA. I think they can do it, and I think they’ll do it in Game 1 or Game 2.

I know that with Kobe the Lakers are capable of playing superb basketball on any given night, but they do not seem to be able to consistently bring energy. Kobe alone is good for two wins in this series, but I think that’s all LA will get. Unless the Lakers step up their intensity and focus, this Nuggets team will run and pound them into submission by the sixth game. At their best, all else being equal, I think the Lakers are a better team. But I think the Nuggets play to their potential more consistently than LA.

I’m picking the Nuggets, and picking them in six games. Now let’s hear KVB’s rebuttal for why Kobe and the Ass Sorcerers can beat Denver and advance to the NBA Finals to be LeBron’s sacrificial lamb.

What do you think?

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Since we’re Cleveland fans, let’s wallow in the bad news a bit first.

First, there are the Indians, who are only not the worst team in baseball thanks to the presence of the Washington Nationals. The Indians currently sit at 14-25, already 7.5 back in an AL Central that no one seems to want to take control of. And then there are the Browns, for whom bad news seems as inevitable as the sun rising each morning. Today the bad news revolved around fan favorite Joshua Cribbs, who has decided to skip Eric Mangini’s first voluntary full-team minicamp because of contract concerns.

But rejoice long-suffering fans of Cleveland! For there soon will be a return of city’s one shining beacon of sports hope: the lovable, entertaining Cleveland Cavaliers and their incomparable leader LeBron James.

The Cavs, who have already achieved the best record in the NBA, a regular season MVP, and a coach of the year award, will now be looking to add Eastern Conference Champions to the 2009 mantle of accomplishments.

And surprisingly, they will not be going through defending champion Boston to do so. The Celtics were upset on their home floor last night in Game 7 by the upstart Magic and their own Superman-like star Stan Van Gundy Dwight Howard.

Before we take a quick peek at the series, here are links to buy Cavs-Magic tickets to Eastern Conference Finals games in both Cleveland and Orlando from MSF’s official ticket supplier StubHub (plus a few others so that you can do some comparison shopping). After the Cavs-Magic ticket links, you’ll find the complete TV schedule for the series.

StubHub Tickets: Cavs-Magic Eastern Conference Finals Tickets

RazorGator Tickets: Cavs Home Games | Magic Home Games

TicketsNow Tickets: Cavaliers-Magic Eastern Conference Finals Tickets

TickCo Tickets: Cleveland-Orlando Eastern Confernce Finals Tickets

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Cavs-Magic Eastern Conference Finals TV Schedule, Dates, Times, Point Spreads and Results

Now let’s run down a few key stats heading into the Cavs-Magic series, courtesy of the extensive Cleveland v Orlando Eastern Conference Finals preview on ESPN.com:

• The Magic won the season series 2-1, twice beating the Cavs by double-digits (99-88 and 116-87) and losing once by four points. Not surprisingly, the Magic won twice at home and lost their one trip to Quicken Loans Arena.
• Neither the Magic nor the Cavs has ever won an NBA Championship.
• The Magic average 0.7 more points per game than the Cavs (101-100.3) but the Cavs have much better FG, FT, and 3Pt percentages on the season.
• The Cavs and Magic are the only two franchises in NBA history to have made the NBA Finals but to have never won a Finals game.
• All ten of the ESPN experts picked the Cavs to win the series. Four experts picked the Cavs to win in 5 games, five picked the Cavs to win in six, and Henry Abbott of True Hoop picked the Magic to extend the series all the way to seven games.

A quick look at the starting matchups suggests that the Cavs hold a significant advantage at the PG-SG-SF positions, where the trio of Mo Williams-Delonte West-LeBron James should have no trouble outplaying Rafer Alston-J.J. Redick-Hedo Turkoglu. Where the Magic will have to make hay is in the frontcourt, where the versatile Rashard Lewis and NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard would seem to hold a significant advantage over Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

However, with Big Z’s ability to step out and make shots from the perimeter, Stan Van Gundy and the Magic will have to decide how far to let Dwight Howard roam from the basket. We all know how good LeBron is at getting to the hole. If Dwight Howard finds himself out on the perimeter more, his ability to control the paint could be neutralized, leaving more room from LeBron to operate for his patented driving and dunking/dishing.

I think this has a chance to be a competitive series, as the Cavs have not yet played anyone in the playoffs with anything even close to the Magic’s post presence. If Turkoglu and Lewis are making outside shots and Alston can play Mo Williams to a draw, the Magic will be able to compete and win their games at home. The worst case scenario I see for the Cavs though is having to win a Game 7 at home, which they will do unlike Boston. LeBron is too good, the Cavs are too rested, and they are too good at home for the Magic to steal this series.

If Orlando had homecourt, they might be a tempting upset pick. Considering LeBron’s brilliance and the Cavs’ ability to play a Game 7 at home, they will win the series and advance to the Finals. But I think they get it done at Orlando in Game 6.

And Cleveland fans will be one step closer to celebrating their first major professional sport championship since 1964.

What do you think?

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The Hawks are fresh off another pasting of the Miami Heat in Game 7 of their first round series. The Heat-Hawks series has to rank among the most bizarre NBA Playoff series in history. Though it went to seven games, there was nothing even remotely similar about the Hawks-Heat and the classic Celtics-Bulls 7-gamer. Every game in the Hawks-Heat series was decided by at least 20 points.

I suppose on the one hand this is good for Atlanta. Because no game was ever competitive in the 4th quarter, the physical and mental wear and tear of the seven games was nowhere near what it was for Boston. And as the Celtics showed last night in losing to Orlando at home in Game 1, they may still have a hangover from the incredibly competitive Bulls series. Atlanta may be the “freshest” team coming off of a 7-game series in NBA history.

However, on the other hand, I’m not really sure you can call the Hawks battle tested after the Heat series. They were not really challenged in their wins, and didn’t put up much fight in their losses. How does that translate now that they have to face the best player, the best coach (at least this year), and the best team in NBA?

I think it translates into another landslide win for the Cavs. If this one goes more than 5 games I will be absolutely shocked.

Here are some links for Cavs-Hawks playoff tickets if you’re thinking about going to the games:

• Games in Cleveland: Cavs-Hawks Playoff Tickets from StubHub
• Games in Atlanta: Cavs-Hawks Playoff Tickets from StubHub

Here is the TV Schedule for the Cavs-Hawks Eastern Conference Semifinal series:

• Game 1 – Tue, May 5: Cavs 99 – Hawks 72 | Cavs lead series 1-0
• Game 2 – Thu, May 7: Cavs 105 – Hawks 85 | Cavs lead series 2-0
• Game 3 – Sat, May 9 : Cavs @ Hawks – 8:00 ET on ABC
• Game 4 – Mon, May 11: Cavs @ Hawks – 7:00 ET on TNT
• Game 5 – Wed, May 13: Hawks @ Cavs – TBD on TNT
• Game 6 – Fri, May 15: Cavs @ Hawks – TBD on ESPN
• Game 7 – Mon, May 18: Hawks @ Cavs – 8:00 ET on TNT

My apologies for being so brief in this post and in general this week. Work has kicked up into a higher gear so my time for daily sports daydreaming has been a little less plentiful. But it’s only temporary.

Enjoy the series everyone. If the Celtics and Magic end up going six or seven games, the Cavs should get another nice rest before the Eastern Conference Finals.

As we usually do for all of the big sporting events, we give you a preview with the TV schedule info, daily updates on spreads and results, plus links to buy tickets from our affiliate partners.

So, first things first. Below you will find links to buy Lakers-Rockets tickets and Mavs-Nuggets tickets:

And now, the TV schedule for the Mavericks-Nuggets and Lakers-Rockets series in the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals. I’ll be updating this each day so feel free to bookmark and check back any time you need the info.

Western Conference Playoffs 2nd Round: Semifinal TV Schedule, Dates, Times, and Point Spreads

Some people are calling it the greatest playoff series ever; others say that a first round series can never, no matter how amazing, reach such lofty status.

I say I don’t give a scalabrine. I’m having a ton of fun watching the series and I can’t wait for Game 7.

Before we discuss the series more and look ahead to the game itself, here are all of the particulars so you can properly plan your sports watching weekend:

Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Preview: Tickets and Schedule Info

• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Location: TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Date: Saturday, May 2
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Time: 8:00 ET
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 TV Schedule: TNT
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins
• Bulls-Celtics Point Spread: TBA
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Tickets: Click here to get Celtics-Bulls Game 7 Tickets at RazorGator
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Tickets: Click here to get Celtics-Bulls Game 7 Tickets at TicketsNow
• Bulls-Celtics Game 7 Tickets: Click here to get Celtics-Bulls Game 7 Tickets at Stubhub

While I am probably leaning towards rooting for the Bulls, most of all I just want to see a good, competitive game. That is what this series deserves for a Game 7. Thus far, only one game has not be ultra-competitive. Look at the rundown of games:

• Game 1: Chicago wins 105-103 (OT)
• Game 2: Boston wins 118-115
• Game 3: Boston wins 107-86
• Game 4: Chicago wins 121-118 (2OT)
• Game 5: Boston wins 106-104 (OT)
• Game 6: Chicago wins 128-127 (3 OT)

To channel my inner Dick Vitale, I mean are you serious? Four games have been decided in overtime. It’s simply been unreal.

And what has really made it fun is that a host of players who had not yet reached star level prior to the series are stepping up and playing like stars. We know about Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, two wily old vets who continue to come through in big moments, but each of the guys below has raised his national profile at least a notch with his performance in this series:

• Celtics PG Rajon Rondo – We got to know him last year during the Celtics’ title run, but he has been even better thus far in the playoffs. No longer is he the scared kid with the deer-in-the-headlights look. He is now a leader and legitimately among the top PGs in the league.
• Bulls PG Derrick Rose – The Rookie of the Year has been a quick ascendent into the fraternity of upper echelon point guards. He still plays a little out of control sometimes. but he has eyeblink quickness and amazing composure for such a young player.
• Bulls SG John Salmons – I realize this guy had some productive years in Sacramento, but I never expected his performance last night. Barkley and Kenny Smith described him as “Jordanesque”. Not sure I’d go that far, but his profile got bumped up last night.
• Celtics PF Glenn Davis – The jumpshot is better and he is much more assertive. He is beginning to look more and more like a young Karl Malone as he matures and comes into his own. If the Celtics somehow find a way to keep winning, and the Garnett loss does not lead to a premature playoff exit, KG’s void could end up being a blessing disguise as it has offered the chance for Big Baby to step up and mature as a player.
• Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro – It’s amazing how a team as young as the Bulls can be so poised against a veteran team when their coach always has a look on his face like he doesn’t know what’s going on or what he should do next. But Del Negro has to get some credit, doesn’t he? I’ll defer to Bulls fans on this one…
• Celtics White Guy Brian Scalabrine – The unsung hero of this series for chubby, out of shape, white guys everywhere (like the guy typing right now). It’s not every day during the NBA playoffs that you get to watch someone bop around out there and think to yourself, “Hey, the only difference between that guy and me is 6 or 7 inches. I could have been out there!” This kind of thinking obviously marginalizes Scalabrine’s skills and contributions, but allows those of us blessed with lead feet and belly paunch to live vicariously through our hero. Go get ‘em in Game 7 Scalabrine! You’re not just playing for the Celtics; you’re playing for every unathletic white guy with a good jumpshot who never got a chance past high school.

And there are others. Kendrick Perkins has been a solid presence for the Celtics down low, Joakim Noah came up with the play of the night last night, and Brad Miller continues to prove that he is one of the NBA’s more underrated and underappreciated players. I remember Miller took people by surprise when he got to Purdue with his all-around skills, and he just keeps on producing now a decade into his NBA career.

It’s just – and I don’t think this can be overstated – been a great, fantastic, wonderful series.

My biggest fear as a fan is that with all of the buildup that will go into Game 7, which will undoubtedly be disproportionate for a first round series, it will not be able to live up to the hype. The Celtics went to Game 7 with the young and feisty Hawks last season, and then blew their doors off at home in Game 7. Could the same thing happen Saturday night?

Of course it could, but I don’t think it will.

The one blowout in this series was the Celtics’ victory over the Bulls in Game 3 – which was played in Chicago. The Bulls won Game 1 in Boston, they lost by three in Game 2, and they lost by two in overtime in Game 5.

Clearly the Bulls are not intimidated playing Boston in the Garden.

Plus, as physically and mentally exhausted as these two teams have to be, I can’t imagine one or the other playing so much better as to force a blowout. I think we will see a knock down, drag out, terrifically intense four quarters of basketball that no one will be surprised see extend into extra frames.

That is what we have gotten in five out of the six games, and it will be a perfect, fitting end if we get it in Game 7.

The homecourt advantage makes Boston the obvious choice to win this game, and that’s who I’d go with if forced to make a prediction. But I can’t wait to watch this game with no rooting interest other than the joy and appreciation of a basketball fan. Whichever team emerges from this first round gem will have truly earned it, but may not have anything left in the tank for the Eastern Conference semifinals.

That may be the price for winning the greatest first round series in NBA Playoff history, but all that matters right now is Game 7. Bulls-Celtics. The NBA is right: it is fantastic.

What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Three games are on the card for tonight as the home court advantage switches. The series shift to Utah, Dallas and Chicago, and there’s plenty at stake. Here’s a look at the three games tonight:

Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls

Celtics vs Bulls odds: Bulls -3

The Boston Celtics are beaten down and bruised, but they are still the defending champions. Already missing Kevin Garnett, the Celtics lost another key cog as forward Leon Powe tore his ACL in Game 2 and will now miss the rest of the season.

The Celtics could very easily be up 2-0 in this series but could also be down 0-2. The real concern is that Chicago was unfazed by playing on the road but now have their home court advantage, which could lead to a couple of blowouts. The Bulls won 12 of their last 17 home games.

Paul Pierce will need to assert himself in Game Three but if the Celtics can’t find a way to slow down the Bulls offense, they might not advance.

Pick: Bulls -3

San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks

Spurs vs Mavericks odds: Mavericks -4.5

The San Antonio Spurs will be looking to steal back home court advantage on Thursday night but winning in Dallas isn’t an easy feat. The Mavs won 32 of 41 home games this season.

With Tim Duncan battling knee problems and the Spurs battling depth problems, the difference in this series has to be Tony Parker.

Game 2 was a layup drill for Parker as he scored 38 points. Parker had 24 points in Game 1 but was just 9-for-22 from the field. When Parker is on, it creates opportunities for everyone else on the Spurs.

Look for the Mavericks to make some adjustments on Parker and slow him down. The Mavericks have been far more capable of dictating the style of play at home than on the road.

Pick: Mavericks -4.5

Los Angeles Lakers @ Utah Jazz

Lakers vs Jazz odds: Lakers -1.5

The Jazz have come to a fork in the road and they better take it. The Jazz, who have lacked the team chemistry that helped them put up a fight against the Lakers last year, must win on Thursday night or their series with the Lakers will be over.

The Lakers have used the Jazz as their personal piñata in Games One and Two, and it has been far from just the Kobe Bryant show.

The Lakers have averaged 116 points per game while Bryant has averaged just 25 points per game. In Game 1, the Lakers had three scorers with 20 points or more and all but one starter scored. Meanwhile, in Game 2, the Lakers had seven scorers in double figures.

The Jazz will put up a valiant effort tonight but hoops betting fans know that might not be enough.

Pick: Lakers -1.5

The games below are obviously already over, but I’m still seeing traffic come in from search engines. If you’re looking for the updated lines and odds for games after 4/21, here you go:

BetUS Sportsbook
Join the leaders in online betting at BetUS.com sportsbook offering most attractive bonuses for sports bettors. Join BetUS.com today and start betting!

Game 2: Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Pistons vs Cavaliers odds: Cavaliers -11

The Detroit Pistons had no answer for LeBron James in Game 1 and it’s hard to fathom what kind of strategy they’ve concocted between games to slow him down. In Game 1, they practically tried every possible approach.

They used several different defenders on him, which failed miserably. Tayshaun Prince’s length didn’t help as James ran right past him while Richard Hamilton’s speed didn’t help as James outmuscled him. When James was double-teamed, he quickly found his teammates, which led to four of them hitting double-figures in scoring.

The Pistons see the white light and they aren’t resisting. The Cavs should protect their home court again tonight as the series heads back to Detroit.

Online betting pick: Cavaliers

Game 2: Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers

Rockets vs Trail Blazers odds: Trail Blazers -6

The Houston Rockets stole home court advantage in their Western Conference Quarter-Final by handing the Portland Trail Blazers their worst loss of the season. A number of the Blazers were making their playoff debuts in Game 1 so expect them to be far more poised in Game Two.

The Blazers starters were outscored 94-43 and head coach Nate McMillan ended up benching them for the fourth quarter.

For the Trail Blazers to come up victorious tonight, they’ll have to find a way to contain Yao Ming, who carved up both Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden for 24 points and nine rebounds. Yao didn’t even miss a shot from the floor (nine for nine), which further indicates just how dominant he was.

NBA betting fans know that it’s unlikely that the Rockets shoot 58.5 per cent from the field in back-to-back road games and it’s unlikely for the Blazers, who won 34 of 41 home games in the regular season, to lose back-to-back home games. Look for the Blazers to even things up in Game Two.

Online betting pick: Trail Blazers

Game 2: Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers

Jazz vs Lakers odds: Lakers -11.5

The Utah Jazz are starting to face the music and it doesn’t sound so good. They have lost 10 straight games at the Staples Center but the bigger concern right now is that they have lost eight of their last 10 games overall.

The Jazz might again be without starting center Mehmet Okur, who is a game-time decision for Tuesday’s contest.

Hoops betting fans know that the Lakers didn’t even play a full game on Sunday and still drilled the Jazz. The Lakers were up by 22 at halftime and took their foot off the pedal, which resulted in a 13-point win.

The Jazz just don’t have the rhythm they had last season, and that was when they lost to the Lakers in six games. Now that they’re coming apart at the seams, it appears this series might not even make it that far.

The Lakers should have a 2-0 series lead after tonight’s contest.

Online betting pick: Lakers

Complete NBA Playoffs First Round spreads and schedule below. Scroll down.

The inevitable ascent to super-duper-stardom of Chicago Bulls PG Derrick Rose took one more step this afternoon in Game 1 of the Celtics-Bulls first round series. To say that Rose was super, scintillating, and sensational would be an observation that even Dick Vitale might not be able to overstate.

Despite the absence of Kevin Garnett, the Celtics were still the heavy favorite with the game being played in The Garden. Thanks to Derrick Rose, some timely 4th quarter shooting by Ben Gordon, and great play by Tyrus Thomas in overtime, the Bulls not only beat the spread, they beat the Celtics 105-103 to take a 1-0 series lead.

I don’t know if Rose, a rookie, has been that good all year, as this was my first time watching the Bulls play, but now I know what all the fuss has been about all year. Derrick Rose was fantastic last year for Memphis and has obviously not skipped a beat as a professional. With he, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams there are certainly some outstanding young point guards to carry the NBA torch forward. And Rajon Rondo of the Celtics is right there with them.

Goodness, if this afternoon’s game was a precursor to what the rest of the 2009 NBA Playoffs will be like, we are all in store for an couple of exciting months and some tricky point spread picking. Even without KG I would have taken the Celts and the points (if I bet on sports, which readers of this site know that I don’t…seriously) If the Celtics cannot beat the spread against the Bulls at home in Game 1, or even beat them outright, what upset could come next?

Below you will find the first schedules and point spread info for each of the 8 first round series in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. (I also included the official spread reader from BetUs below the tables, just in case I’m not quick enough updating the tables.) This post will always have the most up-to-date spread information, so feel free to bookmark this page and come back to find out the latest point spread information. And here are some helpful links for easy access to the BetUs sportsbook, complete betting info, and NBA playoff tickets if you plan on attending games live:

• BetUs Sportsbook
• NBA Playoffs Spreads and Money Lines
  
• NBA Playoff Tickets from StubHub

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NBA Playoffs Point Spreads from BetUs

The post breaks down the opening odds and lines for the first round matchups of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Follow the link to view the complete NBA playoffs first round TV schedule.

Eastern Conference Playoffs Series Odds

No. 8 Detroit Pistons @ No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Detroit Pistons have been sinking ever since their trade of Chauncey Billups and are a paltry 18-31 since January 7. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the NBA and are extremely dominant at home. The Cavs have the best player in the league and the best home-court advantage, which will make this a very quick series.

Pistons vs Cavaliers odds: Cavaliers -3800

(Editor’s note: For a detailed preview and ticket information, follow the link to the MSF Cavs-Pistons preview and tickets post.)

No. 7 Chicago Bulls @ No. 2 Boston Celtics

What should have a been a walk-in-the-park for the Celtics now becomes a bit of a tricky first round matchup now that Kevin Garnett has been ruled out of the series.

The Celtics still have Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and a wealth of experience. The Bulls are young and raw, including their first-time head coach Vinny Del Negro. Even without Garnett, look for the Celtics to make quick work of the Bulls.

Bulls vs Celtics odds: Celtics -600

No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers @ No. 3 Orlando Magic

The Magic do and will miss their All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson but the loss won’t be noticed in this matchup.

The Magic are one of the league’s best perimeter teams while the Sixers are the league’s worst. That figures to be the downfall for Philadelphia, who will have a tough time consistently generating enough offense to keep up.

Magic vs 76ers odds: Magic -1200

No. 5 Miami Heat @ No. 4 Atlanta Hawks

The four-five matchup in the East will be interesting because of the contrast of styles. The Heat are a one-man show with Dwyane Wade while the Hawks are built on balance and depth.

The Hawks have six players who average double-figure scoring and, with home-court advantage in tow, hoops betting fans should expect the Hawks should get past the Heat in a seven-game series.

Heat vs Hawks odds: Hawks -145

Western Conference Playoff Series Odds

No 8. Utah Jazz @ No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers disposed of the Utah Jazz in six games during the 2007-08 Western Conference Semi-Finals and it’s hard to envision the result being different this time around.

The Lakers won the series without the services of Andrew Bynum and, with him around, the Jazz will now have one more problem to deal with.

The Jazz won just seven of their final 21 games while the Lakers lost just seven of their last 30.

Lakers vs Jazz odds: Lakers -2000

No. 7 New Orleans Hornets @ No. 2 Denver Nuggets

On paper, the New Orleans Hornets seem to match up very well against the Denver Nuggets. The problem is that the two squads are at different ends of the momentum spectrum, which should be the difference. The Hornets have lost four of their last five, six of their last eight and are 8-10 in their last 18 games. Meanwhile, the Nuggets won 14 of their last 17 games and are playing their best basketball heading into the playoffs.

Both teams like to get out and run, which benefits the Nuggets, who haven’t passed the first round in recent seasons because they have faced defensive-minded half-court teams. Hoops betting fans should look for the Nuggets to advance after a long series.

Hornets vs Nuggets odds: Nuggets -210

No. 6 Dallas Mavericks @ No. 3 San Antonio Spurs

Neither the Dallas Mavericks or San Antonio Spurs are the Championship threats they were just a few years back as both teams have aged quickly.

Tim Duncan is past his prime and he’ll be without one of his sidekicks, Manu Ginobili, for the series. For the Mavericks, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and Dirk Nowitzki are all past their primes too, which hardly makes them a threat.

The Spurs should get by on the strength of their home-court advantage.

Mavericks vs Spurs odds: Spurs -155

No. 5 Houston Rockets @ No. 4 Portland Trail Blazers

The Houston Rockets haven’t been out of the first round of the playoffs in the Yao Ming-Tracy McGrady era but they’ll finally have a good opportunity.

The Rockets lost their home court advantage at the last minute but they are facing a team without much playoff experience. Without McGrady, the Rockets have been cohesive and successful, and hoops betting fans won’t be surprised if they get over the hump.

Rockets vs Trail Blazers odds: Trail Blazers -125

If you are thinking of attending any of the Cavs-Pistons games in either Cleveland or Detroit (and why wouldn’t you — the NBA Playoffs are FANtastic!) here are some links to help guide you to the best ticket deals available anywhere:

Cavs-Pistons Playoff Tickets

• StubHub: Cavs-Pistons First Round Playoff Tickets
• StubHub: Pistons-Cavs First Round Playoff Tickets

And if, for some reason, you just don’t like StubHub, here are links to RazorGator for Cavs-Pistons first round playoff tickets:

• RazorGator: Cavs-Pistons First Round Playoff Tickets
• RazorGator: Pistons-Cavs First Round Playoff Tickets

Here is the tale of the tape for the Cavs-Pistons first round playoff series. As you can see, and would expect, the advantages are all Cavs:

• Season record: Cavs 66-16 | Pistons 39-43
• Conference record: Cavs 40-12 | Pistons 26-26
• Home record: Cavs 39-2 | Pistons 21-20
• Road record: Cavs 27-14 | Pistons 18-23
• Last 10 regular season games: Cavs 7-3 | Pistons 4-6
• Head-to-Head: Cavs 3-1

And few links to the team website and the typically long and drawn out first round schedule:

Cavs official website: Cleveland Cavaliers

Pistons official website: Detroit Pistons

Complete NBA Playoffs First Round Schedule: 2009 NBA Playoffs TV Schedule

At least one Cavs fans is not happy at all about Mike Brown’s decision to rest his starters in the final regular season game: Way to make history, dipshit — (Cleveland Frowns)

Cavs-Pistons TV Schedule

• Game 1: Pistons @ Cavaliers – Saturday, 4/18 at 3:00 ET on ABC
• Game 2: Pistons @ Cavaliers – Tuesday, 4/21 at 8:00 ET on TNT
• Game 3: Cavaliers @ Pistons – Friday, 4/24 at 7:00 ET on ESPN
• Game 4: Cavaliers @ Pistons – Sunday, 4/26 at 3:30 ET on ABC
• Game 5*: Pistons @ Cavaliers – Wednesday, 4/29 at TBD on TBD
• Game 6*: Cavaliers @ Pistons – Friday, 5/1 at TBD on TBD
• Game 7*: Pistons @ Cavaliers – Sunday, 5/3 at TBD on TBD

* – if necessary

Enjoy the series. Something tells me it will be a short one, unless Allen Iverson comes ready to play and the Pistons can dig deep for that “heart of a champion” type effort they used to be known for.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

1. I am a college basketball fan at heart, and do not appreciate regular season NBA basketball as much as a “true” NBA does.
2. The NBA Playoffs fall during an otherwise slow time in the sports calendar. The NFL is in its offseason, March Madness has just ended, and baseball is still in pre-All Star Break form.
3. The intensity goes up once the NBA Playoffs start and we get to watch the best basketball players in the world putting forth their best effort every night. The first round isn’t always great, but the games and each series get more and more exciting the further into the playoffs we go.

Before we get into the first round TV schedule, here are a few useful links in case you are looking for good deals on tickets to any first round NBA playoff games.

The first table sends you to the individual team pages for playoff tickets at StubHub. Below that are links to the main NBA Playoff ticket pages at StubHub and RazorGator. You should be able to find any ticket you are looking for, if it’s available, through these links. And when you guy a ticket, you support Midwest Sports Fans. What could be better?

2009 NBA Playoff Tickets from StubHub

Eastern Conference Playoffs	Western Conference Playoffs
Atlanta Hawks Playoff Tickets	Dallas Mavericks Playoff Tickets
Boston Celtics Playoff Tickets	Denver Nuggets Playoff Tickets
Chicago Bulls Playoff Tickets	Houston Rockets Playoff Tickets
Cleveland Cavaliers Playoff Tickets	LA Lakers Playoff Tickets
Detroit Pistons Playoff Tickets	New Orleans Hornets Playoff Tickets
Miami Heat Playoff Tickets	Portland Blazers Playoff Tickets
Orlando Magic Playoff Tickets	San Antonio Spurs Playoff Tickets
Philadelphia 76ers Playoff Tickets	Utah Jazz Playoff Tickets

StubHub: Buy and Sell NBA Playoff Tickets

RazorGator: Buy and Sell NBA Playoff Tickets

I haven’t decided yet how in-depth I’ll go into previewing the first round matchups, but as has become our custom here at Midwest Sports Fans, we will keep you updated on all of the viewing information you need. Below, you will find the first round matchups and TV schedule. Tomorrow, the guys from BetOnline will most likely check in with a look at the series odds and some predictions. So without further blabbering from me, here are the TV schedules for the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs:

Here is how the each season series went for the Eastern Conference first round playoff matchups:

• Cleveland won 3-1 over Detroit
• Boston won 4-0 over Philadelphia
• Orlando won 3-1 Chicago
• Atlanta won 3-1 over Miami

* – if those end up being the matchups.

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And here is how each season series went for the Western Conference first round playoff matchups:

• Los Angeles won 2-1 over Utah
• Denver tied 2-2 with New Orleans
• San Antonio tied 2-2 with Dallas
• Houston won 2-1 over Portland

Note: I am posting this around 9:00, before all of the playoff matchups have been decided and before the schedule has been announced. I’ll be updating the tables as soon as the information is available.