Drew Gordon
I can understand the temptation of siding with the underdog Spurs in this spot, but make no mistake, underestimate this Hornets team at your own risk, especially in their own building. We all remember their last meeting of the season, right? Back on March 12th, Paul and company crushed the Spurs by 25 points in New Orleans, leaving no doubt in my mind that they can hang with the defending champs.
But relying on past match ups is hardly foolproof, what makes the difference in this contest is, unlike the Suns, the Hornets actually play defense. Until now, Tony Parker has coasted his way thru the Playoffs, averaging almost 30 ppg and 7 assists against Phoenix. Parker's easy drives to the basket end in New Orleans tonight, as Paul is an excellent defender, and the Hornets bigmen know how to rotate to stop the penetration. New Orleans is allowing 94 ppg on just 40% shooting over their last 5 games, as compared to 100 ppg on 46% shooting for the Spurs... That's a considerable disparity (and don't tell me that Dallas is that much worse than Phoenix, because they're not).
Finally, the Hornets have the right personnel for the job, with Peja Stojakovic stretching the defense from beyond the arc, West pounding the ball down-low, and Chandler gobbling up rebounds & blocking shots. Granted, the Spurs are obviously no pushover, but they always beat up on the Suns, and their first TRUE test of the Playoffs comes tonight against a younger (aka more energy) and hungrier opponent, playing at home no less. (Note: the Hornets were 28-16 ATS at home this season, while the Spurs went just 16-27 ATS away!)
Bottom line, Spurs may win this series, but Game 1 belongs to the upstart Hornets, who've proven a lack of experience can be overcome with rock-solid defense, and the best point guard on the planet. Hornets protect their house, grabbing the cash in the process late Saturday night!
Take New Orleans over San Antonio in Game 1 of this Western Conference Playoff series.
2* NEW ORLEANS
THE NBA POWER INDEX
Detroit* 4.5 over Orlando
New Orleans* 4 over San Antonio
CAPPERS ACCESS
Hornets
Cubs
Indians
Kentucky Derby 6-1 Pyro (W-P-S)
Alex Smart AFL
New Orleans Voodoo/Georgia Force Under 115. 3 units
San Jose SaberCats/Orlando Predators Under 111 3 units
Kansas City Brigade/Utah Blaze Under 117 3 units
Arizona Rattlers/Los Angeles Avengers Under 115 3 units
EZWINNERS DAY MLB
1 STAR: (951) PITTSBURGH (-$105) over Washington
(Listing Maholm and Chico)
(Risking $105 to win $100)
1 STAR: (953) NY METS (+$155) over Arizona (Action)
(Risking $100 to win $155)
Teddy Covers AFL
San Jose SaberCats/rlando Predators Under 111 3 units
Arizona Rattlers +2.0 4 units
Ferrall
Ferrall went 9-6 in baseball Friday night and 4-2 in Free B's. He's hit 35 games on the moneyline in MLB since Tuesday night
Ferrall hit all three NBA Playoff games Friday, hitting Cleveland, Atlanta and Utah ATS. He's now 6 games over .500 in the Playoffs overall There's two games Saturday to get action on ! New Orleans hosts the Spurs in Game 1 and Detroit has the Magic at the Palace
San Jose rallied and beat Dallas at the Tank--Ferrall hit it and is 13 games over .500 for the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the moneyline. Montreal has to win Game 5 tonight at the Bell Center
SATURDAY BASEBALL FREE B'S OF LOVE
BREWERS -115 on ML over Astros--Milwaukee gets it done at Minute Maid behind Parra. TAKE THE OVER 9.5 RUNS. Both pitchers allow at least five runs per game
Padres -160 on ML over Marlins--Peavy is the man ! He'll shut the marlins down like they aren't even there
Braves -140 on ML over Cincy--Atlanta takes the first two games of this sereis with the Reds. Cincy's starter, Belisle's ERA is 9.00. TAKE THE OVER 9.5 RUNS
TIGERS -135 on ML over Twins--Minnesota blew them out Friday, but Verlander stops all that nonsence Saturday night
CLEVELAND -140 on ML over Kansas City--The Tribe get it done behind CC Sabathia, who's struck out 20 in his last 3 starts.
Rays +135 on ML over Boston--Shields with the stunner over Beckett at Fenway
Ferrall's FAVORITES each day are in BOLD !
Ferrall went 9-6 in baseball Friday night and 4-2 in Free B's. He's hit 35 games on the moneyline in MLB since Tuesday night
Ferrall hit all three NBA Playoff games Friday, hitting Cleveland, Atlanta and Utah ATS. He's now 6 games over .500 in the Playoffs overall There's two games Saturday to get action on ! New Orleans hosts the Spurs in Game 1 and Detroit has the Magic at the Palace
San Jose rallied and beat Dallas at the Tank--Ferrall hit it and is 13 games over .500 for the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the moneyline. Montreal has to win Game 5 tonight at the Bell Center
SATURDAY BASEBALL FREE B'S OF LOVE
BREWERS -115 on ML over Astros--Milwaukee gets it done at Minute Maid behind Parra. TAKE THE OVER 9.5 RUNS. Both pitchers allow at least five runs per game
Padres -160 on ML over Marlins--Peavy is the man ! He'll shut the marlins down like they aren't even there
Braves -140 on ML over Cincy--Atlanta takes the first two games of this sereis with the Reds. Cincy's starter, Belisle's ERA is 9.00. TAKE THE OVER 9.5 RUNS
TIGERS -135 on ML over Twins--Minnesota blew them out Friday, but Verlander stops all that nonsence Saturday night
CLEVELAND -140 on ML over Kansas City--The Tribe get it done behind CC Sabathia, who's struck out 20 in his last 3 starts.
Rays +135 on ML over Boston--Shields with the stunner over Beckett at Fenway
Savannah Sports
2 Units on Minnesota +115
Nick Parsons Saturday NHL Pick!
Play ON the Philadelphia Flyers Money Line (+) @ Montreal
The Canadiens still have not held a lead in any game in this series. The Habs have no idea what its like to play with the lead against the Flyers as the only game they won in this series was Game One when they rallied to score in the final minute to force overtime where they went on to score the deciding goal. The point is that the Canadiens are fortunate they even have one win so far in this series as they simply cant even get a lead. A lot of this has to do with struggles for Canadiens netminder Carey Price and hes expected to be back in goal tonight after he did not play in Game Four. The Canadiens were hoping to create a spark by sitting Price but that strategy did not work and, as a result, Montreal is simply grasping at straws at this point. For the Habs to be favored by about 170 in this match-up is an absolute joke when you consider the puck has never once been dropped in a game in this series at a time when the Canadiens were winning the hockey game. The Habs are simply too weak in goal to get past the Flyers and Philadelphia continues to get rock solid production from goaltender Martin Biron. The Flyers netminder has a lot more NHL experience than his counterpart in this series. That makes Philly well worth the comeback price here to take a shot with them to close this series out as a good sized road dog!
Frank Rosenthal
NBA PLAYOFFS
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
702 HORNETS-3 SB
OVER 183 SB
703 MAGIC+6.5 SB
OVER 188 SB
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
952 NATS UNDER 9.5 SB+
954 DBACKS-170 SB
961 PADRES-150 SB
965 DODGERS UNDER 10.5 SB+
972 ANGELS-125 SB
974 BOSOX-150 SB
976 TRIBE-205 SB+
978 TWINS+110 SB
TONY MATTHEWS
15 Stars: Orlando Magic +7.5
Bob Akmens
AFL: 3* DALLAS -7
AFL: 3* SAN JOSE / ORLANDO UNDER 110.5
AFL: 3* KANSAS CITY +3
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
LA DODGERS with Loaiza +100
Mike Rose
3* DALLAS -7
3* NEW ORLEANS/GEORGIA UNDER 115
2* SAN JOSE/ORLANDO UNDER 110.5
2* KANSAS CITY/UTAH OVER 117
Seabass Vegas Steam Play
Colorado Rockies