NBA Trends April 20

NBA SHORT SHEET
Sunday, April 20th

Eastern Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Toronto at Orlando, 12:35 EST

Toronto:
14-23 ATS 2nd half of season
32-19 Under off road loss

Orlando:
17-7 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points
8-1 ATS at home vs. division

Western Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Denver at LA Lakers, 3:05 EST

Denver:
10-0 Under 1st Round of the playoffs
2-8 ATS vs. LA Lakers

LA Lakers:
16-5 ATS at home off 3+ home wins
28-18 ATS off ATS win

Eastern Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Philadelphia at Detroit, 6:05 EST

Philadelphia:
1-4 ATS as a # 7 seed in the playoffs
4-1 UNDER on Sunday games

Detroit:
26-14 ATS as a home favorite
16-4 ATS off BB ATS wins as favorite

Eastern Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Atlanta at Boston, 8:35 EST

Atlanta:
12-22 ATS as road underdog
7-16 ATS Away off SU loss

Boston:
21-4 ATS off DD home win
8-1 Under at home off BB covers as favorite

NBA Trend Sheet

12:30 PM TORONTO vs. ORLANDO
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Orlando is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Orlando is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

3:00 PM DENVER vs. LA LAKERS
Denver is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
Denver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
LA Lakers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games when playing at home against Denver
LA Lakers are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games when playing at home against Denver

6:00 PM PHILADELPHIA vs. DETROIT
Philadelphia is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Detroit is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home

8:30 PM ATLANTA vs. BOSTON
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing Boston
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Boston is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games when playing at home against Atlanta

NBA Tips and Trends

Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic

Raptors: Toronto head coach Sam Mitchell believes the key to this series will be whether or not his players are successful defending Orlando big man Dwight Howard. "I?ve been thinking about it and we?ve been looking at it a little bit since the other night so we?ve already got ideas what we?re going to do, more so for Game 1," Mitchell said. "After Game 1, everything changes again. You get a chance to see what they do. You do all this prep for the first game and then everything?s going to change after Game 1 anyway."

Raptors are 8-2 ATS & 7-3 SU in the last 10 meetings.
Raptors are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
The UNDER is 11-5 in Toronto's last 16 Sunday games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 96 (OVER - Total Play of the Day)

Magic (-7, O/U 196.5): Orlando hopes the addition of head coach Stan Van Gundy and forward Rashard Lewis will help get the team past the first round this year. Lewis helped the Magic finish the season with 801 3-pointers, the second-most in NBA history. The Magic signed him to be a difference maker and complement Howard's strong inside game while Hedo Turkoglu also enjoyed a career year. "We?re in as good a position as you could be right now," Van Gundy said. "There is no guarantee of anything, though."

Magic are 11-4-2 ATS in their last 17 home games.
The UNDER is 8-1 in Orlando's last 9 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 104

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers

Nuggets: Denver players have revenge on their mind heading into this first-round series against the Lakers. ?They beat us 3 times (in) the regular season, so what better a way to get revenge,? Nuggets point guard Allen Iverson said. Of course they will need to play much better defensively if they have any hopes of winning any games in this series. ?We can do a lot of things better,? Denver head coach George Karl. ?Our focus and our demand is going to have to be at a high level. Our defense is going to have to be at a high level.?

Nuggets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Sunday games.
The UNDER is 5-0 in Denver's last 5 games overall.
The UNDER is 7-2 in Denver's last 9 Sunday games.

Key Injuries - F Nene Hilario (5 ppg; groin) is doubtful.

PROJECTED SCORE: 108

Lakers (-8, O/U 223): A little less than a year ago, star Kobe Bryant wanted out of LA after his team was bounced by Phoenix in the first round. The Lakers have come a long way since then and will be trying to win a playoff series for the first time since Shaquille O'Neal left town. New addition Pau Gasol has never won a playoff game in his 7-year career, but he and Bryant figure to get over the hump this year and advance to the second round together.

Lakers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 home games.
Lakers are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
The UNDER is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings at LA.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 115

Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons

76ers: This Philly squad is far more inexperienced in the playoffs than Detroit, with just 95 games combined among all the team's players. In fact, Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince has more postseason experience (97) all by himself, although that hasn't kept the 76ers from believing they can win this first-round matchup. "When you get in the playoffs, anybody has an opportunity to beat anybody," Philadelphia guard Louis Williams said. "Golden State showed it last year (by upsetting the top-seeded Mavericks in the opening around). We?re not a bad basketball team. We?re not lacking confidence, so let?s go. Jump it up."

76ers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games.
76ers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. Central Division.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 85

Pistons (-10, O/U 179.5): Detroit's biggest advantage besides 647 games of playoff experience lies in the backcourt. Prince and Richard Hamilton held 76ers leading scorer Andre Iguodala to just 32 percent shooting in the first 3 meetings during the regular season while Chauncey Billups limited Andre Miller to 11.7 points and 3.7 assists, helping the Pistons to 2 wins. Hamilton did not play in the fourth meeting - a 101-94 loss - while the other starters played limited minutes.

Pistons are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 Sunday games.
Pistons are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. Atlantic Division.
The UNDER is 9-3 in Detroit's last 12 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 95

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics

Hawks: Many insiders believe this Atlanta team is just happy to be in the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but some of the players are relishing their role of David trying to slay goliath. "I think, in that situation, we're a team that has nothing to lose," Hawks forward Josh Childress said. "We?re going to go out there and just fight. No one expects us to win. No one expects us to be in this position to begin with. So when the time comes and if we do match up with them, I think it?s going to be great on our end."

Underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
The OVER is 9-3 in Atlanta's last 12 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 90

Celtics (-15, O/U 189): Boston sent a loud message in the last regular-season meeting between the teams on Saturday, as the team's reserves outscored Atlanta's starters in the fourth quarter of a 99-89 victory. Sam Cassell proved his worth for the Celtics by scoring 15 of his 20 points in the fourth, temporarily preventing the Hawks from clinching a playoff berth. "It ain?t easy at my age," Cassell said. "But I?m getting a nice little rhythm right now. I?m understanding where I can fit in on this team offensively. Defensively, it?s still a challenge for me."

Celtics are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
Celtics are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Sunday games.
The UNDER is 7-3 in Boston's last 10 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 105