NBA LONG SHEET
CLEVELAND (51 - 41) at BOSTON (72 - 21) - 5/14/2008, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 10-4 against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 10-5 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
8 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
UTAH (60 - 32) at LA LAKERS (63 - 27) - 5/14/2008, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 30-49 ATS (-23.9 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 1996.
UTAH is 41-54 ATS (-18.4 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
UTAH is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.
LA LAKERS are 53-35 ATS (+14.5 Units) in all games this season.
LA LAKERS are 28-13 ATS (+13.7 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 210 this season.
LA LAKERS are 38-28 ATS (+7.2 Units) as a favorite this season.
LA LAKERS are 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) against Northwest division opponents this season.
LA LAKERS are 34-11 ATS (+21.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.
LA LAKERS are 21-4 ATS (+16.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
UTAH is 49-41 ATS (+3.9 Units) in all games this season.
UTAH is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
UTAH is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
UTAH is 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
UTAH is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 8-5 against the spread versus UTAH over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 9-6 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
9 of 15 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA SHORT SHEET
Eastern Conference
Second Round
Game Five
Series Tied, 2-2
Cleveland at Boston, 8:05 ET
Cleveland:
5-17 ATS Away off DD win
2-12 ATS off BB ATS wins
Boston:
15-5 ATS playing with double revenge
15-4 ATS after scoring 80 points or less
Western Conference
Second Round
Game Five
Series Tied, 2-2
LA Lakers at Utah, 10:35 ET
Utah:
30-49 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9
16-29 ATS AWAY off a home win
LA Lakers:
17-8 ATS against Northwest division
24-13 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5
Trend Sheet
8:00 PM CLEVELAND vs. BOSTON
Cleveland is 6-2-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Boston
Cleveland is 8-14-1 ATS in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Boston is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing Cleveland
10:30 PM UTAH vs. LA LAKERS
Utah is 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
Utah is 3-7 SU in their last 10 games when playing LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games
LA Lakers are 10-2 SU in their last 12 games
Tips and Trends
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
Cavs: LeBron James went off against the Pistons in Game 5 of last year's Eastern Conference Finals, knowing a win would give Cleveland the opportunity to clinch the series back home in Game 6. That's the identical situation here, and Boston head coach Doc Rivers believes the criticism of James' play so far in this series is not deserved. "You think LeBron is struggling?" Rivers said. "We don't think he's struggling. He's still making a lot of plays. We are forcing him to take tough shots. Other than Game 1, I think he's having a terrific series."
Cavs are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Underdog is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
The UNDER is 7-1 in Cleveland's last 8 games vs. Atlantic Division.
The UNDER is 7-2 in Cleveland's last 9 games as an underdog.
Key Injuries - NONE
Celtics (-8.5, O/U 176.5): Boston's frustrations on the road could eventually catch up to them at home, where the team has been absolutely dominant in the playoffs outside of Game 1 of this series. Ironically, that was also the worst game for James, who made just 2-of-18 shots from the field. "We're disappointed right now, but that's to be expected," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "That's what the playoffs are all about." Insiders believe this kind of attitude could hurt them despite beating opponents by more than 20 points per game in the playoffs so far.
Celtics are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 home games.
Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Wednesday games.
Key Injuries - NONE
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers
Jazz: Utah's overtime victory in Game 4 seems to have given this team new life, and the players know they can't fall behind big early in Game 5. Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan also acknowledged that they will be very cautious in dealing with LA's Kobe Bryant and his back injury. "You should sit there and have to worry about that," Sloan said. "That's not a pleasant feeling." Insiders believe Sloan will not be fooled by Bryant "playing injured" and knows to take him seriously as long as he's on the court after dealing with Michael Jordan in the past.
The OVER is 22-8 in Utah's last 30 games vs. Pacific Division.
Key Injuries - NONE
Lakers (-8.5, O/U 213.5): LA did not pass the ball nearly as well on the road in Games 3 & 4, and it resulted in 2 losses. The Jazz had 53 assists to 34 for the Lakers in those games, and Bryant's ability to dish the ball to open teammates could be the difference in Game 5. A back injury has limited Bryant's scoring - he scored a series-low 33 points in Game 4 - but he still was able to tally 10 assists. If his back continues to bother him, he will need to trust his teammates to hit open shots, which should be much easier on their home court.
Lakers are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Lakers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Key Injuries - G Kobe Bryant (28.3 ppg; back spasms) is expected to play.