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7-Unit Play Take #74 Detroit (-105) over Tampa Bay (7 pm ET Thursday, April 23)
Note: This was mis-posted. It is a 7-Unit Play.
The Detroit Red Wings can push the Tampa Bay Lightning to the brink of elimination when the Atlantic Division rivals meet in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The puck drops at 7 pm ET at Joe Louis Arena with the Motown skaters holding a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series after winning games 1 and 3. Detroit coach Mike Babcock is being hailed as a genius after choosing 23-year old goaltender Petr Mrazek to start over veteran Jimmy Howard. After making a career-high 44 saves in a 3-2 victory in Game 1, Mrazek turned aside 22 shots in a 3-0 triumph over Tampa Bay in Game 3. It was his fourth shutout in 14 starts dating to February 5 including a 4-0 home victory over Tampa Bay on March 28. He’s now 3-1 with two shutouts and a .945 save percentage in under a month against the high-scoring Lightning.
The Lightning, who averaged 3.16 goals per game during the regular season, have seen two of their top scorers struggle in the series. Steven Stamkos has been held without a goal for four games and he’s gone six straight postseason contests without scoring. Ondrej Palat has also picked a bad time for a slump. He had 63 points during the regular season but none in this series. Tampa Bay has now lost six straight road playoff games and seven of its last eight overall. Detroit hasn’t been much better losing eight of 11 in the playoffs while scoring just 18 goals. The home team is 5-1 in the last six meetings but the Red Wings are 1-8 in their past nine outings following a win. The UNDER is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Detroit and 4-1 to the low side in the past five overall. The UNDER is 4-0-2 in the Red Wings last six home games. You can spot the successful playoff teams. They’re the ones who have the hot goalie. In this case it’s Detroit and Mrazek and that’s why the Red Wings get our backing tonight
8-Unit Play. Take #737 Golden State (-5) @ at New Orleans (9:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23) The Warriors have yet to put a complete game together in the first two games of this series but they took care of business at home winning both games against the scrappy Pelicans. Golden State was a NBA best 28-13 on the road this season and MVP favorite Steph Curry was great away from home averaging 25.5 points per game as well as pumping in 56 points in the two game in New Orleans. Draymond Green has been very good through two games on both ends of the floor. He has put up a double double in both games and has done as good of a job on Anthony Davis as anyone has all season. The Pels have been unwillingly to give this series to the Warriors but have faded late in both games. They have played well in two straight games and Golden State has not so that does not set up well for the home team tonight. Look for the Warriors to put their stamp on this series with a resounding victory 115-94.
2-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 203.5 Cleveland at Boston (7 p.m., Thursday, April 23)
4-Unit Play #733 Take Cleveland -5 @ over Boston (7 p.m. EST, Thursday) Really like the Cavs with this short line on the road. The Celtics can be right back in this series with a win in this crucial Game 3, and we think that Cleveland will be ready here. The Celtics were a nice story in the regular season as they gave great effort every night and covered a lot of lines down the stretch. But the playoffs are a different animal and this team just doesn’t have what it takes to compete with the Cavs on a nightly basis. We don’t see the Cavs letting down here and we had this game handicapped at 7.5 so there is a few points of extra value here in our eyes.
4-Unit Play #735 Take Chicago/Milwaukee UNDER 186 (8 p.m. EST, Thursday) We expect a similar score to Game 2 here tonight as this series switches back to Milwaukee for Game 3. The Bucks are a poor offensive team and we know the solid Bulls defense will hold them back from a big scoring night. We think the Bucks will concentrate more on defense here as that is the only way they can compete here. This is a very solid defensive team in its own right and they have done a good job against the Bulls in all of the meetings this season save for Game 1 of this series. We think a larger adjustment was in order after the Game 2 results and this looks like a pretty weak total. Five of the last six meetings between these teams have gone under the posted number and we see more of the same tonight.
3-Unit Play #737 Take Golden State -5 over New Orleans (9:30 p.m. EST, Thursday) The Pelicans put up a fight in Games 1 and 2 but the Warriors still won both games comfortably. We don’t see any difference here despite the venue change for Game 3 tonight. The Warriors are the best team in the league and they are going to give it all they have tonight in Game 3 and they won’t let the Pelicans back in this series. The west is so tough this year and this team knows that Memphis is likely waiting in the wings which gives the Warriors a lot of urgency to win this game and close out this series quickly. You feel like the dominant Warriors have not shown up yet in this series and we feel like this one has a very good chance to be a double-digit blowout.
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