Hawks +8.5 -110 and ML +365 in Game 1

[AribaAriba]

love when someone's respectable capper is on the same mind as me GL

[CMNoney]

Got in on Orlando -8. Atlanta is coming in with absolutely no momentum.

[lakerboy]

I'm surprised this game has garnered this much attention.

[yassen28]

Good luck .

[JR007]

stats are nothing but data-mining..reflection of the past rather than the present.....have to look at public perception (built into the line)

"The Magic dominated the Hawks in the playoffs last season sweeping them four games winning by an average of more than 25 points per game.

That was last year, though.

The Hawks remain talented head cases, but they are no longer intimidated by Orlando The Magic also aren't as good as they were a year ago.

The Hawks won three of the team's four meetings this season covering all four. The Hawks held Orlando to an average of just 82.5 points per game on 38 percent shooting from the floor and 22 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Al Horford and Jason Collins did the job defensively on Dwight Howard keeping him in check.

Horford, an All-Star, averaged a career-best 15.3 points this season. Despite his All-Star status, he's still an underrated player. So is Kirk Hinrich, who upgraded the Hawks' point guard spot after coming via in a trade with over-the-hill Mike Bibby leaving.

Orlando made a lot of personnel moves. Those moves, though, haven't paid off. The Magic have been overpriced especially as big favorites. Orlando is 1-8 ATS when laying seven or more points since the All-Star break. The Magic have failed to cover in 16 of their last 24 games.

Forget last year. The Magic don't deserve to be this high of a favorite."

[JR007]

"Would not be surprised at all to see the Bulls pull off the four game sweep of the Pacers and it should start with an easy Game One victory considering they are 23-8 against the spread following a game where they failed to cover the spread and have revenge for a regular season loss to the Pacers. Chicago is 30-15 ATS with same season revenge while Indiana is just 13-24 ATS as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points".

[JR007]

Good luck today.....won't clog the thread...but thought this interesting

So, the estimated market ratings I'm presenting to you today represent the sum of reasonable in opinions. They're not etched in stone on tablets as the final word.
EASTERN CONFERENCE MARKET RATINGS
Chicago 80
Miami 80
Boston 77
Orlando 76
New York 74
Philadelphia 73
Indiana 72
Atlanta 71
Atlanta has been getting so little respect in the market in recent weeks that I've actually got them at the bottom of the barrel even though they're a 5th seed. Atlanta opened at +8 on the road at Orlando, which is very high for a 4-5 matchup in the seedings. Home court is usually only worth about 3 points in playoff numbers (though oddsmakers may lift that to four points if early results suggest a bigger split). So, Atlanta is seen as being WAY behind Orlando. And, it's not like Orlando is considered a championship threat at the moment.
I have to say many sharps are interested in seeing how the league powers perform early. There's a sense from some that Chicago and Miami are further ahead of the field than the overall market is representing. And, many believe Boston won't play to past levels because of the Kendrick Perkins trade and general aging of the stars. By the time the second round arrives, we may see Chicago and Miami lift a couple of points in terms of differential from the field.
WESTERN CONFERENCE MARKET RATINGS
LA Lakers 80
San Antonio 78
Oklahoma City 78
Denver 77
Dallas 77
Portland 75
Memphis 75
New Orleans 73
The Lakers still get respect as the two-time defending champions, even if they derailed a bit over the last two weeks of the regular season. Oklahoma City's acquisition of Perkins has made them a legitimate threat in the eyes of the market. It's a shame the Thunder matches up with Denver in the first round.
My conversations with sharps suggest that we could see some movement in those numbers very soon. When the Lakers are playing like champions, they're more like an 81 or an 82. Since their 17-1 stretch after the All-Star Break ended, they've been more like a 75! Some guys I've talked to have Oklahoma City higher than San Antonio...and even Portland higher than Dallas. Things could get very interesting in the West this year.

[DANO74]

Hawks have been AWFUL this month, I would stay away!

[reppin_the_847]

Now there's a prediction I can agree with. The Pacers' only hope at squeaking out a win would be at the Conseco Fieldhouse, but given the proximity of small-market Indianapolis to goliath Chicago, I'd imagine that 20-30% of the crowd for next Saturday's Game 3 will be traveling Chicagoans lol.

"Would not be surprised at all to see the Bulls pull off the four game sweep of the Pacers and it should start with an easy Game One victory considering they are 23-8 against the spread following a game where they failed to cover the spread and have revenge for a regular season loss to the Pacers. Chicago is 30-15 ATS with same season revenge while Indiana is just 13-24 ATS as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points".

[I am Happy]

Looking forward to this playoff thread, LB.... It makes me happy.

The Hawks have been a hindrance for me this season... laziest team alive. That said, I'm on the play.

[BettingWizard]

TOUT GOY's on the hawks

[lakerboy]

Hawks will fade in the second half right?

[JR007]

"Lookin strong" early LB

[t-wizzle]

Hawks will fade in the second half right?

Magic are so dependent on Howard it's not even funny. You picked a winner here bro, who do you like later? I took Portland.

[HOT WINGS]

Hawks will fade in the second half right?

They do tend to do this, but GL hope they pull it out for ya LB

[BettingWizard]

Magic not hitting their 3's

[branrave]

Surely ATL+8.5 wont lose.. ML is 50-50..

Im not jinxing btw, no money on it..

[BettingWizard]

[riskyProps]

My only regret it that I bet the Hawks with the points and on the ML in two parlays only

[MUHerd37]

The Magic flat out suck. It's embarrassing to lose like this at home.

[megahead05]

Well looked good at half.

[sportfan]

Still early but Hawks ML is looking real good

[Dexter]

great call Lakerboy

[JR007]

Thanks LB

waiting for the next bomb

[madrabbit]

great call lakerboy!

[Rixsaw]

I foresee the Hawks coming into Orlando and winning this game. I think +8.5 is outrageous. Orlando is nowhere near the team they were just last year even. The hawks could even win this series imo. Anyways i like the Hawks to cover the spread and will make a shot at the game. This line is way off.

Hawks +8.5 -110 (5x)

Hawks ML +365 (1x)

I will keep all my playoff plays in this thread for the 2011 playoffs.

Good luck to everyone.

[RoagBettor]

Great calls LB

[lakerboy]

Easiest +365 dog winner ever. So who still thinks Orlando is really any good? Like I said before the reg season matchups mean something. This hawks team did not forget how they were embarrassed by the magic.

[ShogunRua]

Nice call LB. Didn't have the balls to take the ML, but got the spread.

[No coincidences]

Easiest +365 dog winner ever. So who still thinks Orlando is really any good? Like I said before the reg season matchups mean something. This hawks team did not forget how they were embarrassed by the magic.

[OperatorX]

I got +400 on pinny wohooooo

[sportfan]

Easy $$$ , the game was not even close , I feel guilty taking the Hawks +8.5

[SpreadSniper]

good job bro.... wish I played the ML as well, but pounded the shit outta the side

[Checkerboard]

thx lb

[phillybadboy]

nice start for your playoff thread