**Lakers at Suns**
-- Los Angeles was listed as a 4/1 underdog (Bet $100 to win $400) to defeat Phoenix in its opening round best-of-seven series. Considering the Suns walloped the Lakers three out of four times during the regular season by double-digits, most expected the same drubbing in the postseason.
-- It appears that the oddsmakers and experts could be proven wrong, sooner than later especially now that L.A. has opened a commanding 3-1 lead over Phoenix.
-- The Lakers’ 99-98 victory over the Suns in Game 4 on Sunday might’ve been the final dagger for the second-best team in the Western Conference.
-- It’s been known that the hardest losses in professional sports to bounce back from are the ones that you should’ve won. Sunday’s setback saw the Suns succumb not once, but twice to Bryant and company.
-- Phoenix held a two-point lead (90-88) in regulation when point guard Steve Nash was stripped by the Lakers’ Smush Parker, which led to Bryant’s first clutch floater to force the extra session.
-- Then, the Suns were clinging to 98-87 lead before Nash was forced into a jump ball situation by Luke Walton. The six-foot-seven Walton tipped the ball to Kobe and the rest is history. Some might argue that Nash called a timeout or the referees swallowed their whistle, but at the end of the day it was once against the league’s best player (Bryant) making big shots.
-- What’s more amazing about the Lakers’ lead is that Kobe is averaging 23 points per game in this series, 12 points below his season average. Perhaps he’s coming into his own as a team player, evidenced by his six assists per game.
-- Nash was pronounced the league’s Most Valuable Player according to a news report and he’s done a solid job despite Sunday’s gaffe. He’s averaging 22 points, 10 assists and five boards in the four games. The question that needs to be asked is where’s the rest of the team?
-- Mike D’antoni’s team was averaging 107 PPG during the regular season before being shackled in the first four games against the Lakers for 96.3 PPG.
-- After shooting 45 percent in Game 1, the Suns haven’t been able to eclipse the 44 percent mark in the final three games. Known to drop bombs from the outside, Phoenix has only connected on 26-of-70 during the three straight losses.
-- Oddsmakers have tabbed Phoenix as a 6 ½-point home favorite in a must-win situation for Game 5. The total continues to plummet, down to 204 for tonight’s tip.
-- The ‘under’ has cashed in all four games of this series, while the Suns have failed to cash any tickets for their backers. Somewhere, sportsbook managers are smiling somewhere.
-- Tip off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST, with TNT providing national coverage.
CD’s Bonus Hits:
-- Through 33 games of the postseason, the favorites own a 19-14 straight up and 16-14 against the spread mark. The ‘under’ has notched a 19-14 record during this stretch.
Miami head coach Pat Riley can't be too pleased with his team's defense or the ref's whistle. (AP Images)
-- Miami is 0-4 against the spread in their four meetings against Chicago, making Pat Riley’s return to the hardwood look more and more as a woeful hope to turnaround an average team.
-- Sticking with the Heat, is it me or do they act like they’re better than they actually are? Shaquille O’Neal has been hampered by the whistle, but don’t most champions battle through the things you can’t control? Also, who does James Posey think he is? The guy has been on four different teams in his seven-year career and will probably get shipped again after this year.
-- Finally, it’s very safe to say that the Dwyane Wade versus Kobe Bryant comparisons should never, ever be touched on again. Wade isn’t in the same class with LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas, yet alone No. 8.
-- The ‘over/under’ on Heat’s free throw attempts for Tuesday is set at 30. The high number comes after Miami shot five from the stripe in Game 4’s loss. The Bulls took 31 trips to the line.
-- Mike Bibby has posted 41 points and 15 assists in the Kings’ victories, compared to 32 and nine in the two setbacks. He’s been the key to Sacramento’s success all year and more importantly now too.
-- Is anybody watching the Indiana-New Jersey series? The oddsmakers have finally pushed the total to the 180-point plateau. The ‘over’ is 3-1 in this series and 6-1 in the last seven between the two teams. Be careful, they make you work for those winners.
-- The battle for Staples Center is brewing, with a possible Lakers-Clippers matchup setting up for the second round. The series was 2-2 during the regular season between the two.
-- Los Angeles was listed as a 4/1 underdog (Bet $100 to win $400) to defeat Phoenix in its opening round best-of-seven series. Considering the Suns walloped the Lakers three out of four times during the regular season by double-digits, most expected the same drubbing in the postseason.
-- It appears that the oddsmakers and experts could be proven wrong, sooner than later especially now that L.A. has opened a commanding 3-1 lead over Phoenix.
-- The Lakers’ 99-98 victory over the Suns in Game 4 on Sunday might’ve been the final dagger for the second-best team in the Western Conference.
-- It’s been known that the hardest losses in professional sports to bounce back from are the ones that you should’ve won. Sunday’s setback saw the Suns succumb not once, but twice to Bryant and company.
-- Phoenix held a two-point lead (90-88) in regulation when point guard Steve Nash was stripped by the Lakers’ Smush Parker, which led to Bryant’s first clutch floater to force the extra session.
-- Then, the Suns were clinging to 98-87 lead before Nash was forced into a jump ball situation by Luke Walton. The six-foot-seven Walton tipped the ball to Kobe and the rest is history. Some might argue that Nash called a timeout or the referees swallowed their whistle, but at the end of the day it was once against the league’s best player (Bryant) making big shots.
-- What’s more amazing about the Lakers’ lead is that Kobe is averaging 23 points per game in this series, 12 points below his season average. Perhaps he’s coming into his own as a team player, evidenced by his six assists per game.
-- Nash was pronounced the league’s Most Valuable Player according to a news report and he’s done a solid job despite Sunday’s gaffe. He’s averaging 22 points, 10 assists and five boards in the four games. The question that needs to be asked is where’s the rest of the team?
-- Mike D’antoni’s team was averaging 107 PPG during the regular season before being shackled in the first four games against the Lakers for 96.3 PPG.
-- After shooting 45 percent in Game 1, the Suns haven’t been able to eclipse the 44 percent mark in the final three games. Known to drop bombs from the outside, Phoenix has only connected on 26-of-70 during the three straight losses.
-- Oddsmakers have tabbed Phoenix as a 6 ½-point home favorite in a must-win situation for Game 5. The total continues to plummet, down to 204 for tonight’s tip.
-- The ‘under’ has cashed in all four games of this series, while the Suns have failed to cash any tickets for their backers. Somewhere, sportsbook managers are smiling somewhere.
-- Tip off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST, with TNT providing national coverage.
CD’s Bonus Hits:
-- Through 33 games of the postseason, the favorites own a 19-14 straight up and 16-14 against the spread mark. The ‘under’ has notched a 19-14 record during this stretch.
Miami head coach Pat Riley can't be too pleased with his team's defense or the ref's whistle. (AP Images)
-- Miami is 0-4 against the spread in their four meetings against Chicago, making Pat Riley’s return to the hardwood look more and more as a woeful hope to turnaround an average team.
-- Sticking with the Heat, is it me or do they act like they’re better than they actually are? Shaquille O’Neal has been hampered by the whistle, but don’t most champions battle through the things you can’t control? Also, who does James Posey think he is? The guy has been on four different teams in his seven-year career and will probably get shipped again after this year.
-- Finally, it’s very safe to say that the Dwyane Wade versus Kobe Bryant comparisons should never, ever be touched on again. Wade isn’t in the same class with LeBron James and Gilbert Arenas, yet alone No. 8.
-- The ‘over/under’ on Heat’s free throw attempts for Tuesday is set at 30. The high number comes after Miami shot five from the stripe in Game 4’s loss. The Bulls took 31 trips to the line.
-- Mike Bibby has posted 41 points and 15 assists in the Kings’ victories, compared to 32 and nine in the two setbacks. He’s been the key to Sacramento’s success all year and more importantly now too.
-- Is anybody watching the Indiana-New Jersey series? The oddsmakers have finally pushed the total to the 180-point plateau. The ‘over’ is 3-1 in this series and 6-1 in the last seven between the two teams. Be careful, they make you work for those winners.
-- The battle for Staples Center is brewing, with a possible Lakers-Clippers matchup setting up for the second round. The series was 2-2 during the regular season between the two.