NBA Betting: Heat Silence Critics, Win NBA Championship

Even Belmont Stakes betting players have had one eye on the NBA season, and surely they would have heard about the fuss that has surrounded Miami since the offseason, when they recruited LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade in South Beach. It’s been a tumultuous season for the Heat, but now they’re four wins away from the NBA title, and standing in their way is Dallas, who will be out to avenge their loss to the Heat in the 2006 Finals.

Mavericks Heat Betting – Game 1, Tuesday, 9:00 PM in Miami

The Mavericks needed six games to beat Portland, then they rolled over the two-time defending champions from Los Angeles in a humiliating four-game sweep, and then they stopped a young Oklahoma City team in five games. Through it all, Dirk Nowitzki has been the best player of the postseason, drawing some comparisons to Larry Bird, and he’s been absolutely unguardable. MLB baseball betting players would compare him to Josh Hamilton for Texas: the Mavericks are a good team without him, but they can beat anyone with him. The Mavericks also have an outstanding bench with Jason Terry and J.J. Barea leading the way.

The Heat have won each of their three series against Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago in five games, and they’ve done with stingy defense and newfound confidence at the end of games. LeBron James seems to have taken over the role as closer, although Dwyane Wade can surely hit some buckets, and Chris Bosh has played exceptionally well at points. When he’s on his game, the Heat are very tough to beat. They’ve also gotten some contribution from their role players as Udonis Haslem returned to give the Heat some quality minutes in the Chicago series, and Mike Miller also came on strong as well.

Miami is favored at -175 in your price per head sportsbook, while Dallas is listed at +155, and since losing in six games in the 2006 Finals the Mavericks are 10-0 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Heat. This series will boil down to a couple of matchups: the most important is Miami’s shutdown defense against Dallas’ explosive and highly efficient offense. Shutting down Notiwzki is a big part of that, but the Heat will have to focus on the Dallas bench, where the Mavericks have the edge. Also, look for James to guard Nowitzki in late-game situations, or if the German star gets hot. In the end, you have to go with the team who plays the best defense, and the Heat have the advantage in that aspect, so they’re the smart play when making a sports bet.

2011 Belmont Stakes Betting – Five To Watch at Belmont Park

Early 2011 Belmont Stakes betting odds are out as sportsbooks aim to give their clients a jump on the final leg of the Triple Crown, and here is a look at five horses who should stand out and garner consideration when you’re looking to make your horse betting picks.

2011 Belmont Stakes Betting – Saturday, June 11th

Animal Kingdom (+400): He may wind up being the overall favorite after following up his Kentucky Derby win with a second-place run in the Preakness in which another late rally came up just short. He looks to get better as the race goes on, which is promising for his horse betting odds in the longest race of the Triple Crown at 1.5 miles.

Shackleford (+400): Shackleford faded in the Derby, and did just enough to hold off Animal Kingdom in the Preakness, but there are obviously going to be questions about his stamina. Shackleford was the toughest horse to get into the starting gate at the Preakness, and you have to be worried about a tendency to expend energy unnecessarily.

Nehro (+400): Nehro finished second in the Derby and was held out of the Preakness, so he’ll be well rested for the Belmont. He was one of the horses who made a late run to track down Shackleford at Churchill Downs, so again, his stamina will be a factor when he gets on the track at Belmont Park.

Mucho Macho Man (+800): WWE fans will likely put something down for Mucho Macho Man, who bears a close similarity to the name of recently deceased Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and he’s finished in the top six in the first two Triple Crown races (third in the Kentucky Derby, sixth in the Preakness). He’s a balanced horse, which bodes well for a long race like the Preakness, and he should be one to watch going into the final turn.

Jaycito (+1200): Jaycito hasn’t raced in any of the Triple Crown races, but he has an excellent trainer in Bob Baffert, who won the Preakness with Point Given in 2001. He did manage to finish second in a solid field at the San Felipe Stakes, and he’s finished first or second in three of his four stakes races that were classified as a Grade 1 or Grade 2, so the talent is there. He had a foot bruise that kept him out of the first two races, but he’s been off since March, so look for Jaycito to be raring to go when it comes to the Belmont, and he’s going to be a horse that should move up the ranks as we get closer to the big race at your favorite online betting sites.

NHL Betting: Canucks Look To Clinch Spot in Stanley Cup Finals Tuesday

17 years after the Vancouver Canucks fell short in the Stanley Cup finals against the New York Rangers in 1994, the franchise has the chance to earn their shot at redemption now one win away from earning their spot in the championship series. The Canucks have San Jose on the ropes up three-games-to-one heading into game five of their Western conference final series Tuesday night, the first of three potential chances to punch their ticket.

San Jose Sharks @ Vancouver Canucks

Tuesday May 24, 2011 – 9:00 PM ET

Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia

Online Sports Betting Odds: Vancouver Canucks – 110

Three second-period powerplay goals powered Vancouver to a 4-2 game four-win Sunday afternoon, forcing the Sharks to the road to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Canucks have outscored San Jose 14-7 in three wins, and as long as the offense continues to click the Presidents trophy winners could have more pay per head hardware headed their way.

NHL Betting Preview: San Jose Sharks

The Sharks did an excellent job of keeping up with Vancouver through the first 20 minutes of game four after earning their first win of the series in game three, but untimely penalties and an inability to capitalize on their own chances ultimately cost them. San Jose failed to capitalize on five consecutive powerplay opportunities to open the game, and then fell apart after taking four straight penalties in the middle frame. The Sharks allowed three goals in a span of less than two minutes, each of them netted when they were two men down. San Jose will need to do a better job on special teams to have a chance to claw their way back into the series, and they won’t have much time to prepare.

NHL Betting Preview: Vancouver Canucks

Henrik Sedin and company needed just 13 shots to pull out the critical game four-win, becoming the first team in NHL scores history to score three goals with a two-man advantage in the playoffs. Henrik assisted on all three of those goals and added another helper on the Canucks’ third period goal to set the franchise record for assists in a game, which increased his total to 19 points to lead all scorers this postseason. Brother Daniel finished with three assists of his own, giving the Sedins a total of 15 points in four games for the series. One more big game could have Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals, and they will get the opportunity to perform on home ice.

NHL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Sharks failed to capitalize on their opportunities in the opening frame of game four, and then looked fatigued in the second as they began taking unnecessary penalties as they fell apart. Two nights later San Jose will be asked to rebound on the road, and it may be a case of not having enough left in the tank to compete with one of the most complete and dominant teams that the league has seen in recent years, leaving the in-state MLB betting teams as California’s only spring hopes.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Vancouver Canucks - 120

NBA Odds:Look For More Scoring in Game 2 Of Thunder-Mavericks

Those checking out Preakness odds can appreciate the matchup in the NBA’s Western Conference finals between Oklahoma City and Dallas, as there are thoroughbreds all over the place in this series, and they raced out of the gate in Game 1. If you’re a fan of high-scoring games, you should get another one in Game 2 in Thursday.

Thunder vs. Mavericks Betting – Thursday, 9:00 PM ET

Kevin Durant had a huge night with 40 points, eight boards and five assists, but it wasn’t enough for the NBA odds as the Thunder fell 121-112 in Dallas in Game 1. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, but he had just three assists with four turnovers, and even those watching NHL highlights will tell you that isn’t a good enough ratio for a point guard, especially at this point in the playoffs. The Thunder managed to get to the line 43 times, making 37 of their free-throw attempts, but they couldn’t slow down the Dallas offense and in particular, their bench was outscored 53-22.

Jason Terry and J.J. Barea combined for 45 of those bench points, and the Mavericks will need more of those as the series goes on, but the story of Game 1 was Dirk Nowitzki, who went insane on the Thunder with 48 points, going 12-of-15 from the floor (without attempting a single three-pointer), and he was a perfect 24-of-24 from the foul line, which is an NBA playoff record. Nowitzki and the Mavericks picked up right from their four-game sweep of the two-time champion Lakers, shooting 53.4% from the floor, and if they keep that up, it’s tough to imagine anyone beating them in the last two rounds of the postseason.

Your sports bookie software will find the Mavericks as a 5-point favorite at home in Game 2, and NBA betting players have probably fallen in love with Dallas, who is a staggering 11-0 ATS so far in the playoffs, and they have yet to lose at home. The Thunder need to shore up on defense to slow down the Mavericks, and they shouldn’t feel too bad about giving up all of those points to Nowitzki; that’s going to happen because he’s just playing too well right now. Where the Thunder really have to pick it up is with the second unit, and they can’t allow Terry and Barea to drop another 45 points on them. Also, in what has been a running theme, Westbrook has to do a better job of distributing and taking care of the ball. He shot 3-of-15 from the floor, and that’s discouraging, but the assist-to-turnover is a bigger issue. Look for him to have a better game, and the bench will step up too, so lay a sports bet on Oklahoma City.

Preakness Stakes Odds: Five Horses You Should Bet On at Pimlico

Preakness Stakes odds will be the hot play this week as the second jewel in horse racing‘s Triple Crown will be up for grabs on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom was a longshot bet in the Kentucky Derby, but that didn’t stop him from taking the “Run For The Roses”. Now, how will he fare in the “Run For The Black-Eyed Susans” as a favorite? Here is Animal Kingdom and four more horses to watch on Saturday.

Animal Kingdom (+270): His closing kick at Churchill Downs wasn’t all that surprising, but still, no one expected this horse to come as it did. Horse betting players will give Animal Kingdom a long look as four horses in the last nine years have won the first jewels in the Triple Crown, and he’ll have a very good chance to become the fifth.

Mucho Macho Man (+425): This horse has finished out of the top three in only one of his nine races, and he’s probably the most balanced horse in the entire field. The Kentucky Derby was his first Grade-1 race, and he should earn some strong consideration at Pimlico as well.

Nehro (+500): Nehro finished one spot ahead of Mucho Macho Man at Churchill Downs as the two battled with Shackleford heading into the final turn, and he has now finished second in his last three races, including a pair of Grade-1 races. Like the above horse, Nehro is very balanced, but he may be a little bit better when it comes to closing.

Shackleford (+1000): If pressed for a pick, Shackleford would be the way to go after his performance at Churchill Downs, in which he finished fourth, but he led a large portion of the Kentucky Derby. Shackleford’s problem has been closing races as Dialed In (who is rated at +400 after an eighth-place run in the Derby) caught him in the Florida Derby, but he may not be exposed as badly at Pimlico, which is shorter and faster than Churchill Downs. He should be the play in your sports bookie software.

King Congie (+2000): King Congie has a very strong stable that has motivation; jockey Robby Albarado was taken off Animal Kingdom in favor of John Velazquez after breaking his nose, even though Albarado says he could have raced. He has also won the Preakness before, claiming the black-eyed Susans with Curlin’ in 2007, and his trainer Tom Albertrani won in 2006 with Bernardini. King Congie finished third in the Grade-1 Blue Grass Stakes, and even though he hasn’t raced on dirt in four races, it shouldn’t bother him too much. King Congie is definitely the darkhorse to watch in your online sports book.

Diamondbacks 4-1 Win against Dodgers

The Dodgers dropped a 4-1 decision at Dodger Stadium on Sunday as Diamondbacks legged out a betting win behind winning pitcher Ian Kennedy.

The Diamondbacks were a -115 favorite in the win in the baseball lines . The combined score dipped UNDER the total, which closed at 7.5.

Ian Kennedy earned the victory for the Diamondbacks, throwing 6 innings of work, striking out 8, walking 1, and allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run. That effort was supported by 2 RBIs from Xavier Nady in the win.

Los Angeles' starting pitcher Ted Lilly worked 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 5 in the loss. They got 3 hits from Aaron Miles in a losing cause.

The battle of the bats favored Arizona as they had 8 hits, while Los Angeles only had 6.

The game was closed out by J.J. Putz who got the final outs in the victory. He allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and fanned 1 batter to earn the save.

Next game, Arizona takes its act home to face San Diego looking for another win. For Los Angeles, they head home to face Milwaukee.

NBA Betting, Heat, Mavs Could Be Headed For 2006 Rematch

Online Preakness betting players could be in line for a rematch of sorts as Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom may have to go through a few of the same horses in order to come away with a victory in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. If you’re trying to look ahead to the NBA Finals, you may foresee a rematch of a hotly contested matchup from five years ago.

In the East, Miami has looked very impressive as they stand on the brink of putting away the defending conference champions from Boston. Simply put, the Heat are a younger, more athletic version of Boston’s Big Three, and the injury to Rajon Rondo can’t be helping the Celtics at all. Chicago hasn’t looked impressive in this postseason run, and the more you watch them, the more you wonder: how far can Derrick Rose take them? They’re having a lot of trouble with Atlanta, and while they should make it past the Hawks, those watching NBA scores know the Bulls won’t make it past Miami if they continue to play like this.

As for the West, Dallas has been, by far, the best team in the playoffs, and their four-game destruction of the two-time defending champions from Los Angeles was mind-boggling. Dirk Nowitzki looks toughened by past playoff failures, and he’s really been aided by the pickup of Tyson Chandler, who gives the Mavericks a defensive presence that they haven’t had inside in, well, ever. Memphis and Oklahoma City are staging a war in the Midwest, while the Mavericks are at home, resting up and watching out for who they will meet in the West final. The Thunder and Grizzlies may not have anything left in the tank for Dallas, especially after Monday’s triple-overtime marathon.

Even those making NFL betting picks will remember the 2006 NBA Finals, which was won by Miami, but it came with some controversy as many feel the officiating was biased towards the Heat and specifically, Dwyane Wade, who was in the process of turning himself into a superstar. The Heat also had a still-productive Shaquille O’Neal, and everyone knows about the tension between NBA commissioner David Stern and Dallas owner Mark Cuban, which added another layer to the series. The two could be on a collision course as the Mavericks would love to avenge their six-game loss, and a title for the likes of Nowitzki and Kidd would validate their greatness, although they don’t need it. On Miami’s side, the team that everyone loves to hate would quiet a lot of critics, especially LeBron James, whose “Decision” may be the single biggest story of the past year in any sport. If these two meet, it’s going to be a very hot ticket in your sports betting book.

NHL Playoffs Betting: Sharks Look To Ground Red Wings at Home Tuesday

The San Jose Sharks will take their second of three straight shots at eliminating the Detroit Red Wings in their 2011 Western conference semi final series on Tuesday. While the Sharks looked good while building a three-game series lead, all five contests have been decided by just one goal and the last two have gone in Detroit’s favor. San Jose will not want to go to a seventh and deciding game against a veteran team that knows what it takes to be a champion, but they will be in tough to get the job done in the hostile Joe Louis Arena.

San Jose Sharks @ Detroit Red Wings

Tuesday May 10, 2011 – 8:00 PM ET

Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Online Sports Betting Odds: Detroit – 120

The Red Wings have been one of the toughest teams to beat on home ice over the past few years, and another sellout crowd will try to help them earn a decisive game seven and avoid leaving the MLB betting Tigers as the city’s only hope this spring.

NHL Betting Preview: San Jose Sharks

While the offense has been consistent throughout the postseason, the Sharks have had trouble at their own end in allowing eight goals in consecutive losses after conceding just five combined through their first three wins. San Jose will need to tighten up at it’s own end in front of Antti Niemi to avoid letting a three-game series lead evaporate, and will need to play with a greater sense of urgency after letting up somewhat over the past couple of games. Slowing down the line of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Tomas Holmstrom will be a key factor, while the Sharks’ powerplay will need to get going after being blanked the past two NHL games.

NHL Betting Preview: Detroit Red Wings

After struggling through the first three losses, that top line of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Holmstrom has really found its rhythm including a five-point night in their 4-3 game five win. The addition of Nicklas Kronwall at their own end has provided an immediate physical presence that has changed the complexion of the series the past couple of games, while goaltender Jimmy Howard continues to exceed pay per head expectations with his strong play. Howard has been the team’s best player for most of the series as Detroit has been outshot in three of the five games, including a 42-22 margin in game five.

NHL Betting: Matchup & Pick

The Sharks lead Detroit in scoring for the series 14-13 and two of their wins have been clinched in overtime, which is testament to just how close this series has been. Red Wings’ head coach Mike Babcock will have the final change again and after finding the right forward combinations in consecutive wins he will watch as his team books a game seven to decide the series back in San Jose.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Detroit Red Wings - 120

NBA Betting: Celtics Aim to Cool Off Heat in Boston

Even those who are online betting for Kentucky Derby odds are checking out the NBA playoffs, and in the series that everyone has been waiting for, Miami is showing why many picked them to win the title as soon as LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Dwyane Wade in South Beach, racing out to a 2-0 series lead against Boston. The Celtics return home to face the Heat on Saturday, in what is their game of the season.

Heat vs. Celtics Betting – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

James poured in 35 points to lead the way in a 102-91 win for the Heat on Tuesday at home, while adding seven boards, while Wade followed up a 38-point performance in Game 1 with another 28 points. Bosh notched 17 points and 11 boards for the Heat, who outrebounded the Celtics 44-38, and they’ve dominated this series over the first two games. Those watching NBA scores may be a bit surprised to see the Heat not backing down from the physical play of the Celtics and in fact, they may even be embracing it. That being said, it’s going to be a different story when they go to Boston, and that is when we’ll see how good the Heat are.

Rajon Rondo led Boston with 20 points, 12 assists and six assists, while Kevin Garnett was next with 16 points and six rebounds for the Celtics, who got a combined 20 points from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on 7-of-18 shooting. Boston looks very old compared to the athletic stars on the Heat, and the trio of Pierce (Achilles), Allen (chest) and Rondo (back) all suffered injuries, but continued to play. Outside of Rondo, age may finally be catching up to the Celtics, and those watching NBA scores will tell you that Father Time finds everyone at some point. They’re going to need all of their championship experience to gut one out on Saturday.

We’re not sure who will be favored in Game 3, which may continue the feeling of a WWE Raw episode, although Boston may get a slight edge at home as they won both games at the TD Banknorth Garden against the Heat during the regular season. Word is, the Celtics will be getting Shaquille O’Neal back in the lineup, but if Boston is hanging their hopes of winning in the postseason of an injured Shaq, they’re going to be in trouble. This is the Celtics’ last stand, and they have to be even more physical than they have been in the first two games, but they have to be disciplined as well. We think the crowd will be a factor for Boston, and we’re not sure that Bosh, in particular, will be able to handle the atmosphere in the Garden. Take Boston to grab a lifeline in your sports book.

NHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference Semifinals San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings

Sports Bet Overview

The 2011 Kentucky Derby betting is heating up just as the Detroit Red Wings are cooling down. Any sportsbook promo expert will tell you that this Red Wings team just does not look at all like the Cup wining teams in the Red Wings’ history. This team is either too old, or too young. By the time the youngsters reach their prime, the veterans will be gone. The 5dimes reviews of the first two games of this series show a Detroit team that cannot dominate the middle of the ice like they used to, and a Detroit team that is consistently losing races to the puck. The Detroit defense is old and slow, and none of the factors that have led to a Stanley Cup championship in the past are in place.

The San Jose Sharks are taking every opportunity to get under the Red Wings’ skin. From spraying snow at goaltender Jimmy Howard to pushes in the back after the whistle, the Sharks are showing signs of that confidence and swagger that the Red Wings used to be famous for. The Sharks are winning battles in the corners and keeping the Red Wings out from in front of the net. On the rare occasion that San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi is screened on a shot, he seems to be unaffected by it. This looks like a San Jose versus Detroit series, but the roles are reversed from previous years.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are relying too much on goaltender Jimmy Howard. The defensemen are so used to getting up into the offensive play, that they are leaving Howard exposed to odd-man rushes and breakaways. Howard is simply not that good. He is not Dominic Hasek or Chris Osgood, and he cannot hold down the defensive zone play by himself. The Red Wings are going to have to collapse in around Howard to have a chance at coming back in this series. But that is just not the way that this veteran team plays hockey, and you can’t teach an old dog new tricks this late in the game.

San Jose Sharks

When the season started, the Sharks looked disorganized and goaltender Antti Niemi looked like he was going to be the biggest bust in San Jose history. But Niemi is a playoff goaltender, just like Billy Smith and Grant Fuhr used to be. In the regular season, Niemi is an average goalie at best. But when the playoffs start, he is one of the best in the business. The Sharks are also helped by the fact that players like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are finally becoming factors in games. Even in the quarterfinals series against the Los Angeles Kings, it seemed like Marleau and Thornton were drifting around the ice. In this series, they are all business.

The Bottom Line

Things will be changing in Detroit after this season. Many of the remaining Stanley Cup players will retire, and the Red Wings will be left looking to rebuild. It will be interesting to see if the team can rebuild around a goaltender like Jimmy Howard. But, for now, the Red Wings are just no match for the Sharks.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: San Jose Sharks