Free NBA Pick: Denver Nuggets +4.5 (-110)
Mon Apr 28 ‘08 10:30p - Click Here for NBA Betting Odds
Superstar Carmelo Anthony accused his Denver Nuggets teammates of quitting during their 102-84 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, and we would not be surprised at all if the Nuggets put forth an extraordinary effort tonight to salvage a win in this series.

At the very least, that abysmal effort has given Denver some nice line value here, as they went from somewhat surprising small favorites in Game 3 to decided underdogs tonight. This is a team that won 50 games this season, and besides Anthony, we simply do not feel that their other veterans like Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby will allow this club to go down with no fight whatsoever. This reminds us a lot of the situation in Phoenix yesterday, where a team looked totally dead in Game 3 of a series to go down 3-0 and then rallied for their best effort of the series in a dominant Game 4 win.

Now obviously, it is extremely difficult to find anything negative about the Lakers here as far as the numbers are concerned. However, this is a game of emotion, and we just think that the Nuggets will give a peak performance here not wanting to get swept, while the Lakers are at a comfort level knowing they could still wrap up this series on their home court in Game 5 should they lose tonight.

Speaking of home court, the home team is still 14-6 against the spread in the last 20 head-to-head meetings between these clubs, Game 3 obviously notwithstanding, and we look for the Nuggets to spring a surprise here and win one for the home folks.

NBA Free Pick: Nuggets +4.5

Cleveland Cavaliers +4.0 (-110)
Sun Apr 27 ‘08 1:00p - Click Here for Odds

The Cleveland Cavaliers took their game off in Game 3 after dominating the Washington Wizards the first two games, but it should be back to business as usual today as the Cavaliers take control of this series.

In fact, that 108-72 loss in Game 3 was the worst loss in Cleveland playoff history, so the Cavs will no doubt be anxious to erase that effort (or lack of) from their memories as soon as possible. The Cavaliers were awful on the road the first half of this season, but improved greatly while going 11-11 straight up and a winning 12-10 against the spread in all their road games since January 15, so we see no reason they can’t go back to their “A” game here with the threat of letting the Wizards back in this series hanging over their heads.

LeBron James was held to “only” 22 points in Game 3 after taking over the first two games, mainly because the Wizards were able to double team him all game, as Cleveland simply could not hit an outside shot. The Cavs hit just two three-point shots on 16 attempts, and one has to believe that they will improve on that pathetic showing today. That would force the Washington defense to play more honest and come play the perimeter, which would open things up for James to drive to the basket as he did so effectively the first two contests.

Besides, allowing 72 points was certainly an aberration for a Wizards defense that is allowing 99.0 points per game this season while allowing opponents to convert on 46.1 percent of their shots. To put things in perspective, Washington had allowed 101.7 points per game in their previous seven contests, never allowing fewer than 93 points in any of those games.

We look for a return to normalcy here, which should result in a commanding 3-1 series lead for Cleveland when all is said and done.

NBA Free Pick: Cavaliers +4 - Click Here to Buy LT Profits Sports Picks

Free Pick: Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks o187.0 (-110)
Sat April 26 ‘08 8:00p - Click Here for Current Betting Odds
The first two games of this series between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks went easily Under, but we see a somewhat higher scoring affair in Atlanta tonight.

Now the Celtics defense has been great this season regardless of the venue, but they are allowing a few points more on the road than they are at home, permitting 92.7 points per game when travelling. Add in the 100.7 points the Celts are averaging offensively in those games, and Boston road contests average a combined 193.4 points, more than six points over this posted total.

Now this is the first Hawks home playoff game in nine years, so emotions will be high here. This could lead them to play a tad over their heads in the early going. Also, the Hawks were much better at home offensively this season in any event, averaging an impressive 101.8 points per game in their own building.

Now granted, most of those games were not vs. defenses of this caliber, but the Over has still gone 9-4 in the last 13 meetings between these teams in Atlanta. Throw in the fact that the Celtics could afford to let up a bit here and conserve some energy for the tougher rounds ahead, and this game could easily get into the 190s.

NBA Free Pick: Celtics, Hawks Over 187 - Click Here to Buy LT Profits Expert Sports Picks

NBA Free Pick: Dallas Mavericks -5.0 (-110)
Fri Apr 25 ‘08 8:00p - Click Here for Current NBA Odds
Well, all three teams that were down 0-2 in their respective series have all won and covered easily in Game 3 so far this season, and we look for the Dallas Mavericks to continue that pattern tonight vs. the New Orleans Hornets.

Desperation is usually a great motivator in the NBA Playoffs, and teams returning home down 0-2 have traditionally done very well. The Mavericks have been a great home team all year going 34-7 straight up in this building, and while they are just 17-20-4 against the spread here, that is usually because they are asked to cover much bigger spreads than this one. The fact is that their average home winning margin of +8.9 points would be more than good enough to cover this number.

Now the Hornets may be the best road team in the NBA, as they were an amazing 26-15 SU 24-15-2 ATS away from home. However, they had no success in two visits to Dallas this season, losing by 13 and nine points respectively while failing to cover on either occasion. In fact, the home team is now 6-0 both SU and ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings between these clubs.

Thus, we look for a rather comfortable Dallas victory tonight as the Mavericks get themselves back in this series.

NBA Free Pick: Mavericks -5

Free Pick: Toronto Raptors -4.0 (-110)
Thu April 24 ‘08 7:30p - Click Here for NBA Betting Odds
The Toronto Raptors showed a lot of heart after losing Game 1 and falling behind by 18 points in Game 2, coming back to have a chance to win on a last-second shot. They should crack the win column at home tonight to bring this series to 2-1.

The Raptors have been a much better team at home this season anyway, as they average 102.1 points per game north of the border while allowing just 94.8 points. That average winning margin of +7.3 would be more than enough to cover this modest spread. Also, the Raptors won handily the last time Orlando came to visit them 127-110, also as four-point favorites like they are tonight. In fact, the Raptors are 7-1 against the spread in the last eight meetings with the Magic in Toronto, and 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings overall.

Granted, Orlando is one of the better road teams in the league, and they do average 104.4 points away from home. However, they do not play much defense on the road allowing 99.8 points per, and as mentioned they have not had as much success in Toronto as they have had in their other NBA travels. Also, it would be only natural for the Magic to relax here with a 2-0 series lead, especially since they are the higher seed.

Thus, look for Toronto to build on that strong second half in Orlando in Game 2 and come out of here with a handy win tonight.

NBA Free Pick: Raptors -4 - Click Here to Buy All of LT Profits Expert NBA Picks for Today

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NBA Basketball Playoff Picks: Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs u192.0 (-110)
Tue Apr 22 ‘08 9:30p - Click Here for NBA Basketball Playoff Odds
What may have been forgotten in the Game 1 “Instant Classic” double overtime 117-115 San Antonio Spurs win over the Phoenix Suns in this series is the fact that the game was well Under, at 186 points, at the end of regulation.

Unders are nothing new for the Spurs, as their home games have still averaged just a combined 186.5 points this year even including Game 1. The team knows better than any other that defense wins championships, as they won the NBA title last season with their playoff games averaging only 187.4 points. In fact, the Spurs’ last 72 home playoff games overall have averaged just 183.3 points, with the Under going 40-32, 55.6 percent in those games.

Now the Suns are usually allergic to defense, although they have gotten somewhat better lately after Shaq arrived. Still, the Spurs are probably the only team that has been able to slow them down consistently, as the Under is 9-4 in the last 13 head-to-head meetings between these clubs with the run-and-gun Suns averaging just 95.5 points in those encounters.

We look for a similar pace as in Game 1 here, so hopefully, there won’t be any more overtimes blowing up a safe Under.

NBA Free Pick: Suns, Spurs Under 192 - Click Here to Buy LT Profits Expert NBA Picks

Free NBA Pick: Utah Jazz +1.0 (-110)
Mon Apr 21 ‘08 9:30p - Click Here for NBA Odds
The Utah Jazz showed their superiority over the Yao-less Houston Rockets by winning here in Houston in Game 1, and even with the Rockets in desperation mode, we look for Utah to take a stranglehold of this series tonight.

The major knock against the Jazz coming into this series was that they were 17-24 straight up on the road during the regular season. However, they did close out the season well, going 7-1 against the spread in the last eight regular season games with the only loss coming in the season finale, in a game where a “tank” may have been in order to avoid the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

This streak included an outright road win at New Orleans and a road cover at Dallas, so they were certainly playing much better away from home prior to winning Game 1 here. Perhaps most importantly, the Jazz are now 8-1 ATS in the last nine head-to-head meetings with the Rockets, including a perfect 4-0 ATS in Houston!

Now the Rockets have underperformed greatly in the playoffs in recent years, and it is commonly known that their current best player with Yao Ming out, Tracy McGrady, has never advanced past the first round of the playoffs. Also, Yao is not the only starter out for the Rockets now, as Rafer Alston will sit out again in Game 2 with a strained hamstring.

The absences of both Alston and Ming were felt in Game 1, as Alston’s replacement Bobby Jackson hit on just three field goals in 15 attempts, and the Jazz scored 50 points in the paint that Yao normally occupies. Don’t expect too much to change in Game 2 as the Jazz build a 2-0 series lead. Coutesy of LT Profits

NBA Free Pick: Jazz +1 - Click Here for More Free NBA Basketball Picks

Free NBA Betting Pick: Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic u197.0 (-110)
Sun April 20 ‘08 12:30p - Click Here for NBA Betting Odds
Now, the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors both averaged over 100 points per game this season, so the knee-jerk reaction would be to look for the Over here. However, the more recent play of both teams suggests otherwise.The Magic closed the year by going Under in eight of their last nine games. The offense still performed at a high level during this streak averaging 103.9 points, but Orlando clamped down defensively, allowing just 91.9 points per game. Moreover, they held five of those nine opponents under 90 points! As if that is not enough, the Magic also held these Raptors to 87 points when these teams last met last month.

As for Toronto, the Under is 6-2 in their last eight road games, with their offense putting up just an average of 94.6 points in those games. In fact, the Raptors scoring average dipped below 100 on the road for the whole season, as they averaged 98.2 points on the NBA highways as opposed to 102.1 points back in Canada.

Finally, do not forget that these are two young teams with little playoff experience, so some first game jitters are to be expected.

NBA Free Pick: Raptors, Magic Under 197

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Free NBA Picks: Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers u188.0 (-110)
Sat Apr 19 ‘08 12:30p - Click Here for NBA Betting Odds
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards went Over in three of their four regular season meetings this season, but the playoffs are a totally different a animal.

The Cavaliers learned the value of defense in last year’s playoffs, and the experience they gained in their deep run to the NBA Finals should serve them well here. In fact, all Cleveland playoff games last season averaged just a combined 175.5 points, with the Under going 13-7. Also, the Cavaliers enter these plays on a six-game Under streak, with the Under going 8-2 in their last 10 games overall with an average combined score in those contests of 183.3 points, nearly five points less than this posted total.

Now the Wizards obviously prefer an up-tempo style, but like they say, “Defense wins championships,” and good defenses usually stop good offenses at this time of year. Also, let us not forget that these teams met in the playoffs each of the last two years, and in both cases the teams played conservatively in Game 1, producing a combined 179 last season and 183 points the year before.

We look for the Cavaliers to slow the Wizards down here again, resulting in another Under.

NBA Free Pick: Wizards, Cavaliers Under 188 - Courtesy of LT Profits: Click Here for Expert NBA Picks