Ness’s Notes (May 22)

This year’s NBA conference semifinals have seen three of four seven-game series (the Heat beat the Nets in five games), after none of the four conference semifinals went past six games on last year. It’s actually pretty unusual for so many series to go this long, so early in the playoffs.

My free play is with the Chi Cubs over the Fla Marlins at 7:05 ET. After a perfect 3-0 sweep this weekend with my Las Vegas Insider (Spurs/Tigers/Pistons) exclusive plays, I’m looking to improve my Las Vegas Insider record in MLB this May to 6-1 with another winner this evening. I also have a 15* Rivalry Classic Play in the Yankees/Red Sox game. In the NBA playoffs, I present a LEGEND play (4-1 in the TY postseason!) in one of two Game 7s tonight. Do not miss it!

In fact, it’s only the third time this has happened since the Bird and Magic rejuvenated the league by entering the NBA in the 1979-80 season. The last time was in 1994 and the other in 1981. It has been nine years (since 1980) in which none of the semifinal series was forced to a seventh game with three years standing out. In 1998, the four series were just five games (also happened in 2002) and in 1999 there were three four-game sweeps and one six-game series.

Also of note in this year’s postseason has been the number of close games. Through two rounds last year (65 games), only one game was decided by just one point, another four by two points, and five more in overtime. Through 69 games this year, eight games have been decided by one point (three in overtime), six more by two points and another five in overtime. That is a big difference.

However, there was nothing quite like it yesterday in the first of three Game 7s in this year’s semifinal round. The Pistons beat the Cavs on Sunday, holding them to 23 points in the second half, in a 79-61 victory. Detroit may have looked very vulnerable in the middle of this series (it lost Games 3, 4 and 5), but it opened and closed strong. They won Game 1 by 27 points and Game 7 by 18!

Detroit is now 10-2 when facing elimination since the 2003 playoffs and the Pistons are 12-1 in games in which they’ve had a chance to eliminate their opponent. That lone loss came in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals. Speaking of Game 7, home teams are now 77-17 in NBA playoff history.

There are two more Game 7s on tonight’s schedule and will that home team dominance continue? Home teams have struggled of late in this year’s playoffs, especially against the spread. After opening 30-9 SU, the home teams finished the first round on a run of 1-5 SU and ATS and finished 15-9 SU (11-13 ATS) in the second round. That’s a 30 game streak of 16-14 SU and just 12-18 ATS!

However, in two Game 7s this year, the home teams easily covered and won. The Suns crushed the Lakers in the first round 121-90 in their Game 7 and the Pistons won easily yesterday. The first Game 7 tonight (both televised on TNT) is the Mavs/Spurs at 8:00 ET with San Antonio favored by 3 1/2 points (192). Game 2 is Clippers/Suns at 10:30 ET with Phoenix favored by four points (215 1/2).

The Spurs have rallied in this series to win Games 5 and 6 and will try to become the ninth team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 3-1 deficit and win a seven-game series. The Suns were the eighth team to do so, when they came back to beat the Lakers in the first round this year. Jason Terry is back for the Mavs after his one-game suspension in Game 6.

In the second game of the night, the Clippers will play the franchise’s first Game 7, while the Suns will play their second Game 7 in as many series. Neither team has been able to win back-to-back games in this series, with the Suns winning Games 1, 3 and 5 and the Clippers winning Games 2, 4 and 6. The teams haven’t played since Thursday and conventional wisdom says that will help. to the Suns more.

‘Over players’ had been on a good run in the postseason, as nine of the last 10 first round games went through and then 15 of the first 21 did the same in the second round, for a 24-7 run. However, the three games last weekend (two from Friday plus yesterday’s game) fell short of the total.

Followers of the “Zig-Zag” theory have been going through the playoffs this year, both “hot” and “cold.” They opened 19-8-2 ATS in the first round but closed with a 0-8 slide. They opened strongly again in the second round, going 10-4, but are 1-5 since (now 11-9 in the second round). If it weren’t for the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns (who are a perfect 5-0 in their series), it’s just 6-9 ATS in the second round.

MLB ratings

Interleague action ends in the month after a weekend of play that was highlighted by Barry Bonds earning his elusive 714 HR. The new week kicks off with the Cardinals owning the longest active winning streak in MLB at five straight games. with the Devil Rays and Dodgers right behind them, having won four in a row.

The Dodgers have won 12 of 15 and play in the only MLB division (National League West) that doesn’t have a losing team. That’s interesting, since last year the Padres won that division with an 82-80 record. The Dodgers swept the Angels in a three-game series over the weekend and the team that played the White Sox in last year’s ALCS is now 17-27 on the year! having lost 17 of his last 22!

Losing has been easy for the Royals (10-31), who open the week with the longest active losing streak in MLB at nine straight (they are 2-20 on the road). The Marlins have lost seven straight games, ending a 10-game road trip 2-8. Florida (11-31) returns home tonight to host the Cubs, but the bad news is that the Marlins have the worst home record in MLB at 3-14.

The Marlins are the biggest burners in the league at minus $1,628 (100/game), followed by the Royals (minus $1,457), the 14-30 Pirates (minus $1,449) and the free-falling Angels (minus $1,227). The Tigers 29-14 remain the “best bet” in MLB, showing a profit of more than $1,539. The Rockies (25-19) are second best at over $906 and it should be noted that these two teams are the largest “under” teams in MLB, going 14-26-3 and 15-19! 26-3 respectively!

There are “lucky 13 games” on tonight’s schedule, highlighted by the Yankees visiting Fenway Park to face the Red Sox at 7:05 ET on ESPN. It’s Wang versus Schilling, with the Red Sox favored by minus $1.55 and a posted total of 9 1/2.

Ness Notes is available Monday through Friday at 1:00 ET.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *