Basketball picksMay 18, 2010

Magic Celtics Game # 3 NBA Picks, Predictions vs. the Point Spread

Does home court advantage matter in the Eastern Conference Finals? How does it effect your NBA Picks vs. the Spread?

This might seem like a large question to take on in only a few paragraphs, and it is true that this topic is a difficult one to broach. With that being said, those people making NBA picks need to consider this question. How important is the home court? You should understand, first and foremost, that home court advantage is a big deal, but it matters more to some teams. Each year, the Eastern Conference Finals feature a different dynamic of teams. Some have young teams facing old teams. Some have teams with many experienced NBA Finals players, while others have a bunch of newbies. The home court will impact these guys differently.

Know that home court advantage means a lot to young players typically. Though it is not true of all young players, many are fragile mentally. You have to understand this when making Eastern Conference Finals picks, because the finals put a lot of pressure on players to perform. If something goes bad for a young player and the away crowd gets on his back, it can be difficult to recover. With that being said, veteran teams tend to fend better on the road in most situations. They have been there before and they know how to handle all of the pressures of that situation.

When making your NBA picks, be sure to give enough credit to the home court. This is especially true for desperate teams. If a team has lost the first two games of a series and it is coming back home, then you will probably see its best performance. Desperate teams at home are a good bet in the Eastern Conference, as the road team tends to have a lull in that situation. Note these factors if you want to be successful.

Posted By Wunderdog’s Trusty Sidekick ” Wundercat “

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Basketball picksApril 15, 2010

2010 NBA Playoff Picks & Predictions, Cavs, Bulls, Celtics, Magic vs. the Spread

2010 NBA Playoff Picks & Predictions, Cavs, Bulls, Boston, Orlando vs. the Spread

Underdog value when making 2010 NBA playoffs picks vs. the Spread

The NBA playoffs are an interesting time it is also a interesting time for 2010 NBA Playoff Picks, and there is often a lot of underdog value that can be exploited during the playoffs. Wundercat knows that the playoffs are when dominant teams and big time players are supposed to shine, but you need to understand how the lines work. In the playoffs, average players can elevate their game and bring their best stuff to the gym. Guys who haven’t produced all year long will start hustling for balls, and this can make the dogs very dangerous. Though it’s certainly not a good idea to make 2010 NBA  picks just on the dogs, be looking for value there.

You will especially want to spot value in those underdogs that are playing for their life at home. The NBA playoffs are a long grind and few teams sweep series. When the series gets to 3-0 and a team has one last chance to save its season, it might be easy to think that the favorite is going to roll over them just like in the previous three games. For this reason, the favorite lines are sometimes inflated in the playoffs, especially when the road team is favored.

Understand that psychology plays a major role in the game of basketball and that some teams just don’t have that killer instinct. You would be better off putting your hard earned cash on the team that’s going to be playing desperate basketball, especially if you are getting a handful of points. Don’t bet like a square and walk right into the trap of playing a road favorite. The sharps will spot the dog plays, and if you want to win like Wundercat in the 2010 NBA playoffs, you will be looking for the live dogs, as well.

Posted by Wunderdog’s Trusty Sidekick ” Wundercat “

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