Michael Cannon
NBA Playoffs: 16-8-1 (+135 dimes); on a 10-1-1 run
Sunday's Plays...
30 Dime ?
LAKERS
Take the small number with the Lakers today over the Jazz.
I know Utah has been one of the better home teams in the entire league this year, but they?re not playing the Bobcats or the Sonics folks.
This is the Los Angeles Lakers we?re talking about. A team that in my opinion has as much balance and cohesion as any team in the league.
Consider their loss in Game 3. The Jazz played their best game of the series while the Lakers played their worst.
The outcome was still in doubt with just seconds remaining.
That tells me everything I needed to know about today?s game.
The Lakers turned the ball over 18 times, Pau Gasol only had 12 points and six rebounds, and flat out made too many mistakes to win that game.
You can look up all the trends for the home teams in the playoffs so far and it will tell you that that?s who your money should be on today.
But I?ll give you some numbers that back the Lakers here; Los Angeles is 8-0-1 in its last nine games overall, 7-2 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in the last nine meetings with the Jazz.
The numbers aren?t what I?m relying on here, but they don?t hurt either.
Take the Lakers as they bounce back today over the Jazz.
5 Dime ?
MARLINS (With Olsen as listed pitcher)
Take the Marlins for the road win this afternoon over the Nationals.
Florida is looking for its second straight series sweep, and they?re sending perhaps their best pitcher to the mound today.
Scott Olsen is enjoying a fantastic bounce back season. The left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA and has already beaten the Nationals twice this season.
Washington has allowed 31 runs in dropping four of its last five games overall. If that?s not bad enough, they?ve been outscored 58-29 by Florida this year.
Take the Marlins as they grab the road win.
DIAMONDBACKS (With Johnson as listed pitcher)
Take the Diamondbacks for the road win this afternoon over the Cubs.
I know Randy Johnson is old and he?s not close to being the dominant pitcher he once was, but I just can?t ignore the success he?s had against the Cubs in his career.
The Big Unit is 12-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 13 career starts against the Cubbies. He also has a 0.78 ERA over his last five starts against them and is 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in five starts at Wrigley.
It?s hard to argue against numbers like those.
The Diamondbacks are one of the better teams in the National League, so that helps our cause here as well.
Take Arizona at a nice plus return for the road win.