Cnotes53 2017 NBA Best Bets-Trends-News Thru Playoffs !

[Cnotes53]

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:30 PM Boston Celtics Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY MAY 26, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
9:00 PM Houston Rockets Golden State Warriors ORACLE Arena

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY MAY 27, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:30 PM Cleveland Cavaliers Boston Celtics TD Garden

SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY MAY 28, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
9:00 PM Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Toyota Center


*************************


MAY'S NBA BEST BET RECORD: ( BASED ON 5 UNITS )

05/24/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/23/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/22/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/21/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/20/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/19/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/16/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/15/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/13/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0,50
05/03/2018 0-4-0 0.00% -22.00
05/02/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/01/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50

Totals.............11-19-0........36.66%.....-48.50


BEST BETS................ATS....................UNITS.. ................O/U..............UNITS..............TOTAL

05/24/2018...............1 - 0.................+5.00....................1 - 0.............+5.00.............+10.00
05/23/2018...............1 - 0.................+5.00....................1 - 0.............+5.00.............+10.00
05/22/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-11.00
05/21/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-11.00
05/20/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................1 - 0..............+5.00.............-0.50
05/19/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................1 - 0..............+5.00.............-0.50
05/16/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0- 1...............-5.50..............-11.00
05/15/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-11.00
05/14/2018...............1 - 0..................+5.00...................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-0.50
05/13/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................1 - 0..............+5.00..............-0.50
05/03/2018...............0 - 2..................-11.00..................0 - 2..............-11.00............-22.00
05/02/2018...............1 - 0..................+5.00...................1 - 0.............+5.00.............+10.00
05/01/2018...............1 - 1..................- 0.50...................0 - 2.............-11.00.............-11.50

Totals.......................5 - 10................-30.00..................6 - 9...............-19.50............-49.50

 

[Cnotes53]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

College football lines that moved 4+ points Thursday:

? Texas (+1) to (-3) vs USC

? North Carolina (+11) to (+7) vs Central Florida

? West Virginia (+3) to (-1.5) vs Texas Tech

? Texas (+12) to (+6) vs Oklahoma

? Arkansas State (pick) to (-4) vs Appalachian State

? Oregon (-9) to (-13) vs Arizona State

**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random stuff after a fun vacation??.

13) Rockets 98, Warriors 94? Golden State?s bench was a combined 2-8 from floor in 53:00 in this game; I didn?t think Houston could beat the Warriors unless they outran them, but they held Golden State to 92-94 points in their last two games.

In their three series wins, Houston has taken 123 3-pointers, 122 2-pointers; in Golden State?s two wins, Rockets have taken 71 treys and 95 2-point shots. Harden was 0-11 behind the arc in this game, but his team leads series, 3-2.

12) Again, in their three wins, Houston has taken 81.7 shots/game; in their losses, 83, so they?re winning with their defensive performance, which is a big surprise.

11) Had an excellent conversation in the Westgate SuperBook Wednesday night with a smart bettor who retired from the military and now lives in Las Vegas. He likes to play parlays and explained to me why; he knows a lot about soccer (I know NOTHING). Learned a lot from talking to him.

10) My godson Tom knows a lot about soccer; he likes Belgium in the World Cup.

9) There have been 23 baseball games this season where a pitcher had a no-hitter going thru six innings. That seems like a lot.

Thru Wednesday, the MLB batting average was .244; last time a full season ended with a batting average that low was 1972, the year before the DH came into being.

8) UConn totally dominates women?s college basketball, so I?m wondering, how many UConn players are in the 12-team WNBA? Must be two or three per team, no?

Turns out there are currently 17 UConn alumni in the 12-team WNBA. 1.4 per team.

7) SEC-Big X college basketball challenge this winter has some solid matchups: West Virginia-Tennessee, Florida-TCU, Kansas-Kentucky being three of the best.

6) Baseball?s amateur draft is coming up; apparently it is very wide open this year. Detroit has the first pick and consensus is they?re still torn on who their #1 pick will be. Unusual.

5) New England Patriots were practicing in OTA?s in number-less jerseys; the NFL told them to grow up and put numbers on, so Belichick had them wear numbers they won?t (can?t) wear in regular season games. Do rival teams spy on OTA?s?

4) Orioles? Dylan Bundy is 2-1, 2.86 in three starts since he gave up seven runs on 28 pitches in a hideous start against the Royals earlier this month.

3) Since 1970, 50 QB?s were taken in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft; of those 50, 42 started at least one NFL regular season game. Christian Hackenberg hasn?t even gotten into a game yet; I?m curious why the Raiders traded for him this week.

2) Last year, Oakland averaged 4.14 points less per game than their weekly over/under; Atlanta averaged 4.06 less points per game. Falcons were an ?over? machine in 2016; last year, not so much.

1) Indians? Trevor Bauer and Astros? Gerrit Cole played college baseball together at UCLA- they did not get along well.

Says Bauer: ?We had a rocky relationship in college, because he told me that I had no future in baseball and he insulted my work ethic as a freshman.? Alrighty then.

The two hurlers face each other in Cleveland Sunday.

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 betting preview and odds: Celtics at Cavaliers

Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (-7, 201.5)

Celtics lead series 3-2.

The Boston Celtics are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday. The Celtics possess a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals but are just 1-6 on the road this postseason, including two setbacks in Cleveland.

Cavaliers forward LeBron James could be playing in his final game in Cleveland before his expected dive into free agency but he is currently focused on earning one more trip to Boston. "We're looking forward to having an opportunity to force a Game 7," James told reporters after his squad's 96-83 loss in Wednesday's Game 5. "It's up to us to see if we can come back here for one more." Boston continues to persevere behind its young roster but it will have to step up if it is to close the series on the Cavaliers' home floor. "Now we have a big challenge to go on the road," Boston veteran big man Al Horford told reporters. "We're going to have to play a great game come Friday because they're tough at home. At least in our series, they've had their way."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

SERIES PRICE:

LINE HISTORY: The Cavaliers opened as 7-point home favorites with their backs against the wall for Game 6 and as of Thursday night that pointspread has not moved. The total hit betting boards at 201.5 and has not moved off the opening number.

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The home team is now a perfect 5-0 SU/ATS in this playoff series. It is not a surprise as the Celtics are now it 10-0 SU at home this postseason. Boston is a young, well-coached team that feeds off the energy of their home crowd, but has struggled to perform on the road, with their only playoff road win coming in overtime." - Steve Merril.

INJURY REPORT:

Celtics - PG Shane Larkin (Out Indefinitely, Shoulder), PG Kyrie Irving (Out For Season, Knee), PF Daniel Theis (Out For Season, Knee), SF Gordon Hayward (Out For Season, Ankle).

Cavaliers - No injuries to report.

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE CELTICS (66-33 SU, 62-35-2 ATS, 52-46-1 O/U): Small forward Jayson Tatum scored 24 points in Game 5 for his ninth 20-point outing of the postseason. The 20-year-old is putting together one of the best scoring playoff runs by a rookie in NBA history with 312 points and he trails only Elgin Baylor (331), Alvan Adams (341) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (352). "It's just been a lot of fun," Tatum told reporters. "I've just been enjoying it, the level of play, the atmosphere. The playoffs bring the best out of people and out of players, and hopefully we keep it going. ... We're one win away from going to the Finals. "

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (60-38 SU, 38-59-1 ATS, 45-51-2 O/U): James had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while going 11-of-22 shooting in Game 5 and he downplayed interrogating questions about his level of fatigue. "I had my moments, but I think everybody at this point is tired, worn down whatever the case may be," James told reporters. "I was still trying to make plays, put our team in position to win." James topped 40 points twice in this series and six times in the postseason and has at times single-handedly kept his team afloat.

TRENDS:

* Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Cavaliers are 17-35-1 ATS in their last 53 home games.
* Under is 5-0 in Celtics' last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers' last 6 games following a straight up loss.
* Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

CONSENSUS: Early consensus numbers show 63 percent of spread bets are coming in on the underdog Celtics while 68 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA
Long Sheet

Friday, May 25

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOSTON (66 - 33) at CLEVELAND (60 - 38) - 5/25/2018, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) on Friday nights over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 60-35 ATS (+21.5 Units) in all games this season.
BOSTON is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) as an underdog this season.
BOSTON is 29-18 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games this season.
BOSTON is 35-22 ATS (+10.8 Units) against Central division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all playoff games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
BOSTON is 36-19 ATS (+15.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 23-14 ATS (+7.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
BOSTON is 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
BOSTON is 39-20 ATS (+17.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
BOSTON is 25-15 ATS (+8.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
CLEVELAND is 38-58 ATS (-25.8 Units) in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 23-48 ATS (-29.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
CLEVELAND is 16-32 ATS (-19.2 Units) in home games this season.
CLEVELAND is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.
CLEVELAND is 2-13 ATS (-12.3 Units) after scoring 85 points or less over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-9 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 13-7 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
12 of 20 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, May 25

Boston (3-2) @ Cleveland
Home side won/covered all five series games; four of the five games stayed under the total- in last 14 games between these teams, under is 9-5. In Game 4, Hill-Smith-Thompson shot 2-14 from floor, James/Love were 17-35 but they need help!!! Rozier/Brown shot a combined 7-30 in Game 4 and Celtics still won by 13. In games 3-4, the two games in Cleveland, Cavaliers led by 20-15 points at halftime. All five games were decided by 9+ points. Boston lost five of its last six road games- they won Game 3 in Philly.

Conference finals
Cavaliers-Celtics
Bos 108-83, +1, U204.5
Bos 107-94, +1, U205.5
Clev 116-86, -6.5, U207
Clev 111-102, -7, O205
Bos 96-83, -1.5, U205

Warriors-Rockets
GState 119-106, -1.5, U225.5
Hst 127-105, -1.5, O225
GState 126-85, -7, U228
Hst 95-92, +8, U227
Hst 98-94, +1, U220




NBA

Friday, May 25

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boston Celtics
Boston is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Boston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games on the road
Boston is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Boston is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games
Cleveland is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Cleveland's last 14 games at home
Cleveland is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing Boston
Cleveland is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Boston
Cleveland is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Boston

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA
Dunkel

Friday, May 25


Boston @ Cleveland

Game 709-710
May 25, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
117.295
Cleveland
126.885
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cleveland
by 9 1/2
207
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cleveland
by 7
201 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(-7); Over

 

[Cnotes53]

Friday's Playoff Essentials
May 25, 2018


Eastern Conference Finals - Game 6 - Celtics lead 3-2
Boston at Cleveland (-7, 201.5), ESPN, 8:35 ET

Hope your week went as planned. When it began on Monday, the dire circumstances that accompany Friday?s Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals once again ring true.

If the Celtics pull off the upset at Quicken Loans Arena, this might be the final time we ever see LeBron James suiting up for Cleveland. Even if they lose, it?s still possible that this will be James? swan song playing for his hometown team since Boston gets to host Game 7.

To extend the series even that far, James must continue to at least get help at home from a supporting cast that has largely abandoned him at TD Garden. The Celtics feature young players in their rotation that you expect to struggle on the road in crucial games like these, but the Cavs don?t have that excuse.

J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson have won a championship. George Hill is closing in on 100 career playoff games. All three were awful in the 96-83 loss on Wednesday night. While James and Kevin Love managed to score 40 points while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field, the three other members of Tyronn Lue?s starting lineup combined to make just two of 14 shots. They were all liabilities on the offensive end and didn?t make enough of a dent defensively to justify being out there.

That?s where Lue most went wrong in Game 6, leaving Kyle Korver on the bench after he?d been the x-factor in both of the Cavs? home wins, shooting 9-for-12. The excuse that Semi Ojeleye?s benching threw his substitution patterns for a loop was unacceptable, lending credence to the belief that he?s putting his team at a disadvantage from a strategy standpoint against Brad Stevens.

As things stand, a Boston team that came in +220 to win the series now has two chances to win one game in order to play their way into the NBA Finals. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward will watch on Friday and into June if the Celtics are still playing, which means that the team with the most championships in league history may play for one more with little chance to actually win one.

That?s not to say they can?t.

Although they would be a heavier underdog than they are in this series against the Western Conference champ, the potential that they run into a Houston team playing with a compromised Chris Paul could leave the door slightly ajar for the unlikely to transpire in order to cap a postseason that had largely gone as expected considering the four teams everyone expected would survive into the conference finals did exactly that.

Entering Friday?s action, both series underdogs own 3-2 leads despite being heavy underdogs entering Game 6. Full disclosure, I?ve pledged allegiance to both Cleveland and Golden State squaring off in a fourth consecutive NBA Finals and can honestly write that I haven?t deviated from that stance despite the current long odds.

That?s only half the battle. With Chris Paul?s status now a mystery, the Warriors are actually still favored in the series despite being down. Cleveland is currently an underdog to win at all despite being a substantial favorite to push things to the limit in tonight?s game.

Chris David of VegasInsider.com believes Cleveland will force a Game 7 but he doesn?t want to back the club on the points (-7) and the money-line (-350) is a tad inflated. He did offer an alternative approach for bettors that want to back the Cavaliers in Game 6.

?I expect Cleveland to win on Friday and set up a decisive finale on Sunday, but I?m still not willing to lay seven points with a team that has buried gamblers all season at home (12-27-2 ATS) plus it?s gone 3-5 ATS at home in the playoffs. I expect this game to be a dogfight and a potential matchup on Game 7 will likely be even tighter. Rather than taking a chance on the spread or betting $100 to win $28 on the money-line, I?d rather direct my attention to the Cavaliers on the adjusted series price,? explained David.

As of Friday, Sportsbook.ag had Cleveland listed as a plus-170 underdog (Bet $100 to win $170) to win the next two games and advance to the NBA Finals. Boston is a minus-200 favorite (Bet $100 to win $50).

David added, ?Along with many other pundits, I picked Cleveland to win the series and I was calling for a victory in seven games. I believe that outcome will occur and catching a positive return (+170) heading into a Game 7 will provide me with a hedge and perhaps a middle if the Cavaliers end up laying points on Sunday.?

My exact series pick of Cavs in six was doomed in Wednesday?s loss, which was particularly disappointing since Terry Rozier shot so poorly, finishing 3-for-15, including 1-for-7 from beyond the arc. For the series, he?s 5-for-31 (22.6 percent), so it?s not like he?s adequately replacing Kyrie Irving like he did in turning back Milwaukee and Philadelphia. The fact is, he?s been a liability who the Celtics have had to overcome. Considering he?s fearless and due for a big performance, Boston could just be one hot flurry away from reaching a level the Cavs can?t get to, even at home.

LeBron looked visibly fatigued in Game 5, betrayed by tell-tale signs like his hands on his hips and other clear examples of being worn out. Considering he?s been carrying such a heavy load for so long, helping secure even a No. 4 see when they probably should?ve lost the Central Division, his exhaustion is to be expected. What remains to be seen is whether he can overcome it. If he can conquer fatigue, a series deficit would be nothing new.

?James is facing elimination in a non-Game 7 situation for the tenth time since 2009,? said VegasInsider.com NBA expert Kevin Rogers. ?Over the last three seasons, the Cavaliers have not had their backs against the wall against an Eastern Conference opponent. Golden State sent Cleveland to the limit four times, as the Cavs went 2-2 SU and 2-1-1 ATS.

?In the only scenario in which Cleveland was a home favorite, the Cavaliers blew out the Warriors, 115-101 in their championship season of 2016 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The last time James faced elimination against an Eastern foe came at Boston in 2012 as a member of the Heat, as Miami won by 19 points in Game 6 and eventually won the series.?

Although he?s 2-4 in attempting to try and rally his team from an 0-2 deficit, James has managed to get the job done in the conference finals against the Pistons in ?07 and the ?16 Finals vs. Golden State. Boston is 37-0 all-time after taking a 2-0 advantage. The Celtics are 1-6 on the road this postseason, suffering every loss by double-digits and barely claiming the win they managed to get.

Despite all the noise about James knowing he?s done in Cleveland and wanting no part of a 3-6 career Finals record that would likely be in his future if he manages to get his team back into the championship round, he?s been brilliant and can be counted on to show up here. For the series, he?s averaging 30.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists, shooting 53 percent from the field.

Love has averaged just 12 points over the past three games and has to fare better if the Cavs are going to pull this out. He?s performed worse at home than on the road against both the Pacers and Celtics after averaging 22 points in arguably his two most efficient games against Toronto, so nothing is a given. James is the only player who can be counted on, so betting on this game hinges on whether you believe he can raise the level of play of multiple teammates.

We?ve been treated exclusively to blowouts thus far in the conference finals. Boston has the potential to end that if it can gain its bearings early, but they were way behind in Games 3 and 4 before the first quarter ended and have dropped five of its seven road games by nine or more points.

Totals-wise, the number for Game 6 is the lowest of the series, opening at 201.5 and residing there entering Friday. The closing figure in every game thus far has been in the 204.5-207 range, typically winding up at 205-205.5. The under has prevailed in four of the five contests so it?s no surprise to see a dip since the teams combined for just 179 points in Game 5, the lowest output of the series.

Game 7, if necessary, will be played Sunday in Boston.

 

[Cnotes53]

LeBron, Cavs facing win-or-else Game 6
May 24, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue was answering a question about Boston's defense on LeBron James during a teleconference when he tripped the security system at his home.

A piercing alarm sounded.

''Uh-oh,'' Lue said Thursday as he punched in a code to silence the screaming siren.

While Lue and his home were clearly safe, and the light-hearted moment passed quickly, it was also symbolic of Cleveland's urgent situation.

The Cavs are in a dangerous spot.

Beaten for the third time in Boston in these home-sweet-home Eastern Conference finals, Cleveland will face its second elimination game of the postseason on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

Game 6 is for everything.

Except, of course, if there's a Game 7 on Sunday in Boston.

Fueled by fueled-up Boston fans who must feel some sort of birthright to see their cherished team play in the Finals, the youthful Celtics again showed zero fear or hesitation on their parquet floor on Wednesday night during a 96-83 win in Game 5 that was never in any doubt.

Despite shooting only 36 percent, the Celtics improved to 10-0 at home in the playoffs as coach Brad Stevens changed his starting lineup, shortened his rotation to seven and released waves of defenders at James, who looked worn down as he attempts to advance to the NBA Finals for the eighth consecutive year.

Lue noticed early in Game 5 that James was dragging, but he's confident the 33-year-old, who was chosen All-NBA first team for a record 12th time, will be ready to save his season and prolong what could be his final games with the Cavs.

''I know he'll be ready to play Game 6, so fatigue won't be a problem and an issue,'' Lue said. ''I'm pretty sure a lot of guys are tired during this stretch of the year. If I had to pick one guy and choose one guy to prevail, it would be LeBron. I know he'll be great come tomorrow.''

Stevens started center Aron Baynes for the first time in the series and the move helped slow James, who had been crushing the Celtics when guard Terry Rozier switched on him. Rozier fronted James and got help from Baynes, the 6-foot-10, 254-pound Australian who contributed seven rebounds, six points and attitude.

''We've got a lot of tough guys on our team,'' Stevens said. ''But I think they all will tell you Baynes is one of the toughest we've all been around.''

Now Stevens needs his team to show that same tenacity on the road, where Boston is just 1-6.

The Cavs, on the other hand, are counting on James to rebound.

He pushed as hard as he could in Game 5, but for one of the only times in what has been a transcendent 13th postseason, he couldn't summon greatness.

He didn't have his usual burst. He bent at the waist grabbing his shorts, his breathing labored. During timeouts, he wiped sweat and perhaps some frustration from his forehead.

James is tired - for good reason. His teammates are draining him.

Once again, James, who will play in his 99th game this season Friday, didn't get nearly enough help from Cleveland's other starters and Lue didn't do him any favors, either.

James had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Solid, but sub-par by his standards and he committed six turnovers and missed some makeable layups. James still managed to outscore the rest of Cleveland's starters - Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, George Hill and J.R. Smith - 26-24.

Lue inexplicably left Kyle Korver off the floor for long stretches and following the game he curiously explained that Stevens' rotation ''kind of threw us for a loop.''

Asked Thursday if he wished he had done anything differently, Lue bluntly said: ''No.''

Thankfully, he's got James, who has six 40-point games and two buzzer-beaters in these playoffs, to save the season.

He's done it once already this spring, playing through cramps and scoring 45 points in a Game 7 win over Indiana. But he's played nine games since, and gotten less and less rest as the playoffs have progressed. His body has been forced to handle more than he imagined.

James has been down 3-2 in the conference finals before. In 2012, he faced a Game 6 elimination in Boston and scored 45 points with 15 rebounds and five rebounds as Miami won.

Now he's trying to keep this flawed Cavs team alive long enough for another trip to Boston.

On Friday, James will take the floor with his future hanging in the air. His second stint with the Cavs could end this summer if he opts out of his $35.6 million contract for next season and leaves again as a free agent, a decision he can delay again with a win.

But before he picks home or Philadelphia or Los Angeles or anywhere else, he's got at least one more game in Cleveland.

Game 6.

''No question in my mind that he'll bounce back,'' Lue said.

 

[Cnotes53]

FRIDAY, MAY 25
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BOS at CLE 08:30 PM

BOS +7.0

U 202.5

 

[Cnotes53]

LeBron pushes Cavs to Game 7 vs. Celtics
May 25, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James chose Boston as the place he'll play next.

Game 7 is on. And any talk about James' future is on hold.

Delivering another performance for the ages, James scored 46 points and preserved his reign atop the Eastern Conference for at least one more game as the Cleveland Cavaliers shook off losing All-Star Kevin Love with a head injury and beat the Celtics 109-99 on Friday night to force a decisive climax to this back-and-forth series.

James, playing in perhaps his final game for the Cavs in Cleveland, added 11 rebounds and nine assists while playing all but two minutes - to avoid elimination and delay any decisions about where he'll continue his remarkable career next season.

''Greatness,'' Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. ''Championship pedigree. Giving it his all. We needed that, especially when Kevin went down. We had to play `Bron as many minutes as he had to. He delivered. He was up for the challenge. He carried us home as usual.''

The king is not dead, and he still has a chance to make his eighth straight NBA Finals.

This series, in which home court has meant everything, will have a fitting conclusion Sunday at TD Garden, where the Celtics are 10-0 this postseason.

''It's a Game 7,'' James said. ''It's something that you wish you had when you're done playing, but more than that, it's just basketball for me. I know what I'm capable of doing, and I'm going to trust everything I put into it.''

George Hill added 20 points, and Jeff Green 14 for the Cavs, who lost Love in the first quarter after he banged heads with Boston rookie Jayson Tatum.

Terry Rozier paced the Celtics - now 1-6 on the road - with 28 points, and Jaylen Brown had 27.

The Celtics were still within seven in the final three minutes before James made consecutive 3-pointers, punctuating the second by pounding his chest with both fists and screaming along with 20,562 others.

''The love of the game,'' James said, explaining his reaction. ''It's a feeling you can't explain.''

Just for good measure, he added a three-point play and then was taken out of the game to a rousing ovation and chants of ''Cavs in 7!''

Boston's improbable run through the postseason without injured stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward will now take the Celtics back home, where they play with more intensity, togetherness and before fans hungry to see an 18th title banner raised to their arena's rafters.

''It's not going to be pretty,'' Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. ''We've got to come out ready to get our nose bloody and our mouth bloody. We've got to come out ready to fight. You've got to find a way, whatever it takes.''

Love went out with a head injury in the first quarter, forcing Lue to juggle his rotations and keep James on the floor longer than he wanted to. The three-time champion played the first 35 minutes without a break and then endured the final eight while nursing a right leg.

James didn't know until after the game that teammate Larry Nance Jr. had banged into him.

''I felt some pain throughout my entire right side of my ankle into my leg,'' he said. ''I was just hoping for the best, obviously, because I've seen so many different injuries, and watching basketball with that type of injury, someone fall into one's leg standing straight up. Luckily, I was able to finish the game.''

Hill, who came over in a deadline trade, has been awed by what James has done in this postseason.

''I've been in the league for some years and ran across him on the other side and really hated his guts,'' said Hill, who was on Indiana teams eliminated by James. ''But to have him on our side, it kind of lets me take a deep breath of fresh air. It's just something that you really can't explain what he's doing night in, night out. It's just something special.''

''I thought the best was when he always put us out. But to actually see it when he's on your team, I can't even put it into words.''

The real possibility that James was playing his last game in Cleveland hung over the game - and this city - in the hours leading to tip-off. Everyone had an opinion on what James will do next and that discussion filled the sports talk radio airwaves, bars and barber shops.

The 33-year-old has said several times since coming home in 2014 that he wants to retire with the Cavaliers, but fans are uneasy because he can opt out of his $35.6 million contract this summer and test free agency.

And, of course, he left in 2010.

James has said he'll sit down after the season ends to decide next move, and he's already being courted in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York where fans can only dream of him joining their rosters.

For now, he's only going to Boston.

NO LOVE

The game began ominously for the Cavs as Love was forced to leave following his violent collision with Tatum.

Love and Tatum were away from the ball and didn't see each other until it was too late. They banged heads and both immediately dropped to the floor with Love raising his left arm as if to signal he needed help.

As Love stayed down, the Cavs huddled around him. He was helped off and walked to the bench unsteadily before heading to the locker room for further treatment and evaluation.

His status for Game 7 is uncertain.

THE OTHER SIDE

Tatum stayed in following his nasty collision with Love. The rookie passed the concussion testing that he was given on the bench.

''I didn't see him coming, it was bad,'' Tatum said. ''I have a knot on the back of my head and he didn't return. I wish the best for Kevin Love because he's a great player and it's been a long season.''

PREGAME MEAL

Hill said he's played well after eating has tacos with barbacoa and guacamole before games.

''I'm for sure going to find a Chipotle in Boston, I'll tell you that,'' he said.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Own a 37-0 record when leading a series 2-0. ... Dropped to 1-4 in Game 6s over the last four postseasons. ... Coach Brad Stevens praised James for his consistency, and ability to exceed expectations. ''Nobody else has what he has on his shoulders playing the game,'' he said. ''I think that the way in which he's done that and all of the years now that he's made The Finals and gone deep into the playoffs, it's unbelievable.''

Cavaliers: Improved to 6-2 in elimination game since 2015. James has scored at least 40 in five of those wins. ... James' teams are 5-2 in Game 7s. ... This was the seventh 40-point game for James this postseason. Michael Jordan also had seven, one off Jerry West's record set in 1965. ... James passed Karl Malone (2,062) for sixth place on the career postseason rebounds list.

 

[Cnotes53]

Love leaves Game 6 after banging head with Boston's Tatum
May 25, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers All-Star forward Kevin Love will miss the remainder of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals after banging heads with Boston's Jayson Tatum.

Love and Tatum inadvertently collided midway through the quarter and both dropped to the floor. Love, who missed a March 28 game at Charlotte with a concussion, immediately raised his left arm as if to signal he needed help.

He stayed down for several minutes before he was pulled to his feet. Love walked unsteadily to the bench with guard George Hill holding one of his arms. Love sat briefly before heading to the locker room for further evaluation.

The Cavs said Love is being evaluated for a concussion and being kept out as a precaution.

Love was replaced by Jeff Green, who sparked the Cavs to a 54-43 halftime lead.

Tatum stayed in the game.

Love, who is in his fourth season with Cleveland and is the club's second-best player, is averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds in the series.

 

[Cnotes53]

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY MAY 26, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
9:00 PM Houston Rockets Golden State Warriors ORACLE Arena

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY MAY 27, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:30 PM Cleveland Cavaliers Boston Celtics TD Garden

SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY MAY 28, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
9:00 PM Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Toyota Center


*********************


MAY'S NBA BEST BET RECORD: ( BASED ON 5 UNITS )

05/25/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/24/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/23/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/22/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/21/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/20/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/19/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/16/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/15/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
05/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/13/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0,50
05/03/2018 0-4-0 0.00% -22.00
05/02/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/01/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50

Totals.............11-21-0........31.25%.....-59.50


BEST BETS................ATS....................UNITS.. ................O/U..............UNITS..............TOTAL

05/25/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1...............-5.50.............-11.00
05/24/2018...............1 - 0.................+5.00....................1 - 0.............+5.00.............+10.00
05/23/2018...............1 - 0.................+5.00....................1 - 0.............+5.00.............+10.00
05/22/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-11.00
05/21/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-11.00
05/20/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................1 - 0..............+5.00.............-0.50
05/19/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................1 - 0..............+5.00.............-0.50
05/16/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0- 1...............-5.50..............-11.00
05/15/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-11.00
05/14/2018...............1 - 0..................+5.00...................0 - 1..............-5.50..............-0.50
05/13/2018...............0 - 1..................-5.50....................1 - 0..............+5.00..............-0.50
05/03/2018...............0 - 2..................-11.00..................0 - 2..............-11.00............-22.00
05/02/2018...............1 - 0..................+5.00...................1 - 0.............+5.00.............+10.00
05/01/2018...............1 - 1..................- 0.50...................0 - 2.............-11.00.............-11.50

Totals.......................5 - 11................-35.50..................6 - 10...............-25.00............-60.50

 

[Cnotes53]

Saturday?s 6-pack

Odds to win one of the last three golf majors this year:

3-1? Dustin Johnson

5-1?- Jason Day, Rickie Fowler

8-1? Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood

10-1? Paul Casey

12-1? Brooks Koepka

15-1? Tyrrell Hatton, Branden Grace, Matt Kuchar

Quote of the Day
?You are the damn dumbest smart kid I know.?
Jon Voight, in Varsity Blues

Saturday?s quiz
What was the named of the domed stadium where the Seahawks/Mariners used to play their home games?

Friday?s quiz
Hall of Famer Kurt Warner holds the record for most consecutive regular season games where his team was favored, 55 games in a row. Tom Brady (50) is second on the list.

Thursday?s quiz
Pablo Sandoval is the last major leaguer to hit three homers in a World Series game, in 2012.

*************************

Saturday?s List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind??.

13) James Harden has missed his last 20 shots behind the arc; during that time, Houston has still outscored the Warriors by 12 points. Go figure.

12) Rockets? star Chris Paul (hamstring) is out for Saturday?s Game 6 at Golden State.

11) Sunday afternoon was supposed to be Tanaka vs Ohtani in the Bronx, but the Angels scratched Ohtani from the start, saying ?they are just managing his workload.?

Ohtani has thrown 40.1 innings in seven starts this year, not really that big a workload. Am guessing the TV people in Japan are upset; Tanaka-Ohtani would be big ratings in Japan.

10) Milwaukee Brewers are 32-20, in first place in NL Central, but they?ve been shut out in nine of their 20 losses, which means they?re 32-11 when they score at least one run.

9) Eli Manning has a contract with memorabilia dealer Steiner Sports to sell some of his game-worn stuff ? he was accused of defrauding collectors by selling equipment that he never actually wore, but he recently settled the suit out of court. In other words, Eli is a greedy creep.

While Manning bought his way out of the suit, the Giants fired three employees who worked on the team?s equipment staff. It is good to be rich- they only fire the worker bees.

8) Back when the Giants had training camp here in Albany, a friend of mine?s son asked Eli to sign a mini-helmet for him. Eli said yes, but he wouldn?t sign with a silver Sharpie, he insisted on signing with a black Sharpie, which doesn?t show up as well on the dark blue helmet.

Apparently the only time he uses a silver Sharpie is if he is getting paid to sign stuff for Steiner Sports.

7) Giants? Gorkys Hern?ndez had the most plate appearances without a home run last season (348); he already has five homers this season.

6) Red Sox activated Dustin Pedroia from the DL, DFA?d Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez was 302 PA away from his $22M option kicking in for 2019, so they told him to?..take a hike.

5) Mariners traded for Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome and CF Denard Span. giving up pitchers Andrew Moore, Tommy Romero. Moore is 1-5, 5.34 in 11 MLB games (9 starts), none this year.

Span will play CF with Dee Gordon likely moving back to 2B until Robinson Cabo?s 80-game suspension is over. Mariners add $9M in salary with this movie, but they saved $12M when Cano got suspended.

4) Going into Friday?s games, Mets were on pace to have the lowest OPS from the cleanup spot in the history of baseball, which obviously isn?t good. OPS is on-base %age plus slugging percentage.

3) Going into Friday?s games, major league home teams are winning only 49% of the time this season; there has never been a season where home teams lost more games than they won.

2) Before the playoff game Friday night. a gambler at SouthPoint Casino in Las Vegas bet $100K on the Cavaliers to win their series vs Boston at +$165. Same bettor also put $25K on Cleveland to win NBA title at 18-1, and another $25K at 15/1.

1) Last time both NBA conference finals went seven games was 1979; Sonics-Bullets was the NBA Finals, the year before Bird-Magic. Could happen again this year.

 

[Cnotes53]

Game 6 - Rockets at Warriors
May 25, 2018

Western Conference Finals ? Game 6 (Rockets lead 3-2)
Houston at Golden State (TNT, 9:05 p.m. ET)

The Houston Rockets are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals and the offseason acquisition of Chris Paul has certainly attributed to that goal but unfortunately an injury to the veteran guard has cast concerns for the club moving forward.

For the second straight game in the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets stifled the Warriors and captured a 98-94 win in Game 5 on Thursday. While Houston wanted to celebrate the win and its 3-2 lead over Golden State in the series, the late-game hamstring injury to Paul has many concerned as he limped off the court and didn?t play the final 23 seconds.

Rockets coach Mike D?Antoni addressed the media after the game. He said, ?He?ll be evaluated tomorrow. But obviously you saw him limp off, and he?s a tough guy. So they?ll do whatever they can do. If he?s there, great, good for him. If he isn?t, we have enough guys and it?s time for somebody else to step up. We?ve got plenty of guys over there that will have some fresh legs, that?s for sure. So we?ll be all right.?

D?Antonio?s presser after the game was a positive spin but the bad news became official for the Rockets nearly a half-day later and Paul was ruled ?out? for Game 6.

Tony Mejia, NBA Expert on VegasInsider.com, weighed in on the CP3 injury quickly after Thursday?s outcome.

?Oddsmakers supplied no wiggle room to get in cheap, apparently projecting that Chris Paul will miss Game 6 and installing Golden State as a double-digit favorite as a result. Don?t be bluffed off by the large number,? said Mejia.

?I?m of the belief Paul won?t play again in the series and would be a defensive liability if he?s cleared to participate due to a lack of mobility. If he?s ruled out, Rockets head coach Mike D?Antoni has already said he?d utilize Eric Gordon in more of a playmaker role, which probably means we?ll be in for another grinder and the Warriors would really have to shoot poorly at home to put themselves in danger of not returning to Houston.?

As Mejia noted, the Paul injury factor can?t be taken lightly especially when you look at the records. In the regular season, he missed 24 games and the Rockets went 15-9 without him. With him in the lineup, Houston was 40-8.

BookMaker.eu was the first major offshore shop to open Game 6 on Thursday night and they sent Golden State out as a 10 ?-point home favorite. As of Friday the number moved to 11 and after Houston officially announced that Paul was ?out? for later in the afternoon, the majority of books are holding the Warriors as low as -11 ? and as high as -12.

Mejia believes Game 7 will happen on Monday between the pair and the value is on the Warriors for the series and in the futures market.

He explained his position, ?The Warriors are heavily favored to win Game 6 and would likely be in a favorite?s role on the road in Houston if Paul is unavailable for the series finale, so there?s really no time like the present to get behind them to win a championship for value?s sake. There?s no question they?ve looked lost down the stretch in consecutive games but I agree with Kerr that they?re in a good spot, no longer underestimating their opponents and sufficiently motivated to battle back and make good on a golden opportunity to win a third title in four years from slipping away.?

?After winning a game by 41 points, Golden State has now fumbled away a pair of opportunities to essentially put the series away. Down to their final strike, it?s time to put up or shut up for both team and bettors alike. Believe this group is an all-time team? Back them to rally in the series and ultimately, to win a title. All is most certainly not lost,? added Mejia.

As Golden State attempts to win its third championship in the last four seasons, some pundits will point to the ?Battle of Attrition? that the Warriors seem to always win. Going against a short-handed squad in the playoffs is nothing new for the Warriors, who can now add CP3 to the list of stars (Kyrie, Kawhi, Love) that they've avoided in key games of key series over the last few years.

Despite facing a 3-2 deficit, Golden State remains the favorite (-165) to win the series while the takeback on Houston to win is plus-140. The Warriors are also 5/7 (Bet $100 to win $71) favorites to win the NBA Finals and that?s as cheap a price as you can get on them to capture the title.

Back to Game 6, bettors could be and should be hesitant to back the Warriors as double-digit favorites.

While it?s fair to say Golden State played well below its standards in the back-to-back losses and the two setbacks only came by a combined seven points, you can?t dismiss the fact that Houston played just as poorly yet they earned the ?ugly? wins.

When you look at the Game 5 numbers for James Harden, 19 points on 5-of-21 attempts, you?re still scratching your head how Houston won. The league?s likely Most Valuable Player this season has been anything but in this series, shooting 41 percent from the field and an abysmal 24 percent from 3-point land, which includes a streak of 20 misses in a row heading into Game 6.

Houston shot 37 percent as a team on Thursday, compared to 44 percent from Golden State but the Warriors doomed themselves with turnovers, coughing up the ball 16 times in each of the last two losses.

The eye-opener for me in this series has been Houston?s defense, which has held Golden State to 107.2 points per game and 47 percent shooting.

Prior to this series, Golden State had won 15 of the previous 20 encounters against Houston and the Rockets only notched five wins because of their offense, which averaged 119 PPG in the victories. To see them capture not one but two wins in this series while scoring less than 100 points is very impressive.

Backing the Warriors with a full squad off a loss was a good investment (13-2 SU) prior to the loss in Game 5 and the offensive production (124.7 PPG) in those games was off the charts.

Should bettors go back to that angle again? At the end of March, Golden State did drop three straight games and that was the only time they did so in the regular season. Outside of that minor skid, the Warriors went 3-0 both SU and ATS this year off back-to-back setbacks while outscoring opponents by an average of 16 PPG (118-102).

Houston hasn?t been listed as a double-digit underdog since the 2016 regular season and coincidentally they defeated Golden State 132-127 as an 11 ?-point pup on the road. As underdogs this season, the Rockets have gone 4-6 both SU and ATS and all four wins have come against the Warriors. Make a note that Houston didn?t cover in any of the six losses but the lines were much shorter than this spread (-12).

VI NBA expert Kevin Rogers checked out the VegasInsider.com playoff betting archives and dug up situations that apply to Game 6 tomorrow.

?Golden State is definitely in a rare point-spread position as this heavy of a favorite in a game that can end its season. In 2017, the team listed as the highest favorite with their backs against the wall was coincidentally the Rockets, who laid nine points to the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. San Antonio crushed Houston at the Toyota Center, 114-75 to advance, while cashing at +425 (Bet $100 to win $425) on the money-line,? said Rogers.

?Rewinding back to 2016?s Western Conference Finals, the Warriors won and covered in their two home games facing elimination against the Thunder by barely covering as 7 to 7 ? point favorites in Games 5 and 7, respectively.?

As a double-digit home favorite in the playoffs, Golden State has gone 16-1 SU since 2015. However, the Warriors have burned bettors with a 5-12 ATS mark and that includes three non-covers in matchups against the Spurs (0-1) and Pelicans (0-2) in this postseason.

Based on our closing numbers, the ?under? has gone 4-1 in this series and the last three results have been ?never in doubt? to the low side. Including those results, the ?under? is 17-8 in the last 25 encounters between the pair and that includes a 12-3 (80%) in playoff matchups. The total for Game 6 opened 213 ? and is sitting at 212 as of Friday evening.

While the Paul injury is huge, bettors should keep an eye on the status of Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (knee) for Game 6. He?s sat out the last two games in this series and also missed two regular season games against the Rockets. Golden State has gone 3-1 with him in the lineup against Houston and 1-4 without him.

If necessary, Game 7 will take place on Monday at the Toyota Center from Houston.

 

[Cnotes53]

Houston's Chris Paul out for Game 6
May 25, 2018

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Rockets will be without star guard Chris Paul for Game 6 because of a strained hamstring, a huge blow for a team trying to close out the Golden State Warriors.

Paul was injured in the fourth quarter of Thursday night's victory that gave the Rockets a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

''I hate it for him, above all,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said. ''He's practically won us the last two games. But great opportunity for other guys and we have plenty to choose from and we'll be ready.''

Eric Gordon, the star of Game 5, will start in Paul's place Saturday night. He started 30 games this season while Paul and James Harden dealt with injuries.

''It will not change anything that we do or how we do it,'' D'Antoni said.

Paul's right leg will be re-evaluated after the team returns to Houston following Game 6. On Friday, he was with the team, laughing and joking with teammates as they walked on the court for practice.

Harden said the Rockets don't have time to dwell on the absence of their nine-time All-Star.

''We don't want to come and be pouting around,'' he said. ''We want to keep our same swagger, our same positive energy. We try to feed that off to him as well: `Be happy, be ready; get this thing right, get this thing going and be back in no time.'''

Paul is in the conference finals for the first time after failing to advance past the second round in nine previous postseason trips. In his first season in Houston after a summer trade from the Clippers, Paul has paired with Harden to move the Rockets within one victory of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since Houston won titles in 1994 and 1995.

He has totaled 47 points in the last two games - both Houston wins - to allow the Rockets to come back from a 2-1 deficit.

Gordon has played a big role. On Thursday night, he came off the bench to score 24 points and made a steal in the final seconds to secure the victory.

''Whoever is out, it's almost like the next guy up, and everybody finds a way,'' Gordon said. ''We just collectively find a way to win. It's definitely going to be tough. But I still think at the end of the day, we're a tough team and we can still find ways to win.''

D'Antoni wouldn't speculate on Paul's availability if the Warriors force Game 7 on Monday night in Houston. But he said Paul will travel with the team to Oakland for Saturday's game.

 

[Cnotes53]

Warriors facing elimination but undaunted
May 25, 2018

HOUSTON (AP) If the Golden State Warriors are worried as they head into Game 6 of the Western Conference finals on the brink of elimination, they aren't showing it.

''We have a chance to tie the series at home. That's a pretty good position to be in,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''We've got to win two basketball games and we've done that an awful lot, so we're very confident.''

The defending champions trail Houston 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after consecutive wins by the Rockets, capped by Thursday night's 98-94 victory . Now the series shifts to Oracle Arena, a place where the Warriors have lost just one time in their last 17 playoff games.

Stephen Curry said the Warriors are encouraged despite falling behind in the series because they believe both games could have gone their way and that a few simple corrections will get them back on track.

''We have an opportunity to re-establish ourselves at home, get a big win, keep ourselves alive, and then roll the dice into Game 7,'' Curry said. ''Not all is lost.''

Houston's big win in Game 5 was tempered by a hamstring injury to star Chris Paul which will keep him out of Saturday's game. It's a major blow for a team which is looking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in more than two decades.

The Rockets believe they can absorb this loss and don't seem daunted by the setback, noting that they found ways to win in the regular season in many games where Paul sat out with injuries.

''I don't have a doubt,'' D'Antoni said. ''They see the challenge ... whether CP's there or not, it's a heck of a challenge, and they're up to it. They're looking forward to it.''

James Harden, who has struggled offensively in the last two games and went 0 for 11 on 3s in Game 5, rolled his eyes when asked if Paul's injury puts more pressure on him.

''Pressure for what? It's Game 6 of the Western Conference finals,'' he said. ''There is pressure on everybody.''

While that may be true, the onus is on Harden to step up and deliver an MVP-caliber performance if the Rockets hope to close out this series. Harden has had plenty of playoff disappointments in the last few years and embraces the chance to get Houston back into the finals.

''It's an opportunity that a lot of people never had and probably won't ever have,'' he said. ''It's our job to go out there and have fun with it and do the same thing we've been doing. We want to take advantage of it.''

While the Rockets will be down a starter, the Warriors could get one back if Andre Iguodala can return on Saturday. The Warriors have missed the defensive presence of Iguodala who has missed the last two games with a bruised left knee.

Iguodala is listed on the injury report as questionable for Game 6 and Kerr said he didn't have an update on his condition on Friday. But he did address what it would mean to Golden State if he's healthy enough to go on Saturday.

''He's a great player,'' Kerr said. ''He's one of our keys, and we've missed him the last two games. But we can't count on it. Injuries happen, and you've just got to play with whoever's out there. So we're hoping he's back, and we'll see what happens.''

Iguodala's absence has been magnified in this series that has morphed into a defensive slugfest instead of the high-scoring shootout that most expected when it began. The Rockets take great pride in the fact that they've limited Golden State to less than 100 points in the last two games and think continuing to play great defense is the only way they'll advance.

''It's something we talked about building up all year,'' Houston's P.J. Tucker said. ''To see our defense now be as good as it is, we still think it could be a lot better. We watched film, and honestly ... we didn't play great defense last night. Everybody will talk about how good a defense we played, but we really don't feel like that. So just keep working and trying to get better.''

Kerr said the experience of his team, which is trying to reach the finals for the fourth straight year, will be valuable as the Warriors try and climb out of this hole and force Game 7. He referenced the conference finals in 2016 when they fell behind Oklahoma City 3-1 before winning the next three to take the series.

''We've been here before,'' Kerr said. ''We've faced elimination on the road before - this team has - a few years ago. We faced series deficits before. We've won all of those series. Our guys have the ultimate confidence that we can get it done this time, too.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Injuries taketh away, and injuries giveth
May 25, 2018

The NBA playoffs never go according to plan. The Golden State Warriors are proof of that.

Again.

They have been the league's best team over the last four seasons, without question. But even the great teams need injury luck on their side, as has been evident in each of their playoff runs over that span.

Enter Chris Paul and Andre Iguodala this year.

In 2015, Golden State didn't have to face injured Cleveland stars Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love in the NBA Finals and won the title.

A year later, the Warriors blew a 3-1 finals lead against the Cavs because the series turned in Game 5 - not because Draymond Green was suspended (the often-offered and incorrect narrative), but because Andrew Bogut got clumsily taken out by J.R. Smith and the Warriors had no one left to defend the rim from LeBron James' constant onslaughts.

Last year, Kawhi Leonard came down on Zaza Pachulia's foot in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, San Antonio's big lead was gone in an instant and the Warriors steamrolled the rest of the way to another title.

Injuries taketh away. Injuries giveth.

The reigning NBA champions are on the brink of elimination, down 3-2 in the West finals in large part because Iguodala's knee has prevented him from playing in the last two games - both of them close losses to the Houston Rockets, outcomes that may have been different if he was on the floor.

But now those Rockets have lost Paul to a hamstring strain. Officially, Paul is out for Game 6 against the Warriors on Saturday. Realistically, the perennial All-Star is probably out for a lot longer.

Series lead, Houston.

Advantage, it sure seems like Golden State.

''Injuries happen,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday. ''And you've just got to play with whoever's out there.''

It's amazing to consider that the Warriors have four All-Stars - Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Green - and yet they're one loss from summer right now because a 34-year-old Iguodala hasn't been on the floor. Make no mistake, his absence has crushed the Warriors and especially so in late-game situations.

Golden State was awful offensively in the fourth quarter of Game 4 and lost. The Warriors then got ripped for Quinn Cook taking a wide-open 3-pointer and missing with about a minute left in the Game 5 loss at Houston. Green's many social-media critics reveled in how he dropped a pass and booted the ball off his leg in the final seconds for a turnover that cost Golden State a chance to tie or win the game.

If Iguodala was there, he'd have been involved in those plays.

''He's one of our keys, and we've missed him the last two games,'' Kerr said.

Iguodala might be able to get through it and play on Saturday night. Paul won't; in fact, it seems logical to fear that his season may be over regardless of how far the Rockets go.

Hamstrings don't heal in a day or two. Playing through an ankle sprain or broken finger, that's noble at this time of year. Hamstrings don't allow for such displays of toughness. Running, jumping, cutting, they're simply not possible. Paul could barely stand after getting hurt Thursday. Anyone envision him running by Monday?

Probably not.

This has been the NBA season of injuries. Gordon Hayward's season was over after five minutes on opening night and the Boston Celtics had to reinvent themselves. The Celtics had to do so again when they lost Irving to knee surgery late in the regular season. It took time; the Celtics nearly were knocked out in the first round before finding their stride again.

The Warriors, they're running out of time. The Rockets, they don't have time to waste either. Without Paul this season, they're an exceptional 61-12. Without him, they're 15-9 - still good, but hardly great.

Even with a 3-2 lead, the Rockets probably need one more great game to end Golden State's reign.

''We've been here before,'' Kerr said.

The Warriors aren't acting like worriers. They've learned how to roll with the punches at playoff time, no matter how much they hurt.

 

[Cnotes53]

Saturday's Top Wager
May 25, 2018

Game 6 - Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors

The defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors are one loss away from elimination as they head home for Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. The Houston Rockets have won each of the last two games to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Warriors had their chances to win each of the last two games but failed down the stretch. Oddsmakers don?t think Game 6 is going to come down to the last few minutes, as the Warriors are double-digit favorites.

Let?s look at the contest and NBA picks.

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
Date and Time: Saturday, May 26, 2018, 9:00 p.m. Eastern
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
NBA Odds : Warriors -11, O/U 213.5
Rockets vs. Warriors TV Coverage: TNT

The Warriors have found a way to lose each of the last two games down the stretch, yet they are supremely confident they will win the next two games of this series. "I feel great about where we are right now," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Game 5. "That may sound crazy, but I feel it. I know exactly what I'm seeing out there, and we defended them beautifully tonight. We got everything we needed. Just too many turnovers, too many reaches, and if we settle down a little bit, we're going to be in really good shape." Golden State had every opportunity to win Game 4 in Oakland and they had plenty of chances to win Game 5 in Houston. They held James Harden to 5-of-21 shooting and 0-of-11 from 3-point range and still lost.

Kerr said to the media that his players realize they should have already won this series. ?I think they know that we could have won this game, could have won the last game. I think they're sitting in there and they're angry, as they should be. They're competitors."

The Warriors have not been the same team without Andre Iguodala in the lineup and his status for Game 6 is unclear. The Rockets have an even bigger problem, as Chris Paul injured his hamstring in Game 5 and he was ruled 'out' for Saturday's matchup. Paul said he was going to play, but it certainly makes more sense for Houston to hold him out for a potential Game 7 on Monday back in Houston.

Key Player

You can make a case for Harden, Paul, Durant or Curry being the key player, but the reality is that the Warriors have dominated this series when Iguodala has been in the lineup and they have struggled without him. Kerr said Iguodala has improved each day since his knee injury but he is still not sure if Iguodala will play on Saturday. Just how important is Iguodala to the Warriors? The Warriors are 3-1 against the Rockets this season with Iggy in the lineup and they are 0-4 against Houston without him.

Key Stats

The Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games. The Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games. The Warriors are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games.

Looking at the total, the Under is 4-0 in the Rockets last 4 road games. The Under is 7-1 in the Warriors last 8 overall. The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

Rockets vs. Warriors Free Picks

I said before Game 5 that it was a tough call and I split, taking Golden State and under. I think Iguodala will play on Saturday night and I also think the Warriors will win big. I know that it is hard to prove a conspiracy, but the NBA is now going to get what they want and that is a Game 7 in Houston on Monday night. Almost everyone thought this series was in fact the true NBA Finals, because no one believes either Boston or Cleveland has any chance to beat Golden State or Houston for the title. Now that a Game 7 is likely, look for the Warriors to play great and rout the Rockets in Game 6.

Rockets vs. Warriors ATS Pick: Warriors minus the points.
Rockets vs. Warriors Score Prediction: Warriors 120, Rockets 100

 

[Cnotes53]

Preview: Rockets (65-17) at Warriors (58-24)
Date: May 26, 2018 9:00 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Houston Rockets will attempt to close out the defending champion Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday night, but will have to go about it without star point guard Chris Paul.

Paul had 20 points, Eric Gordon 24 and James Harden 19 when the Rockets moved to within one win of their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1995 with a 98-94 home victory over the Warriors on Thursday.

As it turned out, the key play of the game -- in more ways than one -- occurred when Paul suffered a strained right hamstring while attempting a missed floater in the key with 51.7 seconds remaining and the Rockets clinging to a 95-94 lead.

Paul was unable to return to the defensive end after the miss, giving the Warriors a five-on-four power play with a chance to go ahead.

But instead of placing their uncovered man, little used Quinn Cook, close to the basket, the Warriors spotted him up for a 3-pointer, which he missed after nervously fumbling a pass.

The Rockets went on to score the final three points on free throws to go ahead 3-2 in a playoff series for the first time since 2009.

"We don't want to just be down on it. We want to keep our same swag, our same positive energy," Harden said of the loss of his backcourt sidekick. "We're not here moping around and sad. We're good."

Paul is seeking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. Now it's possible the Rockets will make it, but he won't.

The club wouldn't speculate about his availability past anything more than Game 6. He will be re-evaluated when the Rockets return home Sunday, either for a Game 7 against the Warriors on Monday or for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

The Rockets went 15-9 without Paul in the starting lineup during the regular season, with Gordon replacing him on 21 of the 24 occasions.

Gordon has been a key contributor to the Rockets' success off the bench in the series. He has single-handedly outscored Golden State's reserves 38-16 in the last two games, both of which Houston has won to reverse what had been a 2-1 deficit in the series.

Of course, the Warriors have had health issues of their own in the series, with Andre Iguodala having missed Games 4 and 5 with a bruised left knee.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted Friday that he had "no idea" whether Iguodala would be available for Game 6, while at the same time noting that "he's gotten incrementally better each day."

With or without Iguodala, history says the Warriors will be tough to beat under the circumstances they'll be experiencing in Game 6.

Since Kerr took over as coach in 2015, the Warriors are 36-6 at home in the postseason, including an NBA-record 16-game winning streak that was snapped in their 95-92 loss in Game 4.

They've won 26 of their last 32 playoff games regardless of the site, and have a 3-1 record under Kerr in potential elimination games, with the lone loss coming in Game 6 of the 2016 Finals against Cleveland.

The Rockets, meanwhile, have wasted no time disposing of vulnerable opponents this postseason, eliminating Minnesota in the first round and Utah in the Western semifinals at first crack after going up 3-1 in each series.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Warriors at Rockets
Mon, May 14 Final 119 to 106
Recaps

GAME 2
Warriors at Rockets
Wed, May 16 Final 105 to 127
Recaps

GAME 3
Rockets at Warriors
Sun, May 20 Final 85 to 126
Recaps

GAME 4
Rockets at Warriors
Tue, May 22 Final 95 to 92
Recaps

GAME 5
Warriors at Rockets
Thu, May 24 Final 94 to 98
Recaps

GAME 6
Rockets at Warriors
Sat, May 26 - 9:00PM EDT

GAME 7
Warriors at Rockets
Mon, May 28 - 9:00PM EDT

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA Western Confernce Finals Game 6 betting preview: Rockets at Warriors

When Chris Paul was in the lineup for Games 3 and 4 in Oakland, the Rockets were 7.5-point underdogs. Without Paul, they're currently +12 for Game 6.

Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors (-12, 212)

Rockets lead series 3-2

The Houston Rockets are on the brink of the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals since 1995 but will be without point guard Chris Paul when they try to knock off a proud defending champion. The Rockets, who took a 3-2 series lead with a home win in Game 5, will take the first of their two shots at earning one more win when they visit the Golden State Warriors for Game 6 on Saturday.

The only downside to the 98-94 Game 5 win for Houston was the sight of Paul leaving with a hamstring injury in the final minute, and he was ruled out of Game 6 on Friday. "It's obviously not something we wanted," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters before Friday's practice. "I hate it for him above all. He's practically won us the past two games. But it's a great opportunity for other guys, and we have plenty to choose from. We'll be ready." The Warriors, who represented the West in the last three NBA Finals, are not panicking about being one loss away from an early vacation. "I feel great about where we are right now," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters after Game 5. "That may sound crazy, but I feel it. I know exactly what I'm seeing out there, and we defended them beautifully (Thursday night). We got everything we needed. Just too many turnovers, too many reaches, and if we settle down a little bit, we're going to be in really good shape."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT

SERIES PRICE (PER WESTGATE LV SUPERBOOK):

Golden State Warriors -130
Houston Rockets +110

LINE HISTORY: The Rockets opened Game 6 as big 10.5-point road dogs without Paul, three points more than they were listed for Games 3 and 4. And without Paul bettors are fading the Rockets as the line has jumped to Warriors -12.

CONSENSUS: It seems like that it's sharp money moving the number as 66 percent of public wagers are happy to be getting all those points with the Rockets. When it comes to the total 66 percent of wagers are on the Over.

INJURY REPORT:

Rockets - PG Chris Paul (Out, hamstring).
Warriors - SF Andre Iguodala (Questionable, knee), SG Patrick McCaw (Out, back), SF Chris Boucher (Out, ankle).

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (76-21, 50-46-1 ATS, 39-57-1 O/U): Houston won the last two games despite a historic shooting slump from MVP candidate James Harden, who missed his last 20 3-point attempts after going 0-of-11 from beyond the arc on Thursday. "I'm just missing shots," Harden told reporters. "But we're winning, and I'm trying to compete on the defensive end and do other things to help my team win. But if we've got a guy like (reserve shooting guard) Eric Gordon making shots and being aggressive, who cares?" Harden scored a series-low 19 points on 5-of-21 shooting in Game 5 but is averaging 27.4 points against Golden State.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (68-29, 41-55-1 ATS, 44-52-1 O/U): Star forward Kevin Durant scored a team-high 29 points in Game 5 but was 8-of-22 from the floor and got caught in isolation several times instead of moving the ball. "Yeah, they're switching a lot when I get in the post now," Durant explained to reporters. "I can feel them bringing a guy over, so I just got to make the right play. But, yeah, (I need to) probably mix it up a bit and see where I can get different catches and touches because they're kind of figuring stuff out for us." Durant is averaging 31.2 points on 46.5 percent shooting in the series after shooting 51.6 percent during the regular season. Forward Andre Iguodala (knee) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Game 6.

TRENDS:

* Rockets are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games playing on one days rest.
* Warriors are 4-17 ATS in their last 21 games playing on one days rest.
* Under is 4-0 in Rockets last four road games.
* Under is 7-1 in Warriors last eight overall.
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA
Dunkel

Saturday, May 26

Houston @ Golden State

Game 509-510
May 26, 2018 @ 9:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
120.923
Golden State
134.890
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 14
220
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 10 1/2
213 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Golden State
(-10 1/2); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, May 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON (76 - 21) at GOLDEN STATE (68 - 29) - 5/26/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 65-41 ATS (+19.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
HOUSTON is 28-18 ATS (+8.2 Units) in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
HOUSTON is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 40-54 ATS (-19.4 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 38-48 ATS (-14.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 19-28 ATS (-11.8 Units) in home games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 21-35 ATS (-17.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 11-8 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 13-7 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
13 of 20 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, May 26

Houston (3-2) @ Golden State
Chris Paul hurt his hamstring near end of Game 5; check status. Rockets held Golden State to 92-94 points in last two games; Warriors? sub played 53:00 in Game 5 and shot a combined 2-8 from floor. Golden State lost its last two games; Iguodala didn?t play in either game, which isn?t a coincidence. Houston plays better when they take more 3-pointers; in their three series wins, they took 123 treys, 122 2-pointers. In Golden State?s two wins, Rockets took 71 treys, 95 2-point shots. Under is 4-1 in this series, 8-2 overall in the conference finals this spring. Under is 11-4 in last 15 Rocket-Warrior games.

Conference finals
Cavaliers-Celtics
Bos 108-83, +1, U204.5
Bos 107-94, +1, U205.5
Clev 116-86, -6.5, U207
Clev 111-102, -7, O205
Bos 96-83, -1.5, U205
Clev 109-99, -7, o201.5

Warriors-Rockets
GState 119-106, -1.5, U225.5
Hst 127-105, -1.5, O225
GState 126-85, -7, U228
Hst 95-92, +8, U227
Hst 98-94, +1, U220




NBA

Saturday, May 26

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Houston Rockets
Houston is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
Houston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games on the road
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
Houston is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Golden State
Houston is 3-12 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Golden State is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State's last 8 games
Golden State is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games at home
Golden State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 6 games at home
Golden State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Golden State is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing Houston
Golden State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing Houston
Golden State is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Golden State is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston