Cleveland is a basketball team that is more prone to overlays perhaps more than any other team in the East as the post-season nears. Cleveland has been to the NBA Finals the last three years, and when you toss in the fact they have the most recognized player in the game leading the charge, the Cavaliers inflict premiums on all takers to back them particularly in this spot. As we have frequented previously, premiums are usually a case with New York on their home court, but given how weak the Knicks have been this season, this phenomenon is null and void. However, the Knicks have been proven to be a formidable threat on their home court as the season comes to an end. In doing so, New York has also boded tremendous value against the spread as they have taken advantage of high point spreads.ome

As the season winds down, teams like Boston are more prone to loftier point spreads against teams like Atlanta. However, this could be quite disadvantageous to anyone who backs the Celtics in the spot. Boston will be preparing for the post-season while Atlanta will be working in their reserves to ready their personnel for next year. As a result of these intangibles, the Hawks are offered with tremendous value here with the number of points on the table. The sheer unpredictability of personnel groupings makes this game a dangerous scenario to back Boston by namesake and body of work alone. Don't get caught laying too much lumber.

If there was a team that should not be spotted this kind of lumber it is clearly the New York Knickerbockers. The Knicks come in off a win that will ignite this outfit to play at a higher level. Moreover, we saw the Knicks offered at this number in their last exploit against this team, and they covered with ease. Chances are Milwaukee will have bigger fish to fry than to handle this contest as they have the playoffs to prepare for. New York, on the other hand, will treat this homestand as an Alamo as they will have nothing left to hang their hat on after defending their home turf to close out the season. The Knicks have all the makings here to be a live dog. We will fade a likely overlay here and take the points with New York.

Late in the season is the time of year where teams like the Knicks will be taking back a favorable number thanks to their current predicament with regards to the post-season. Miami is well on the way to the playoffs while the Knicks remain scratching their heads with getting a win, let alone being formidable in the East. As a result, New York will once again incur a lofty point spread to take back to enchant takers to back them in this position. This is an atypical motif for Knicks basketball given the fact they are typically prone to a premium to be supported in Madison Square Garden. We will step in and take advantage. The rivalry element of this affair will give New York plenty of motivation to show up for this contest.

The adage holds especially true when we see Golden State playing at a peak level when you back the Warriors you can expect to pay a premium to do so. However, Golden State takers are best advised to consider that the Warriors are not scheduled to beat up on an Eastern Conference cupcake. The low-hanging fruit here suggests that the Warriors are in a position to likely be upset by the Indiana Pacers who are on their way to the post-season. A win here for Indiana boosts their morale and momentum as they head into the playoffs and you can be rest assured Indy will be looking to take advantage. The heavy lean by the public suggests that the Warriors are offered at a price that is deceptively good. On the contrary, reading between the lines, one can deduce that the Pacers are in fact a great play outright on the Money Line.

More than ever, a premium is bound to be inflicted on the Raptors in this contest by virtue of a few key variables. As mentioned, the home team has had the upper hand in this series. This in itself subjects Toronto takers to a loftier number. When you toss in the fact that Toronto has been feared north of the border all season long. However, Boston has the blueprint to make this game a close one. The Celtics own advantages in the defense and rebounding department which means they can neutralize the home cooking reasonably quick. Moreover, this can lead to the Celtics orchestrating an upset outright. Given how good this team is as a whole, the Celtics are taking back a true value number.

As we have championed previously, buying low and selling high is a big part of our betting acumen. The ingredients here set up Brooklyn to take back a very friendly number. Philadelphia has dominated this series of late that adds to the propensity for an overlay. When you add in the current win streak along with a slew of success against the spread, the Sixers are due for a massive correction. The narrative of home-court advantage only enhances the likelihood of an inflated number which in turn brings forth a scenario where there is an excellent chance the Sixers will fail to cover this line. The action early indicates that we are in a position here for a prime fade opportunity.

Brooklyn has a knack for sneaking up on teams that sleep on them. This scenario sets up yet again for the Nets to bite the heels of a better Eastern Conference unit. Detroit enters in the specific capacity to set up takers for a let-down. The Pistons have covered in their last seven contests and as mentioned they enter in exceptional form in the wins and losses category. Despite their successes, the market is reluctant to give this team any cushion to work within this contest against one of the lowliest teams in the NBA. What this creates is a prime fade opportunity. It is clear as day, Brooklyn is still playing for pride at this point. At home, you can expect them to take the fight to a likely overvalued Pistons bunch.

There are a lot of things to like about New York here in this spot. The Knicks own advantages in virtually every statistical category despite owning the worse record and a lower motivation to compete in this contest. New York is more physical on the boards and possesses a more efficient and prolific offense compared to the Pistons. When you combine these intangibles with the fact New York has played a better brand of basketball in the Big Apple, the points here make the Knicks a savory play. We’ll go ahead and trade the points away here. New York on the Money Line is our call.

Make no mistake about this one; this is a game of little consequence. In this time of the season, teams like Chicago and Orlando are bound to get their reserves some extra playing time and perhaps even tank games to get the best chance in the draft lottery. With this said, any time we see a team spotting points it raises a query as to how exposed it leaves takers. Once that number begins to rise, there is excellent chance we can be seeing an overlay materializing in front of us. Bottom line, motivation levels will be at a minimum here, and given that fact, Orlando is a dangerous proposition with additional lumber. Grab the points here, Chicago may pull an upset given the unpredictable nature of this game.

Boston has done an excellent job at making bettors money on the road lately, and I like the Celtics' chances to keep Wednesday night's contest closer than 6.5 points for one main reason the defense. Each of these teams boasts a shutdown defense that is ranked near the top of the league when it comes to points allowed. Tight defense at both ends of the court has a way of keeping games close between two competitive teams.

Buying low and selling high is a practice that we preach. Nothing typifies this scenario perhaps more than the different directions that these two teams have continued to travel in. The Knicks are more likely to treat this game as a dress rehearsal while Philly continues to get ready for the playoffs. Sure, the Sixers will likely have their way in this contest against a demoralized Knicks and win this one with little trouble. However, if Philadelphia elects to call off the dogs early, there is plenty of lumber on this table for the Knicks to come through the back door. Very simply, laying big lumber like this is way too significant a risk to take.

If there was one thing that could be ascertained from Toronto's most recent home loss against the Clippers, it is that they are not entirely unstoppable at home. Denver has a different wrinkle that makes them a tough out for anyone they play against. The Nuggets are one of the most physical rebounding teams in the NBA, and they can undoubtedly push Toronto around on their home court if the Raptors are not careful.

You can pretty much guarantee that Memphis loses again on Monday night, so betting this game comes down to Minnesota covering a hefty spread at home. While the Timberwolves have not been a reliable betting team as of late, these are the type of matchups that they should be able to win going away. I also like the OVER in this conference tilt, but my ‘best bet’ pick is Minnesota both SU and ATS on its home court.

If there is one thing that gathered about the Los Angeles Lakers, it is that they are not afraid to roll up their sleeves on the road. The Lakers do not adhere to the myth that West Coast teams do not play well across the Mississippi. Moreover, Los Angeles also knows that it can hang with the big boys. Just over two weeks ago, the Lakers took down the Cleveland Cavaliers at home as a two-point choice. Detroit is a squad that is inferior in quality compared to their Central Division counterparts. Don’t be surprised if Los Angeles pulls an upset here against a Detroit team disappointed with how their season has panned out regardless of their acquisitions.

As we have said previously when you back Toronto at home, you can certainly expect to pay albeit that number is due to be inflated. This is only enhanced further by the fact that Los Angeles has not fared well as of late overall. When you toss in the narrative of a West Coast team playing on the East Coast, the action on Toronto seems that sweeter. However, Los Angeles knows how to beat this team as they did in the last meeting between the two. Expect that confidence to help them be competitive in this game.

This is the time of year where some teams are going to call it quits on the season and start subbing in young talent and reserves. The Bulls, needless to say, are at that junction. As for Detroit, their post-season aspirations are on the rocks at this point, but on paper, they have more to play for. Given the nature of the acquisitions this team has made and the hype that has surrounded them, Detroit is going to look to prove something in this game against a hated rival. Nevertheless, rivalry games produce the unexpected. Moreover, we can never recommend taking this long swim back albeit double-digit point spreads are tough to overcome in the NBA. However, the public perceives Chicago as one of the worst teams in the East and terrible on the road. Detroit plays well at home. As a result, you can expect to spot an excessive number if you back the Pistons here.

When you pay to back Toronto at home, you can certainly expect that number to be inflated. There is little doubt that Toronto will win this contest. However, for anyone to even dream of backing Brooklyn, the number will be boosted to entice that action. Teams of Brooklyn's quality undergo such a phenomenon and thus offer profit in many against the spread markets. We will go ahead and take advantage here and lay the heavy lumber in this contest.

Very simply, this is a game of little consequence for either team making it what we call a junk-time match. Memphis is one of the weakest squads in the NBA and Charlotte is also out of the post-season discussion at this point. This match is the perfect game for reserves to get repetitions and enhanced playing time. Given the quality of Charlotte as a whole, asking them to spot a double-digit point total would be incredulous on a typical day. However, in a game like this one, it would be entirely ludicrous. Significant chance for an overlay here and we will step in and grab inflated points.

I went with the Spurs both SU and ATS in Monday's game against Golden State as my ‘best bet' pick. San Antonio is a team that starting to find its form at the right time of the year. The Spurs have also returned to playing shutdown defense which tends to keep the scoring low on both sides of the scoreboard. The lean for Wednesday’s game is towards the Spurs, but the ‘best bet’ pick is the UNDER on the 204.5-point total line.