PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Total MASSACRE (Sat) >> 6-2 (75%) NBA Totals Run!
(NBA) Indiana vs. Cleveland,
Total: 209.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 209.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The Cavs have sure not looked like defending champs since the All Star break and in particular, since the beginning of March. Cleveland ended the season on a four-game slide and will enter the postseason with a 10-14 record since March 1. However, few doubt that the remain the favorites (prohibitive?) to come out of the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers will begin their title defense by hosting the seventh-seeded Indiana is in Game 1 of the first round on Saturday. The Pacers went over two months without securing back-to-back wins but with "their backs to the wall" (maybe too many backs in ths sentence), Indiana responded by closing the season on a five-game winning streak which clinched a playoff spot but not until the final day of the regular season.
Indiana: It was no surprise that All-Star small forward Paul Goerge (23.7 & 6.6) led the charge over the last five games, averaging 30.8 points on 56.9 percent shooting while recording three double-doubles in that span. "I guess it's because we're doing everything right," George said of the five-game winning streak. "When our back is against the wall, we figure things out. It just showed the character of this team, that we knew all along that we should have been a playoff team, we just hadn't figured out how to play the game thed times when they rested right way. I think we did that at the right time." That streak began after a 135-130 double-overtime loss at Cleveland in which George scored 19 of his 43 points in the overtime periods. Maybe the most surprising aspect of the last two weeks for Indiana is that the return of swingman Lance Stephenson has actually been a positive. Stephenson has played about 22 minutes in his six games (team is 5-1 with only that 2-OT loss to the Cavs), averaging 7.2-4.0-4.2.
Cleveland: There is no doubt part of Cleveland's slump was due to the team resting players with nagging injuries. Injuries to J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, and Kyle Korver were significant plus LBJ and Kyrie had time in which they were "rested." Still, it's been more than just a six-week slump for the Cavs, as they check in at only 23-23 over their last 46 games. That said, the good new is, the Cavs are heading into the postseason pretty much fully healthy.
The pick: LBJ is looking to advance to the NBA Finals for the seventh straight season, which is quite a run. However, first things first. Every postseason begins with a first-round series and LBJ's teams have never lost a first-round series. In fact, they won the last 17 games in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Pacers come to Cleveland for the first two games of this series with the worst road record of any of this year's playoffs teams, at 13-28. However, the Cavs have work to do on defense, ranking 20th in scoring defense overall and just 29th since the All-Star break! Make the Over a 10* play.
Indiana: It was no surprise that All-Star small forward Paul Goerge (23.7 & 6.6) led the charge over the last five games, averaging 30.8 points on 56.9 percent shooting while recording three double-doubles in that span. "I guess it's because we're doing everything right," George said of the five-game winning streak. "When our back is against the wall, we figure things out. It just showed the character of this team, that we knew all along that we should have been a playoff team, we just hadn't figured out how to play the game thed times when they rested right way. I think we did that at the right time." That streak began after a 135-130 double-overtime loss at Cleveland in which George scored 19 of his 43 points in the overtime periods. Maybe the most surprising aspect of the last two weeks for Indiana is that the return of swingman Lance Stephenson has actually been a positive. Stephenson has played about 22 minutes in his six games (team is 5-1 with only that 2-OT loss to the Cavs), averaging 7.2-4.0-4.2.
Cleveland: There is no doubt part of Cleveland's slump was due to the team resting players with nagging injuries. Injuries to J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, and Kyle Korver were significant plus LBJ and Kyrie had time in which they were "rested." Still, it's been more than just a six-week slump for the Cavs, as they check in at only 23-23 over their last 46 games. That said, the good new is, the Cavs are heading into the postseason pretty much fully healthy.
The pick: LBJ is looking to advance to the NBA Finals for the seventh straight season, which is quite a run. However, first things first. Every postseason begins with a first-round series and LBJ's teams have never lost a first-round series. In fact, they won the last 17 games in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Pacers come to Cleveland for the first two games of this series with the worst road record of any of this year's playoffs teams, at 13-28. However, the Cavs have work to do on defense, ranking 20th in scoring defense overall and just 29th since the All-Star break! Make the Over a 10* play.
