Magical Matchups – Spurs vs. Celtics and Lakers vs. Cavaliers

Game-day:  2/8/2009

The two best games for both NBA fans and online sports betting fans occurs this Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs travel to Boston to take on the Celtics and the Lakers travel to Cleveland to take on King James and the Cavaliers.

It’s rare that the top four teams in the NBA will be playing each other on a single day, but that’s exactly what’s going to happen on Sunday. 

Let’s analyze each game!

Best NBA Betting Games this Weekend

San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics:  Defense will be the name of the game for online NBA betting fans when the 33 and 15 Spurs travel to Boston to take on the 41 and 10 Celtics.  The Celtics play terrific team defense, but so do the Spurs.  KG should be available for this game, but keep a close eye on him as the Celtics have to play the Lakers on Friday night.  Neither team is all that great against the spread and the BetOnline odds makers are going to set a total that nobody can really figure out.  That means we have to do some serious handicapping in this one.  I believe that San Antonio is the play if Manu Ginobili steps onto the court.  He’s listed as questionable right now.  That’s the first reason to like the Spurs.  The second reason is Tony Parker.  Even though the Celtics have a front line that can deal with Tim Duncan, who should be back onto the court for this after sitting out San Antonio’s last game, the Men in Green won’t have an answer for Parker who is averaging over 20 points a game.  Parker could light up Rondo in this.  I’m going with the Spurs and taking the points.

Pick:  San Antonio Spurs to beat the spread at +5 ½ or higher in the BetOnline online sportsbook.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers:  This is the game that everybody has been waiting for.  It’s setting up as a duel between the two best players in the NBA – - LeBron “King” James and Kobe Bryant.  Bryant and James no doubt will understand the significance of this game as a personal challenge to both of them.  James is the better rebounder and assist man but Bryant has that killer instinct that’s rare in NBA players.  James is slowly developing one.  In any case, putting all of the hype aside, this game is going to come down to the Lakers not having the inside presence to deal with Zydrunas Ilgaukus and Anderson Varejao.  With the injury to Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are going to have to rely on the defensively challenged Pau Gasol to contain Ilgaukus and Varejao.  Daniel Gibson isn’t bad either and Ben Wallace could very well shut down Gasol.  That means that the pressure on Kobe is going to be huge.  Can he overcome it?  If anybody can it’s Kobe, but I don’t think that will happen.  The Cavs are just playing too well right now.  Their record against the spread, 32 and 15, and their record against the spread at home, 18 and 5, means that they are primed to put a beat down on the Lakers.  I’m taking the Cavs.

Pick:  Cleveland Cavaliers to cover the spread at -5 ½ or lower in the BetOnline sportsbook.

Good Luck!