NBA Parlay – Boston in Tough Spot Against Miami and Lakers Look Solid vs Thunder

The first games are in the books for the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Miami looked like they were in control of Game 1 before the Celtics outscored them 21 to 10 in the 4th quarter to take Game 1 85 to 76. The Men in Green not only won the game but they covered the 4 ½ point spread to prove themselves a wise basketball pick.

Miami figures to bounce back because of an injury to Kevin Garnett. The Heat constitutes the first part of my Tuesday two team parlay.

The second part of my two team parlay are the Los Angeles Lakers who are going off at the nice basketball odds of -6 ½ against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. I say nice because L.A. should be going off at much higher odds than that.

Game-night: 4/20/2010

NBA Playoffs: Tuesday Night Two Team Parlay

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics

Tip-off: 10:30 pm EST

Basketball Odds: Miami +1 ½

Analysis: The Miami Heat had no business losing Game 1 this past weekend of this best of seven series. The Heat was up by 2 points going into the 4th quarter, but, strangely enough, couldn’t hang on. When you have Dwayne Wade on your team, you’re supposed to be better in the 4th, not worse.

D-Wade did score 26 points, but the awesome Wade just didn’t get a lot of help. Only Quentin Richardson was able to put the ball in the basket, scoring 15, while Michael Beasley Carlos Arroyo, Jermaine O’Neal and Udonis Haslem were all held to under 10 points.

Wade might not need help on Tuesday night as the Celtics will be without Kevin Garnett. Glen Davis is a good player but he’s no Kevin Garnett. Garnett, who is suspended from playing in Game 2 because of an elbow to Richardson in a melee in the 4th quarter of Game 1, grabbed 9 rebounds, chipped in 15 points and played 33:21 minutes in Game 1.

The Heat should win this game without Garnett on the floor. The Celtics just won’t be able to play the type of defense that they played in Game 1 without KG.

Pick: Miami Heat +1 ½

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Tip-off: 10:30 pm EST

Basketball Odds: Los Angeles -6 ½

Analysis: The Lakers covered a 7 ½ point spread by winning by 8 points in Game 1. If anything, I believe that L.A. plays even better in Game 2. So, I’m loving that the line is 6 ½ as opposed to 7 ½ points for Tuesday night’s game.

L.A.’s brand of defense did well to stop everybody on Oklahoma City’s team except their top two scorers, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Westbrook was good for 23 points and Durant was good for 24. If Durant doesn’t put up at least 30 to 35, then the Thunder won’t win a single game in this series.

I expect the Lakers to defend Durant as well or better in this game. Durant went for 7 for 24 in Game 1. It’s likely he’s going either push his shots in Game 2 or be hesitant to even shoot. So what if he puts up 24 points again when shooting 7 out of 14? He still won’t have enough points for his team to win.

Kobe was held to 21 in Game 1. So, if he increases his point total by around 4 to 6 points, which is very likely, the Lakers should beat the Thunder by at least 10 on Tuesday night.

Pick: Los Angeles Lakers -6 ½