NBA Saturday Parlay – 3 Picks = More Money

Best Parlay: Saturday Opportunity Awaits in NBA Playoffs

Game-day: 4/18/2009

There’s nothing quite like the intensity of the NBA Playoffs. Teams become desperate early in the first round and since Commissioner David Stern decided to go to a 7 game series in the first round, that intensity could last for a while.

The best three games to bet on this weekend are actually on Saturday. I love the over in the Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers contest on Sunday at 210 but to me that isn’t one of the three best bets.

Let’s take a look at the three best games that comprise our three team parlay this weekend!

Game #1: Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics

Tip-off: 12:30 pm est.

BetOnline Spread: Bulls +8 ½

Analysis: I did a nice write-up on this game in my NBA Weekend article. The Celtics will be without Kevin Garnett and the Bulls have been playing much better. The Bulls actually beat the Celtics by 6 points the last time these two teams met, 127 to 121. I believe that 8 ½ are just too many points to give up.

So, the Chicago Bulls at +8 ½ is the first team in our 3 team parlay.

Game #2: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Tip-off: 3:00 pm est.

BetOnline Spread: Detroit Pistons +12

Analysis: Detroit really hasn’t played that badly versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. If the last game between these two teams is any indication, the Cavs are going to find themselves in a serious battle. Detroit has pride and they appear healthy with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace ready to go after the Cavs.

I see this as a much closer game than the 12 points would indicate. The Cavs are terrific at home and they should definitely win this game but Cleveland is going to have trouble running up and down the court and getting into a fast paced game. Cleveland usually covers when they can get into fast paced games. When they are in a defensive struggle, they tend not to cover.

The Detroit Pistons at +12 is the second team in our 3 team parlay.

Game #3: Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trailblazers

Tip-off: 10:30 pm est.

BetOnline Spread: Portland Trailblazers -4

Analysis: The 4th versus 5th seeds should always be a tough match-up but the Blazers have won 9 out of their last 10 games straight-up and have gone 8 and 2 ATS in their last 10. Houston just doesn’t have the guard play to contend with a hot Portland team even though the last time these two teams met, on 4/5/2009, Houston beat Portland by a score of 102 to 88.

I don’t see that happening again mainly because Portland is at home for this game and there isn’t a better fan base in the NBA, outside of Utah, than the fans in Portland. The danger, though, is that Portland went 1 and 2 versus the Rockets in the three games between the two teams this season.

I’m still going with Portland. I just don’t see how the Rockets get up for this game and with Greg Oden coming off the bench to lend support to Joel Pryzbilla, the Blazers should be able to contain Yao Ming.

Houston really has nobody after Yao.

The Portland Trailblazers at -4 are the third team in our 3 team parlay.