The NBA playoffs tip off this weekend, with games on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday slate is the better one, so let’s see how three of the day’s four games are likely to turn out.
Game 1 – Brooklyn Nets @ Toronto Raptors
Saturday, 12:35 PM ET
NBA Basketball Betting Odds: Toronto -2.5
This is the toughest series to call in the first round, and it’s also the series with the toughest Game 1 to predict. Will Brooklyn use its proven experience to establish the way it wants to play, or will Toronto, inspired by a home crowd in Canada, use a lot of enthusiasm to run past the slower, older Nets? It’s a very interesting question. Opinion is sharply divided in this series, but it’s worth noticing that the Nets rested their starters on Wednesday against Cleveland and should be ready to play even though this game is an early afternoon start on Saturday. The Nets might have a hard time winning three playoff series, and they’ll probably have to work to win this series as well, but they should probably be in a good frame of mind for Game 1 against a Toronto team that is just not used to this kind of moment.
Pick: Brooklyn +2.5
Game 1 – Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers
Saturday, 3:35 PM ET
NBA Basketball Betting Odds: Clippers -7
The Warriors suffered a huge blow when they realized that center Andrew Bogut will not play in this series due to the latest injury in a series of physical setbacks during a snake-bitten career. With Bogut able to play well in the 2013 playoffs, Golden State shrugged off the absence of David Lee and very nearly made the Western Conference Finals. Without Bogut, it’s hard to see how the Warriors will be able to play the kind of defense that can propel them past the Los Angeles Clippers, who have looked like an NBA title contender over the past two months. The Clippers now have the coach, Doc Rivers, who can guide them to the final few rounds of the NBA playoffs. It would be a real shocker if Golden State won this series.
Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -7
Game 1 – Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Saturday, 9:35 PM ET
NBA Basketball Betting Odds: Oklahoma City -7
The Thunder should win this series, because Memphis’ long-term problem is that it has not been able to hit perimeter shots. The Grizzlies probably aren’t going to be able to come up with enough of the offense they’ll need to win this game. Memphis, however, is a tough matchup for Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies have Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol to throw at the Thunder near the basket. That kind of quality post play is something that Oklahoma City, with all its wing scorers, might not be able to handle for 48 minutes. The Thunder should win this game, but they’re not going to win it by much. Memphis is the better choice against the spread.
Pick: Memphis +7
