{"id":4266,"date":"2009-04-19T10:41:00","date_gmt":"2009-04-19T15:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2009\/04\/sunday-nba-playoff-picks-and-mlb-underdog-winners\/"},"modified":"2009-04-19T10:41:00","modified_gmt":"2009-04-19T15:41:00","slug":"sunday-nba-playoff-picks-and-mlb-underdog-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2009\/04\/sunday-nba-playoff-picks-and-mlb-underdog-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday NBA Playoff Picks and MLB Underdog Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=Section1>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Lakers begin their playoff run, the Sharks look for a playoff win, and the Cubs and Cards do battle under the lights.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><b><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size: 9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Tipping off on the hardwood&nbsp; . . .<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The NBA playoffs continue on Sunday, with Game 1&#8217;s in <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>Los   Angeles<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Orlando<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Atlanta<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, and <st1:City><st1:place>Denver<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>. The Lakers are the biggest chalk out of that group to make it to the second round of the postseason, as Kobe Bryant and company are listed at -2500 to dispatch <st1:State><st1:place>Utah<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>. <st1:City><st1:place>Los   Angeles<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> is an 11-point home favorite on Sunday, and they managed to beat the Jazz 125-112 at home when they met on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The closest series is expected to be Heat\/Hawks, with <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>Atlanta<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> a slim -135 favorite to win the best-of-seven set. The Hawks begin this series at home on Sunday, where they&#8217;ve been listed as a 5-point favorite. <st1:City><st1:place>Orlando<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> is a 9-point favorite to beat Philly at home on Sunday, and -900 chalk in the series. As well, <st1:City><st1:place>Denver<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> is favored by 6 points at home against <st1:City><st1:place>New Orleans<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, and -240 in the set.<\/p>\n<p><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'>Goodbye sportsbooks\u2026<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/b><\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The top <a href=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/\">baseball handicapper<\/a> GodsTips led by Grandmaster <a href=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/\">sports handicapper<\/a> Joe Duffy is doing yet again winning with underdogs and small favorites. They are 6-2 this weekend with MLB plays, four underdog winners, three Dandy Dogs. Dandy dogs are moneyline dogs of 140 or more (includes <span class=SpellE>runline<\/span> getting back 140 or more). Today&#8217;s card is loaded in the NBA and MLB.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The <span class=SpellE>LateInfo<\/span> line says the cute things falling asleep would be the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.linetrackers.com\/\">sportsbooks<\/a>. &#8220;Big Red&#8221; is a major figure and pioneer in offshore betting. He has unique access to professional oddsmakers and gamblers. All his bets are based on consulting with elite handicappers, pro bettors and linesmakers. These are linesmakers who spend 50-70 hours a week making the lines and elite sports handicappers with years of experience beating those betting odds. He has one that rises to the level of a Special Release on the Jazz\/Lakers as the <span class=SpellE><span class=spelle>LateInfo<\/span><\/span> goes to 18-5 the last 23 years. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/index.php?Page=Packages\">Click now to purchase<\/a><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><b><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size: 9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Meeting up on the diamond . . .<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The Cubs will host the Cardinals in baseball&#8217;s Sunday <span class=SpellE>nighter<\/span>, with <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>St. Louis<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> <span class=SpellE>righthander<\/span> Todd <span class=SpellE>Wellemeyer<\/span> (1-1, 4.50 ERA) taking on <st1:City><st1:place>Chicago<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> lefthander Ted Lilly (2-0, 3.86 ERA). Lilly is coming off a stellar outing against the Rockies in which he tossed 6 2-3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and fanning eight. <span class=SpellE>Wellemeyer<\/span> gave up one run in seven innings against the D-Backs last time out.<\/p>\n<p><span class=GramE><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>Rounding out the Senior Circuit&#8217;s schedule for Sunday: <\/span><\/font><\/span><st1:City><st1:place><span   class=GramE>Milwaukee<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span class=GramE> at the Mets, <\/span><st1:City><st1:place><span class=GramE>Atlanta<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span class=GramE> at <\/span><st1:City><st1:place><span class=GramE>Pittsburgh<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span class=GramE>, <\/span><st1:City><st1:place><span class=GramE>San Diego<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span class=GramE> at <\/span><st1:place><st1:City><span class=GramE>Philadelphia<\/span><\/st1:City><span  class=GramE>, <\/span><st1:State><span class=GramE>Florida<\/span><\/st1:State><\/st1:place><span class=GramE> at <\/span><st1:State><st1:place><span class=GramE>Washington<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><span class=GramE>, <\/span><st1:City><st1:place><span class=GramE>Cincinnati<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span class=GramE> at <\/span><st1:place><st1:City><span class=GramE>Houston<\/span><\/st1:City><span  class=GramE>, <\/span><st1:State><span class=GramE>Colorado<\/span><\/st1:State><\/st1:place><span class=GramE> at the Dodgers, and <\/span><st1:State><st1:place><span   class=GramE>Arizona<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><span class=GramE> at <\/span><st1:City><st1:place><span   class=GramE>San Francisco<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span class=GramE>.<\/span> <span class=GramE>Giants<\/span> lefthander Randy Johnson (0-2, 11.42) seeks better results in that contest.<\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The Junior Circuit offers up a seven-game slate on Sunday, with Cleveland at the Yankees, Oakland at Toronto, the White Sox at Tampa Bay, the Angels at Minnesota, Kansas City at Texas, Detroit at Seattle, and Baltimore at Boston. <span class=GramE>Orioles<\/span> right-handed starter Koji <span class=SpellE>Uehara<\/span> is now 2-0 in his major league career, but he was knocked around for seven earned runs by the Rangers last time out.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><b><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size: 9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Taking a trip around the rink . . .<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>After a two-day break the Ducks and Sharks will continue their first-round playoff series in <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>San Jose<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> on Sunday night. <st1:City><st1:place>Anaheim<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> upset top-seeded <st1:City><st1:place>San Jose<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> 2-0 in the series opener on Thursday night, with Jonas Hiller making 35 saves in the shutout victory. Scott <span class=SpellE>Niedermayer<\/span> and Ryan <span class=SpellE>Getzlaf<\/span> picked up goals in that win.<\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>There are <span class=GramE>also three Game 3&#8217;s on the NHL&#8217;s playoff schedule<\/span> for Sunday, with <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>Pittsburgh<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> at <st1:City><st1:place>Philadelphia<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Vancouver<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> at <st1:City><st1:place>St. Louis<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, and <st1:State><st1:place>New   Jersey<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> at <st1:City><st1:place>Carolina<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>. The Penguins and Canucks both lead their series 2-0 after picking up wins on Friday night; <st1:City><st1:place>Pittsburgh<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> beat Philly 3-2 in OT, and Roberto <span class=SpellE>Luongo<\/span> and the Canucks blanked the Blues 3-0. The Hurricanes and Devils find their best-of-seven set knotted up at 1-1; <st1:City><st1:place>Carolina<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> pulled out a 2-1 overtime victory on Friday.<\/p>\n<p><strong><b><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size: 9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Rounding out the Roundup . . .<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>Finally, Formula 1 continues its Asian swing on Sunday with the Chinese Grand Prix in <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>Shanghai<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>. Jenson Button won the first two races of the F1 season in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region><st1:place>Malaysia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, and he holds a 15-10 lead on second-place (and Brawn-Mercedes teammate) Rubens <span class=SpellE>Barrichello<\/span> in the <span class=GramE>drivers<\/span> championship. <st1:City><st1:place>Toyota<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> drivers <span class=SpellE>Jarno<\/span> <span class=SpellE>Trulli<\/span> and <span class=SpellE>Timo<\/span> <span class=SpellE>Glock<\/span> sit third and fourth in the current standings, with Lewis Hamilton back in 10th place with just one point after a slow start to the year. <st1:City><st1:place>Hamilton<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>, though, claimed the Chinese Grand Prix last season (in October).<\/p>\n<p><font size=2 color=\"#333333\" face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"blogger-post-footer\"><a\nhref=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/\"><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>OffshoreInsiders.com<\/b><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Lakers begin their playoff run, the Sharks look for a playoff win, and the Cubs and Cards do battle under the lights. Tipping off on the hardwood&nbsp; . . . The NBA playoffs continue on Sunday, with Game 1&#8217;s in Los Angeles, Orlando, Atlanta, and Denver. The Lakers &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2009\/04\/sunday-nba-playoff-picks-and-mlb-underdog-winners\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Sunday NBA Playoff Picks and MLB Underdog Winners<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4266"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4266\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}