NBA Playoff Picks ATS Day 6: Tim Donaghy Blows Whistle on Gambling Ring

Then starts his own Internet gambling site. No joke. It's called Refpicks.com, it boasts a 64% success rate, and it's comprised of 10 other handicappers/former refs I can only imagine Donaghy met while serving his 11 month prison sentence in Pensacolo Florida for his role in fixing NBA basketball games ten years ago. Or at the Special Prison Olympics - not sure which.

                            
                              Me Like-y Bet-y

Anyone who reads TSZ knows that I love to make shit up as much as the next guy. Love it! If I knew I could recruit enough writers, I would happily morph this site into a sports-only Onion, which would continue to include our gambling advice because, truth be told, it's only a smidgen above fiction. This, I kid you not, is real. Click on the link - maybe you'll get better picks. Maybe Donaghy still has some boys on the inside. Maybe 64% with the combined efforts of 11 self-proclaimed experts is really worth paying for. Judging by the way they spell LABRON James, however, I'd think twice about that last maybe.

          
      Maybe she (LaBron) did influence Game 2

Well, Tim, I guess the 12-Step meetings in prison didn't take. I say as long as he's being an honest degenerate gambler - good for him. At least he's giving advice rather than duping people. If Alex Rodriquez began pioneering a movement for mandatory labeling of "alternative" supplements or Ben Rothlesberger started teaching self-defense classes to young women, I would applaud them too.

Now let's see how our numbers stack up against the refs.

Post-Season to Date: 9-7 ATS (8-4 since Day 2)

Confidence Efficiency Rating: 20/35 or .57

Top Confidence Picks to Date: 4-1 ATS

That last number is not only impressive, but it officially qualifies Marco and ,me to be NBA referees. Unfortunately, after we both aced our Wonderlic's, we made made verbal commitments to NFL teams to be their unpaid, sixth string quarterbacks.

Miami Heat (-7.5) over MILWAUKEE BUCKS: Donaghy's crew was very upset about fellow Irishman, Mike Dunlevy, nailing the three pointer in Miami and giving the Bucks the back door cover as time expired. Rumor has it Tim was sitting on his couch at home, in full uniform, whistle in mouth, blowing it like crazy and calling a foul on Chris Webber. To no avail. There is a psychology to Game 3's, and nobody understands that better than a defending champion and three-time MVP. LEBRON James will not let the Milwaukee Bucks back into the series. Look for Miami to open up a big lead early and never look back. Confidence Rating: 3 (Most Confident)

                          

CHICAGO BULLS (-3.5) over Brooklyn Nets: My favorite part of Game 2 in this series was watching how fired up the Chicago Bulls bench got about defensive stands. I'm pretty sure they just sat their mute and unimpressed when their team scored, but a steal, a shot clock violation, or a Nets turnover, and they went nuts. I don't care if Derick Rose ever comes back - I just want to watch this team stop other teams for as long as possible. Confidence Rating: 2

                 

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (-4.5) over LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: We figure if we keep betting on Memphis, we're bound to win eventually. The Grizzlies are a stellar defensive squad, they have a respectable home record ATS but an even better record as a favorite and 38-28. This series is going to be much longer than Clipper fans would like to think. It's another psychology game. The Grizzlies know they let one slip away and are experienced enough to reclaim it. From the opening tip-off, look for Defensive player of the Year winner, Marc Gasol, to take control of this game and lead the Grizz to victory.

                     

Confidence Rating: 1 (if you couldn't tell by my ambivalence)

Good luck and happy gambling, TSZers.

Vinny and Marco