NBA Playoff Pick-a-thon Day 21: Miami Has a Bird Woman, Too?

                 

The interesting part of this photograph taken when Joakim Noah was ejected from the intense, physical, foul-ridden Game 2 between the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls is how each participant is experiencing the moment differently.

Black Security Guard: I knew I should have taken the Heat and laid the points.

Guy in White Shirt: You better believe I paid the surgeon to freeze her mouth like that.

Blonde Woman: Your shirt much more closely matches my fingernail polish than my purse, you moron.

Kid on the Bottom Right: Why is that woman wearing a scarf for a shirt?

Joakim Noah: God dammit, Mom. You can be such a bitch.

                                 
"Joakim told me amaranth, but the road uni's are clearly crimson."

Noah's mother and Internet sensation, Cecilia Rodhe, later admitted at a press conference that what started out as a wardrobe mis-communication between her and her son, ended up with her being consumed by the mob mentality sweeping through American Airlines Arena Wednesday night.

Friday night, the conference semi-finals shift to to Chicago and Oakland with both series knotted at one. After a day off (or five if your any of the other four teams I can't remember because it has been so long since they played), let's hope the rest doesn't kill the momentum we've built over the past three weeks.

POST-SEASON RECORD TO DATE: 37-15 ATS 

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS: 7-1 ATS 

CONFIDENCE EFFICIENCY RATING (CER): 76/107 or .71

TOP CONFIDENCE PICKS THROUGH DAY 19: 14-5 ATS  

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (-3) over San Antonio Spurs: San Antonio Spurs coach and future Hall of Famer Greg Popavich has led his team through over 200 playoff games in his seventeen years with the organization, winning 123 of them and claiming 4 NBA titles along the way. If there's anyone who can make coaching adjustments after being embarrassed at home for 90 of the 106 minutes they played, it's Pop. Unfortunately for him, "Roar"acle, the Golden State Warriors home arena, is undefeated this post-season against legendary coaches trying to make adjustments. Advantage: Warriors

                     

Couple that with the fact that Klay Thompson was the top Google search in the world yesterday, and you have a recipe for San Antonio disaster. Everyone knew that the Splash Brothers were comprised of Stephen Curry and some other really good shooter, but now they know his name. San Antonio, I'd like to introduce you to The Curse of the Alam(eda Freeway). Tonight: Make that 0-3 since 2012. I'd give up 20 points here - and then ask for 16 back towards the end of the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, Warriors go up 2-1 and cover. Confidence Rating: 2

                             

Miami Heat (-7.5) over CHICAGO BULLS: If the Bulls were any healthier - just a little Deng or Heinrich  defensive presence we would have taken Chicago. As it is, I don't see the home floor slowing down the Miami offense or intimidating their defense enough to keep this close. I'll be rooting for the Bulls but taking my heart out of it in hopes of keeping our conference semi-finals streak alive. Confidence Rating: 1

                        

That's a Bull in a Heat wave if you didn't get my subtlety.

Enjoy your weekends, everyone. See you tomorrow for continued NBA playoff coverage.

Vinny and Marco

BONUS COVERAGE FROM KYLE'S CORNER IN CANADA

Greetings as everyone. It's Friday and the NBA is alive and well.

      

Plus, I KILLED IT with my picks! I'm a very system based unit gambler so my fluctuation can never be crazy but it was a noticeable spike today. Without further adieu! My recap:

NHL: 7-2, (7-1 for me I didn't end up betting the low confidence over 6) full updates = 18-7

MLB: 4-3, full = 26-19-2 

Again two of the three MLB losses were just razor thin, Detroit lost by 1 and Yankees won but only by 3 not 5.

Ok so for today's picks:

Starting with NHL (1 being most confident then downward) I'm picking all the games, just straight winners no really amazing bets today.

1. Boston Bruins.
2. Washington Capitals. (Doesn't that Ovechkin picture just scream "Showtime!")
3. Anaheim Ducks.
4. Los Angeles Kings.

         

Now for MLB!

Hot pitcher ride:

              

DET:   Scherzer (4-0, 3.43 ERA)
CIN:   Cingrani (2-0, 2.63 ERA)
BOS:   Lester (4-0, 3.30 ERA)
STL:   Miller (4-2, 1.96 ERA)
SEA:   Iwakuma (3-1, 1.61 ERA)

Overs!

CLE:   Kluber (2-1, 3.06 ERA) @ DET:   Scherzer (4-0, 3.43 ERA) O8.5

TOR:   Ortiz (0-0, 5.40 ERA) @ BOS:   Lester (4-0, 3.30 ERA) O-Anything

PIT:   Rodriguez (2-2, 4.02 ERA) @ NYM:   Marcum (0-2, 7.20 ERA) O7.5

NYY:   Hughes (1-2, 3.60 ERA) @ KC:   Davis (2-2, 4.75 ERA) O8.5

BAL:   Hammel (5-1, 4.10 ERA) @ MIN:   Pelfrey (3-3, 6.35 ERA) O9

MIA:   Fernandez (1-2, 3.48 ERA) @ LAD:   Magill (0-0, 7.88 ERA) O6.5

ATL:   Hudson (4-1, 3.83 ERA) @ SF:   Cain (1-2, 5.57 ERA) O6.5

TEX:   Ogando (3-2, 3.08 ERA) @ HOU:   Keuchel (0-1, 4.96 ERA) O8.5o

Good luck all, 

Kyle