POST-SEASON RECORD TO DATE: 42-21 ATS
CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS: 12-7 ATS
CONFIDENCE EFFICIENCY RATING (CER): 83/123 or .67
TOP CONFIDENCE PICKS THROUGH DAY 26: 17-8 ATS
The great thing about winning streaks as a gambler is...well, winning...accumulating cash, prizes, the respect of your peers, and the naive adoration of gambling fans around the world - or at the very least the greater United States, Canada, and good old John in Australia. The bad thing about winning streaks is the deluded belief that you have finally figured this whole gambling thing out and that losing is obviously something only stupid people do. On Sunday, Marco and I were convinced that Vegas makes money purely on the idiotic loyalty of sports fans and the prisoners of previous moments. We then proceeded to go 1-5 ATS over the past three days. If we weren't thoroughly experienced in the realm of these setbacks (thank you NFL), we might let it shake our confidence like Knick in a Pacer field house.
Two conference semi-finals are now over, and to be honest I'm sad to see the Chicago Bulls go. As far as I'm concerned, their Game 1 win over Miami and their competitiveness throughout the series put a chink in the armor of the defending champions, diminishing their aura of invincibility to the remaining playoff teams. Unfortunately, there are no real Cinderella stories in a best-of-seven series. And if the NCAA tournament modeled their playoffs after the NBA, the same would hold true there - no Butlers, no Vilanovas, no NC States. Hell - there probably wouldn't be a Jimmy V Foundation, because Coach Valvano would have just been that poor coach who lost the championship in five and then got cancer.
"Remember to think, laugh, and find grace in defeat every day..."
It would have been a different world. Just sayin'...
Don't worry, dear readers. We're not shaken nor stirred by our recent ATS dip - just a little abrasive and mean-spirited. Losing is for stupid people and today we travel from coast to coast to right the ship, reclaim what is rightfully ours, and return TSZ to its natural state of whining. I mean winning. Let's get to work.
Indiana Pacers (+4.5) over NEW YORK: Dillinger (the rap artist) once wrote, "A knife, a fork, a bottle, and a cork - that's the way you spell New York Jim." Well, Jim, you can put that fork in New York because they're done. They might sneak a victory here and send the series back to Indiana, but it will only be by the grace of a last-minute hail Mary by a Jason Kidd determined not to finish his career on a nine-game non-scoring streak. The Pacers have the confidence, the personnel, and the 3-1 stranglehold on the series. Plus they don't want to give Miami time to rest.
Confidence Rating: 2
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (+1.5) over San Antonio Spurs: C'mon - you didn't really expect us to use our heads this time. This could be our last chance to take the Warriors this season, and we're carpe-ing the diem. Is there any doubt that the Spurs have more weapons, more experience, more defensive intensity? No. But the Warriors have shot so badly for the past three games, they're due to have a turn around. If Mark Jackson and his crew look at the tapes, they'll see the holes in the Spurs pick-and-roll defense and they'll exploit them.
Look for David Lee to either start or come in early and offer inspire some crowd energy and some easy offense. His injury places this Warriors team on a Top Ten list of "Imagine If..." playoff runs that include the likes of this year's Oklahoma City and Chicago teams. The only difference right now - the Dubs are still playing. Take all one and a half and enjoy this post-season's second Game 7 back in San Antonio. Confidence Rating: 1
"Owwwwwwww...that really hurts."
Happy Betting,
Vinny and Marco
KYLE'S CORNER: Invaded Wednesday Like it was Pompeii
If I were a serial killer and Wednesday my lonely prostitute then call me Patrick Bateman.
NHL: 3-0, Boom.
Overall update: 31-18.
MLB: 9-2-1, double Boom.
Overall update: 70-48-4.
Oh sweet vindication! Cry Havoc! And let cash your betting slips of war.
Okay, back to real life, and back to business. Thursday's NHL lineup doesn't have any screaming winners right now, but I do have strong leans. On another note, it's great to see you haunting the hallways again Mysterio! You big cutie pie you. I'd love to know how you feel about my NHL choices in the comments section, Vin n Marco are a couple of yanks with no Canadian hockey spirit, probably never even had proper concussions! Jokes aside lets get down to business, risky business.
NHL:
Early morning IIHF (Probably be over by the time this is posted anyways)
Russia to win v USA.
Canada to win v Sweden.
Now playoffs:
San Jose @ LA: LA to win, Jonathon Quick over 29/30/31 saves, San Jose less than 2.5 goals.
New York @ Boston: Boston to win.
MLB:
Pitcher ride:
NYY: Pettitte (4-2, 3.83 ERA) (Bouncing back from yesterdays blow-out)
STL: Wainwright (5-2, 2.30 ERA)
PIT: Liriano (1-0, 1.69 ERA)
CIN: Latos (4-0, 3.04 ERA)
Overs!
what's a hot pitcher ride? what type of bet does it come under (I have no idea about baseball).. also you guys are awesome, I hope you keep posting.
ReplyDeleteOh it just means to pick the team the pitcher is pitching for, for today it went 2-1-1 (Push was NYY v SEA it got voided due to last second pitcher change)
DeleteJust means to pick the ML or RL of the team associated to the pitcher. I hope that explains it, for tomorrow's write up I will preface my section with a quick explanation for clarity.