CONFIDENCE EFFICIENCY RATING (CER): 85/129 or .66
TOP CONFIDENCE PICKS: 18-9 ATS
CONFERENCE FINALS: 1-2 ATS
Although I missed a lot of Game 1, I did catch enough of the first half, the Sports Center highlights, and the ensuing all day discussion about the final shot to come up with a short SAT pop quiz to test the intelligence of the TSZ community. Although, they are no longer included on today's tests, the first question is an analogy.
1. Ballet is to Tyler Hansbrough driving the lane as:
A) Classical guitar is to the acordian
B) Gelato is to a bowl of melted rainbow sherbet
C) Stephen Curry's jump shot is to Shawn Marion's jump shot
D) All of the above
Paul George with the block says, "Dude, stop trying to use your left. It's ugly enough as it is."
*Please include your analogies in the comments section below
2. Indiana's ______________ defense on LeBron James in the final seconds of overtime was ______________.
A) aggressive...problematic
B) invisible...inexplicable
C) shitty-ass...the seed from which all of Frank Vogel's future nightmares will grow.
D) fuckity fuck...really fuckin' fuckity
*How the hell does that happen?
3. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are on a training heading west at 60 mph for 1.25 hours. The train turns southwest and continues for 45 minutes at 65 mph, then turns north and speeds up to 80 mph indefinitely. Meanwhile, Chris Bosh is on a train heading east on the same tracks at approximately 70 mph. If both trains leave their stations at noon, stop for lunch at 2:15, and pass each other at 3:23, which player will be the first to complain to the refs?
4. Paul George is:
A) Awesome
B) Really awesome
C) Really, really awesome
D) Kind of silly for having two first names
E) All of the above
5. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals will result in a
A) Win and cover by the Miami Heat
B) Win by the Heat, cover by the Pacers
C) Win and cover by the Pacers
D) One of the above plus four technical fouls, three double doubles, two late ejections (the graceless white boy from question 1 definitely), and a partridge in a pear tree.
Well, which one is it? We're going with answer D almost all the way through the quiz.
Indiana Pacers (+7.5) over MIAMI HEAT: A lot of bettors (61%) are backing the Pacers, which makes us very nervous. There is, however, a resource we use at TSZ that has a system which includes statistics like field goal %, 3-point defense, rebounding, ATS road victories, and creates a composite ATS Power Rankings. According to their numbers, Indiana is second to only Oklahoma City (likely ranked so high with Westbrook and previously considered the Heat's greatest threat) while Miami is 6th. Granted, besides rebounding it's the only place you'll find the Pacers ranked higher than the Heat. During football season, we had tremendous success using these rankings towards the end of the year as regression analysis gave them more accuracy.
Do I really need to say anything more than regression analysis? If so, then let me point out that when Indiana turned the ball over more than 20 times in a game this year they were 8-14 including 0-4 in the playoffs. The Heat defense forced some of their Game 1 TOs, but you bet Frank Vogel will find a way to limit the Pacer mistakes and give up fewer transition buckets. The Pacers also had the number one road defense at 91.4 pts/game this season, and it looks like we were wrong about the intimidation factor at the next level. It's true Chicago got blown out in Game 2 after winning one in Miami, but the Pacers have three more healthy starters than they did. Take the points and enjoy another fiercely competitive game.
Peace out home fries,
Vinny and Marco
KYLE'S CORNER: Is the Bitch Ever Back? Yes He Is.
I'm writing this listening to the song on repeat. Gets me all fired up for this write-up.
Without further adieu! The recap of Thursday:
Without further adieu! The recap of Thursday:
NHL: 3-1
MLB: 3-0-1
Daily total: 6-1-1. Boom.
Totals to Date:
NHL: 38-26-1
MLB: 96-71-7
Okay. Onward and upward. Friday is a very weird day in MLB in terms of match-ups, NHL has only one game which should be a slam dunk. For those reasons I think I will lightly pepper MLB and save up my gusto for the super Saturday fight night, should be a spectacular one! If you don't want to buy Pay Per View, on Saturday's blog I will explain how to watch the event for free - in a vague way that should be easy to understand but legally protected.
NHL:
Ottawa @ Pittsburgh: Series total 3-1 Pittsburgh: Ottawa has thrown in the towel, unless Anderson saves 45 shots this game should end up 5-1. Pitts to win, and by (-1.5).
MLB:
Pitcher Follow (back these teams):
TEX: Grimm (3-3, 4.02 ERA)
WSH: Zimmermann (7-2, 1.62 ERA)
LAA: Vargas (3-3, 3.55 ERA)
DET: Sanchez (4-4, 2.77 ERA)STL: Lynn (6-1, 3.27 ERA)
Overs!:
WSH: Zimmermann (7-2, 1.62 ERA)
LAA: Vargas (3-3, 3.55 ERA)
DET: Sanchez (4-4, 2.77 ERA)STL: Lynn (6-1, 3.27 ERA)
Overs!:
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