NBA Playoff Pick-a-thon Day 36: Ultimately, My Friends, It's Time to Fight

POST-SEASON RECORD TO DATE: 45-25 ATS 

TOP CONFIDENCE PICKS: 18-9 ATS 

CONFERENCE FINALS: 2-2 ATS

Oh how I'd love to rant a while to all the Miami Heat fans who poo-pooed our prediction that the Pacers would find a way to pull strength from defeat, that Roy Hibbert would be the man to do it, and that Frank Vogel would out-coach Eric Spoelstra yet again. Just listen to the in-game speeches the two give and you can tell the Heat are in trouble.

Spoelstra: You have to settle into the game. Just settle into it. The game I mean. Imagine the game is a carrot and you're my teeth, and just settle into it. Mmmmmm, carrots.

                        
         "Hey Bron Bron. Sink in, buddy. Sink in."

Vogel: You just took their best punch, their best punch, and now you're going to take the game back. Every loose ball, I want 100% effort. One hundred percent and this game is yours. Championships are won with loose balls. 

                     
       "Told ya it's nice when they're loose, Roy."

Metaphor? Maybe, but Indiana clearly had the looser balls and won the last five minutes of the game. Sadly, that's as much as I'll say about this until tomorrow because I have to catch a plane out to Memphis to catch Game 3 of the Spurs-Grizzlies series tonight. Not really, but as my three year-old daughter loves to say, "Let's just pretend, okay, dad?" 

So let's pretend, okay?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (+5.5) over Memphis Grizzlies: We love the Memphis Grizzlies. We believe they will win this game on their home court as they have throughout the playoffs, we just think it will be a game decided by one or two rather than three buckets. The Spurs are 7-12 SU in their last 19 as a road underdog between 3.5 and 6 points, but have managed to cover 11 of those games. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are 11-2 SU and ATS in similar roles as favorites since the beginning of this year. 



Do the numbers support our pick? Not really. What does support our pick is the way Tony Parker (averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 assists) has controlled this series, how the Spurs offense seems to have two heads for everyone you cut off, and how Greg Popavich is just a master at using his time outs during games to stop opposing runs. He will not let this game get out of hand and he'll draw up a seven point play at the end of the game just to cover the line if he needs to. Take the points and watch another great game between two quality teams. 

Prediction: Memphis 86-83

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to follow every single piece of advice you read beyond this point...

Vinny and Marco

KYLE'S CORNER: Super Saturday

Time for the delicious recap:

NHL: 2-0. Boom
Past 2 days:  5-1 
Overall: 40-26-1

MLB: 7-1. Boom
Past 2 days: 10-1-1
Overall: 104-72-7



Combined past 2 days: 15-2-1. 

I don't think I need to explain anything except that I just might be a magical genie. 



On to Super Saturday. There can't possibly be a way I can continue this godlike roll, could there be? Let's find out!

NHL: 



NYR @ Boston: Boston to win.


Detroit @ Chicago: Chicago to win.

MLB: 

Pitcher follow:



ATL:   Minor (5-2, 2.78 ERA)
CHW:   Peavy (5-2, 3.31 ERA)
TB:   Moore (8-0, 2.29 ERA) *Hottest pitcher in baseball, this will be the biggest test to date*
DET:   Fister (5-1, 3.62 ERA)
PIT:   Locke (4-1, 2.73 ERA)
BOS:   Lester (6-1, 3.15 ERA)
TOR:   Dickey (4-5, 4.50 ERA)

Overs!

BAL:   Garcia (0-2, 4.84 ERA) @ TOR:   Dickey (4-5, 4.50 ERA) O9

STL:   Gast (2-0, 4.76 ERA) @ LAD:   Lilly (0-1, 5.63 ERA) O7.5

ATL:   Minor (5-2, 2.78 ERA) @ NYM:   Gee (2-5, 6.04 ERA) O7.5

UFC 160! (so far 2-0 record)

I am so excited for this event I can't wait! There are so many exciting fights on this card it's simply amazing. I'm watching some footage right now before I finish typing this of training camps, past fights, and the weighins from today to see if anyone looks sick/mentally downtrodden.

Underdogs who have a decent shot:

Estevan "El Terrible" Payan

+175

Abel "Killa" Trujillo +200 

Wins by Decision:

Colton Smith

Rick "The Horror" Story
Gray "The Bully" Maynard

Wins Inside the distance:

Glover Teixeira
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone
Cain Velasquez

"That feels like a good bet..."

*Fight does not go the distance Teixeira v Te Huna.

Parlay options: 

Cain Velasquez

-800

^The above wins this fight 199 times out of 200, safe parlay stocking stuffer to begin them all with.
Most confident straight up winners to mix n match parlay with:
Junior "Cigano" dos Santos

Glover Teixeira
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone

Ok goodluck everyone!

Kyle

PS If you have any questions about anything, please post them in the comments section below.