Clippers vs Thunder Pick ATS - 5/7/14 NBA Playoffs

Well, well, well - the magic keeps on flowing at The Spread Zone. And by magic I mean hitting like a mother freakin' coin flipper. Speaking of mother freakin', is it just me or does it bug anyone else that the most common words lip-read during an NBA game are "mother" and "fucker," and more often than not they're said in quick succession. What's the deal with that? Why does making a basket - be it a ridiculous, shot-clock beating three or a circus act, gravity defying lay-up - inspire such a person to swear uncontrollably.

"That's right mother f-er," they'll say pounding their chest or raising their jersey to the crowd. Who is the  mother f-er? Is it the defender? Is it the crowd? Is it the historical doubters?  Is there a specific historical doubter that was or is also banging someone's mom? Is the profanity really necessary when you just did something really cool? I think I'd be more compassionate and understanding - considering I have a four year-old who's going to be reading words and lips soon - if they swore after a missed shot or turnover. Or better yet, do what I do and make up new, similar sounding words like mother flipping clock sucker that serve the same purpose in your celebratory moments of need.

     
"I don't doubt you Lebron, I'm just a mother f-er."

NBA Playoffs Round 2 Record: 2-2 ATS

Top Confidence Picks: 8-8 ATS

2014 Overall NBA Playoff Record: 26-28 ATS

So basically we're treading water, hoping that we catch a wave that will wash us up onto the shores of victory. For now, we'll continue dog paddling and see if we can't catch a break somewhere along the way. Today, both of the favorites covered, while the public backed both dogs heavily. Does that mean we should fade the public on Wednesday? Not necessarily. Unfortunately, it's not that cut and dried. I would say, however, with how easily the Wizards and the Clippers covered their Game 1's on Monday, I'd be very cautious just blindly backing them because of it. In fact, we're going to go with the Why On Earth Would You Possibly Take Those Teams angle. Tried and true baby. Tried and True.

INDIANA PACERS (-4) over Washington Wizards: The Indiana Pacers probably held their fifth players only meeting in the past two weeks after Monday night's important opening game loss to the sixth seeded Washington Wizards. Every time we think the Pacers are done, the string together three somewhere between one half and three quarters of basketball that remind us why they managed to hold on to the number one seed. My first reaction to their loss was, "We've seen this before," but then I realized that the Wizards are not the Hawks and losing Game 1 could mean losing this series. Losing Game 2 would cement that. We'll take the desperate Pacers to magically find a game plan that keeps Hibbert in the paint (or on the bench) for...oh, I don't know - more than zero rebounds. I can't believe we keep going back to this empty well, but...

Key trends: The Wizards are 9-1 ATS in their past 10 games. They are 7-1 ATS in their past eight after a win. Indiana is 5-0 ATS in its past five after a loss. The “over” is 6-1 in Washington’s past seven after a win. The “under” is 9-4 in Indiana’s past 13 following a loss.

Pick: Take the Pacers with that 5-0 ATS trend after losses.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (-5.5) over Los Angeles Clippers: "What? The Thunder? Did you see Game 1?" they'll ask with indignation. Hear us out. With a Game 1 steal on the road in the NBA playoffs often comes a sense of implicit satisfaction. Although you would think motivation and energy would be just as high, it sometimes wanes just enough for the more desperate and hungry home team that knows a 2-0 deficit is the kiss of death. Will this game be a blowout? No way. The Clips have too much experience to let that happen like it did in Golden State, but late free throws will be the difference as the Thunder honor KD's MVP with a late TKO.

Key trends: The Clippers have covered only two of their past eight following a win of at least 10 points. They are 1-4 ATS in their past five after a win. OKC has covered once in its past five after a loss, but they are 18-7-1 ATS record in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss at home. The over is 7-2 in L.A.’s past nine road games. The over is 6-1 in the past seven meetings in OKC.

Pick: Take the Thunder to bounce back a la their 18-7-1 ATS trend when getting beaten badly.


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