BASKETBALL 360º

NBA Playoffs 2010 Get Closer

As a fan of the NBA, I already have my picks for the play-offs. Here are some factors that could influence the NBA odds for these teams in a championship that goes from the end of April through May.

The Cleveland Cavaliers should be able to finish with the best record, considering that LeBron James is having an excellent season, averaging 29.9 points and 8.3 assists per game. During the season, the Cavs won thirteen games in a row, including victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. Cleveland is 60-17 and is averaging102.1 points per game.

In the Western Conference, the Lakers are averaging 102.9 points per game, but there are two things that moved the Lakers away from the top of the odds: injuries and the chemistry between players.

The Lakers defense is the most positive feature of the team as well as their consistency, but if we talk about efficiency in shooting, I think they are not doing a good job and it seems to be something that they can’t control. However, I am expecting a better performance by Kobe Bryant because if they face the Nuggets or the Spurs, things could get complicated in the playoffs, and they will definitely need one of Kobe’s best performances.

One aspect to consider is that aftera 23-5 start, the Boston Celtics lost 8 of their 14 meetings in January, but they have improved their performance by winning six of their last ten games. Also, it is the defense and presentations in recent games that make the Celtics one of the most attractive teams to bet on, including players like Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen that certainly will benefit the Celtics in the playoffs.

Finally, the Denver Nuggets are 50-27 and are averaging 106.8 points per game. The Nuggets lost only one player from last season, Dahntay Jones, in which the Nuggets were an elite NBA team. I think there's no reason to believe that this has changed; in fact, I would say that this season will be even better for the Nuggets.