Crit’s Quick Thoughts from the Throne-NBA Playoff opportunity 2night

While everyone has penned the Cavaliers and the Lakers into the finals, the NBA playoffs are filled with story lines within each series and your partners here at P4P are always looking for opportunities for you, the player. After Yao Ming, Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola and the rest of the Houston Rockets absolutely demolished the host Portland Trailblazers in Game 1 of the series, Crit couldn’t believe his eyes when he looked at this morning’s odds and saw Rip City was still favored by 5 1/2 points over the Rockets. Sure Houston is without T-Mac, but this veteran and worldly team is seasoned perfectly like a piece of the Colonel’s Fried Chicken (original recipe). They are built to execute in the half court around Yao which is what playoff basketball in the Association is all about and do not underestimate the return of Aaron Brooks to Oregon, his old College stomping grounds. Don’t get the Critster wrong though, he loves the Trailblazers and in particular Brandon Roy, but we just don’t see the Blazers winning by more than 3 or 4, if at all tonight. It will be a hard fought and scrappy game all the way down to the wire and the Blazers will need everything tonight to pull this one out in their final possession. This year’s version of the Rockets seem to be road tested, proven, and hungry to advance and Crit doesn’t envision them getting punked in Game 2 like Dallas did last night against San Antonio. Picks4Players feels strongly about this recommendation: Houston Rockets + 5 1/2

NCAA Final- North Carolina vs Sparty and Michigan State

Hard to believe that College Basketball has come and gone once again with the conclusion of the season following tonight’s final between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Michigan State at Ford field in Detroit. What a great year and a great tournament once again. With the Final 4 in Detroit Michigan State will enjoy an enormous home crowd advantage and they are playing so well and so solidly at this time, the right time. The Spartans have made a point of rebounding and running all year long coupled with Tom Izzo’s usual gritty defensive philosophy, they have proven to be a beast from the mediocre Big Ten. North Carolina, as long as Ty Lawson is healthy are simply a cut above any other club in the country. Lawson’s toe has improved as the tourney has progressed and the Heels are a solid 8 point favorite heading into tonight’s tip-off at 9:21 pm EST. The total for the game tonight is resting at 153 1/2. While Michigan State will rebound and run and score in transition, so will North Carolina. In fact, this plays more to Carolina’s strength and could result in a Carolina blow out tonight. Your team here at Picks4Players likes North Carolina to win by more than 10 points and look for this total to go OVER 153 1/2. The game will be very entertaining but it is of course much more entertaining when you roll with the right side of the spread.

On other notes, it’s opening day in the MLB and the NFL is not far away. The NHL playoffs are about to start and the NBA playoffs are right around the corner. Check back with us regularly and feel free to become a P4P teammate to receive free alerts and updates. Sign up it’s free and easy. As always, enjoy the games.