There are two possible weekend games on tap in the 2013 NBA Playoffs. One would be an elimination game for the New York Knicks. One would be a Game 7 in the West.

Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 6:

New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers – Saturday, May 18

No matter which one of several online betting sites you use, you are going to face a clear choice in this game. Yes, it’s true that in both 1994 and 1995, the New York Knicks trailed the Indiana Pacers by a 3-1 margin in a playoff series and then won Game 6 on the road in Indianapolis to force a Game 7. Yet, the picture for online sports betting players has to favor the Pacers this time around, nearly two decades later. These Knicks don’t have the leadership or chemistry of the 1994 and 1995 teams that competed better and were more credible title contenders. The Knicks have stagnated far too much at the offensive end of the floor. They flourished in the regular season precisely because they were able to run a drive-and-kick offense with point guard Raymond Felton getting into the paint, forcing defenses to collapse, and then making the pass to a wing shooter. This has not happened against Indiana. The Pacers, especially wing defender Paul George, have locked down Carmelo Anthony and have made life much more difficult for the superstar, who had enjoyed his best regular season as a pro over the previous six months. Anthony has been out of sorts in this series, and although George is crowding him on a number of his jumpers, he’s still missing several open looks. What’s especially shocking about Anthony’s disappointing performance in this series is that he’s coming up small in fourth quarters. Anthony did not score a point in the fourth quarter of both Game 3 and Game 4, so it’s no wonder the Knicks lost both of those games by 11 points (and were actually less competitive than the final margins indicated). If this series does indeed reach a Game 6 (it’s not yet official, given that Game 5 is being played Thursday night in New York), expect Indiana to close out the Knicks and advance to meet the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

NBA Betting Pick: Indiana

Western Conference Semifinals, Game 7:

Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs – Sunday, May 19

When you pore over the numbers at a pay per head sportsbook, it’s going to be easier to pick the Spurs in this game than the Warriors. As you study up for this game – if it indeed happens – you might find some revealing information tucked inside the latest betonline reviews. However, information has to be joined by context as well. Do they contradict each other, or do they lead to a unified conclusion? The sense here is that they lead to a unified conclusion – the numbers and the emerging arc of this series both suggest that if Golden State does win Game 6 on Thursday to force a Game 7 on Sunday in San Antonio, the Spurs will ultimately prevail.

The numbers point to a San Antonio victory in Game 7 because the shooting percentages of Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have markedly dropped off since Games 1 and 2, which featured torrid shooting from each player (Curry primarily in Game 1, Thompson primarily in Game 2). It has steadily become harder and harder for Curry and Thompson to hit shots as this series has moved along, not just because Curry has suffered an aggravation to a persistent ankle injury, but because San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has made effective defensive adjustments, chiefly by finding Kawhi Leonard to stop Thompson and identifying Danny Green as a perimeter defender who can contain Curry. Golden State has needed big games from rookie Harrison Barnes and role player Jarrett Jack to stay in this series, but if Game 7 does take place this Sunday, the Spurs – with battle-tested veterans such as Tony Parker and Tim Duncan on the floor – are likely to handle the moment with more poise and composure. The history of the NBA tells us that talented young teams such as Golden State do not succeed in their first big playoff test against an accomplished and older team. It would be surprising if the Warriors beat the Spurs here. Take San Antonio.

NBA Betting Pick: San Antonio

Game: Goffin vs Verdasco
Pick: Verdasco (-1.5) to win
Odds: 2.70
Bookie: Interwetten
Stake: 1/10

This is the match of masters in Madrid. Goffin is 61th player on ATP rank list. While Verdasco is 45th on ATP rank list. This is match between two players in bad form. Verdasco is extra motivated on home ground and because of that I expect from him to end that bad series of loses. Verdasco beat Goffin this year in Australian Open on hard surface. Verdasco is clay surface player and most of the wins he converted on clay surface. Verdasco have advantage of home ground and surface, because of that he is may favorite in this match.

Game: Vitória Guimarães vs. Gil Vicente
Pick: Vitória Guimarães to win
Odds: 2.31
Bookie: Pinnacle
Stake: 1/10

Today I choice one match from Portugal Primeira Liga. It is match between Vitoria Guimaraes and Gil Vicente. Vitoria is currently 6th placed team with 37 points and they have really good chances to play Europe League next year. They are in very good form. In last 6 matches 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 lose. Today’s opponent is 12th placed team Gil Vicente. They play really bad away from home. In last 8 away matches they have 6 loses, 1 win and 1 draw. Because of that I choice to bet on Vitoria win in this one.

Game: Udinese vs Sampdoria
Pick: Over 2.5
Odds: 2.04
Bookie: Pinnacle
Stake: 1/10

Udinese play today really important match for them. They need to win if they want to play in Europe next year. Udinese is 6th placed team with 4 points less than 5th placed team Roma. Home team is in great form. In last 5 matches they have 4 wins and 1 draw. I expect from Udinese to win this match and score 2 or more goals. Sampdoria is 15th placed team and they are in bad form. In last match they lost at home against Fiorentina. Same I expect today against Udinese. My bet in this match goes on over 2.5 goals. Possible results: 3-1, 3-0, 2-1.

Game: Korona Kielce vs Polonia Warszawa
Pick: Korona Kielce to win
Odds: 2.07
Bookie: Paddypower
Stake: 1/10

Korona Kielce play at home against Polonia Warszawa. Korona is 11th placed team with 30 points. Polonia is 7th placed team of league table with 3 points more. In last 5 matches Korona have 2 wins, 2 loses and 1 draw. While Polonia is in really bad shape recently. They have 4 loses and 1 draw in last 5 matches. Because of that my bet goes on Korona Kielce to beat Polonia.

There are breaks, and then there are breaks – the Memphis Grizzlies will play the Los Angeles Clippers at a time when Blake Griffin certainly won’t be 100 percent, and might not even play.

Eastern Conference First Round, Game 6:

Indiana Pacers @ Atlanta Hawks – Friday, May 3

No matter which one of several sports betting sites you use, you are going to face a tricky choice in this game. Indiana came a lot closer to achieving something than Atlanta did in last year’s playoffs. The Pacers are generally considered a more legitimate playoff contender than the Hawks. Yet, the picture for online sports betting players has become a bit more cloudy in recent weeks. Indiana might have seemed like a clear favorite in this series, but the Pacers, without Danny Granger, just aren’t as complete as a team. Indiana’s offense certainly bogged down in Atlanta in Games 3 and 4 of this series. All the good things the Pacers achieved in Games 1 and 2 were thrown out the window, and Atlanta demonstrated that it could make a stand on its own floor.

In a levelheaded assessment of these teams, you will also see another reason to take Atlanta in this tilt. The Hawks won Game 3 on the strength of their defense, but in Game 4, they won by scoring more than 100 points. It’s a sign of diversity and balance that a team can win when playing different styles. Indiana might have seemed like the obviously superior team in this series when it forged that 2-0 lead, but the tenor of this competition has shifted since the series swung to Georgia for Game 3. Playing at home, the Hawks figure to put their best feet forward on Friday.

NBA Betting Pick: Atlanta

Western Conference First Round, Game 6:

Los Angeles Clippers @ Memphis Grizzlies – Friday, May 3

When you pore over the numbers at a price per head sportsbook, it’s going to be easier to pick the Grizzlies in this game than the Clippers.  When attempting to make an NBA betting play, you might find some revealing information tucked inside a bet online review. However, this is the kind of game in which you should just trust what you observed on the court in Game 5 on Tuesday. While Los Angeles superstar point guard Chris Paul scored 35 points in Game 5, none of his teammates scored more than 15 points and none of his fellow starters scored more than six. Where was Blake Griffin in all this? Good question. Griffin entered Game 5 with a high ankle sprain suffered in a Monday practice. He tried to play through it due to the stakes involved, but he was ineffective in 20 minutes and checked out of the game for good midway through the third quarter. If Griffin isn’t effective in Game 6, and there’s little reason to think he can be, Memphis will roll. What adds to the Grizzlies’ effectiveness at the moment is that they’re getting more than they hoped for from their key midseason pickup. Tayshaun Prince hit multiple big shots in the fourth quarter of Game 5 to extend Memphis’ lead. Because of the composition of the Grizzlies’ starting five, Randolph and Gasol will get the lion’s share of shot opportunities, with point guard Mike Conley creating opportunities thanks to his quickness off the dribble. Prince was not shooting the ball well in the first four games of the series. His emergence in Game 5 means that the Clippers have to take him more seriously as a perimeter shooting threat. If Prince continues to hit outside shots, Memphis will become an enormously difficult team to defend. Everything is falling into place for the Grizzlies, who should be able to end the Clippers’ season in Tennessee on Friday.

NBA Betting Pick: Memphis

Western Conference First Round, Game 6:

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets – Friday, May 3

The Houston Rockets scored a comprehensive, authoritative win in Game 5 of this series. They don’t have the best player on the floor in this series – Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City – but they have most of the best five players in this series with Russell Westbrook out. James Harden, working in tandem with Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik, and Aaron Brooks, is outflanking Oklahoma City. The Thunder are panicking, and they don’t have the right matchups. In Houston, the Rockets should be able to get another win, even though they’re still the underdog in this series.

NBA Betting Pick: Houston

Game: Brooklyn at Chicago
Pick: Chicago (-2) to win
Odds: 2.05
Bookie: Bet365
Stake: 1/10

It is game 6 of NBA playoffs. Chicago lead 3-2 in series. Chicago is one of the best home team in NBA. Brooklyn won last game at home. That was possible the best match of the year. Today Chicago can end this series at home. We can say that this is their last chance because Brooklyn is great at home and if they play last game in Brooklyn than Chicago will have hard task to do. I expect from Chicago to play on all or nothing. Nate Robinson play great Derrick Rose roll and if he will be on level tonight than Chicago have great chances to win this one.

Game: Depor FC vs. Universitario Popayán
Pick: Depor FC to win with 0:1 handicap
Odds: 2.30
Bookie: Bet365
Stake: 1/10

I just received information about this match. Universitario Popayán will play this match with young squad. They often play away matches with weak squad and because of that they haven’t win 2 years away from home. They are last placed team in Primera B with only 9 points from 14 matches. While Depor FC is 9th placed team with 21 points from 14 matches. I expect big win for Depor FC in this match.

Game: Velbert vs. Hüls
Pick: Over 2.5
Odds: 1.88
Bookie: Bet365
Stake: 2/10

I choice one match from one not so famous league. It is match from German Regionaliga. I bet often on matches from this league. Today I choice match between two high scoring teams. Velbert is 14th placed team with 37 points. They are one place higher than dangerous zone. While Huls is in red zone and they need to win if they don’t want to be relegate on the end of the season. They are 17th placed team with 35 points. Both teams will want to win in this match and because of that I expect many goals.

Game: Seppi vs Falla
Pick: Falla to win
Odds: 3.35
Bookie: Pinnacle
Stake: 1/10

This is the match from Oeiras ATP tournament. Seppi is 18th placed player on ATP rank list, but he is in bad form especially on clay surface. He has 3 straight loses. Today they play against solid player Falla. Falla is 65th on ATP rank list. In first round of tournament Falla beat Kuznetsov with 2-0. This two player have played 4 head to head matches and the reusult is 3-1 for Falla. My bet in this match goes on Falla win.