Are the Suns a playoff threat? Despite their loss before the nation’s president, are the Bulls really a threat to make the playoffs? Will Marbury destroy the Celtics chemistry? How much will Marbury even play?
Tons of NBA basketball betting odds questions to address, all of which have an affect on what bets you might be placing on these NBA contenders and pretenders down the stretch to the playoffs.
Addressing the Suns: Shaq looked like the player he once was recently with a big 45-point game and another 33-point one. I get the feeling he burned up everything he has left in those two performances, though, and that you won’t see this from him again, possibly ever. Where was he the rest of this season?
The bottom NBA lines with the Suns is they’re not even in the playoff mix right now. The Suns might think the Suns are in the playoff hunt, but if you’re even putting money on them making it to the next round of ball, you’re throwing your money away. There are far too many reasons to list that while the #2 seed and the #9 seed in the West are only separated by an amazingly slim 6 games or so, all the teams above the Suns are better clubs that’ll be there come playoff time.
But what about the Bulls? This isn’t like baseball betting. Who would’ve thought Brad Miller of all people would’ve injected life back into Chicago. That’s not to say the Bulls haven’t been playing better before the big trade that landed the former Bull back in the United Center, and at one point recently they had won 8 of 12. Ultimately, though, don’t count on him as a game-changer, and thus, don’t hold your breath, or your money, that the Bulls will make the playoffs.
Which brings us to Marbury. Why would the best team according to sportsbook.com in the East take a chance on this guy? What it won’t cost them in salary, it’ll cost them in team chemistry, bank on it. You see recent interviews of this guy where he says he’s a changed man and you just want to believe him so much, don’t you?
Don’t. The guy is a poison. Furthermore, and much more importantly, he’s not a great player. He never was. I’ve never in 20 years of watching basketball seen a point guard act more selfishly on the court…and that includes Steve Francis. He’ll never make anyone around him better, and if you give him the ball, it disappears into the Stephon abyss of missed jumpers.
If anything, Marbury hurts the Celtics to the point where I’d change my money to a Cavs/Lakers finals now, or, even better, save my money for the soccer betting season.