World Cup betting players have seen Brazil beat Italy twice in the final, once at Mexico 1970, and again at USA 1994.  But that’s nothing compared to the history in the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, who are meeting for the 12^th time with everything on the line.

Lakers Celtics Betting

It’s a bit more one-sided than Lakers fans would like to hear as the Celtics have won nine of 11 meetings in the Finals over their rivals from the West Coast, including the first eight meetings and four of those series went to seven games.  The first came in 1959 when the Lakers were in Minneapolis, but they were swept in four straight by a team that included the likes of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, K.C. Jones and Tommy Heinsohn.  The two met six times during the 1960s, with the Celtics continuing their domination of the Lakers and the rest of league, going onto win eight titles in a row (which is still the longest championship streak in any of the four professional leagues).

After 1969, the Lakers wouldn’t meet the Celtics in the NBA Finals until 1984, which featured the first meeting between Boston’s Larry Bird and Los Angeles’ Magic Johnson in a rivalry that has been said to save the NBA.  The Celtics would win in seven games, but the Lakers would come back the next year to finally beat the Celtics in a six-game Finals matchup.  They would meet again in 1987, and it ended in another six-game victory for the Lakers.  The rivalry would then take a back seat to the Chicago-Detroit and Chicago-New York battles of the 1990s, and it was tough for anyone to win a championship in the Michael Jordan era (indeed, Jordan’s Bulls beat Johnson’s Lakers in the 1990 NBA Finals to start their first three-peat).

The last meeting was in 2008, when the Celtics and their “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen beat the Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in six games.  The series was punctuated with a 131-92 romp for the Celtics in Boston in the series clincher for their 17^th title as a franchise, and their ninth at the expense of the Lakers.

This year’s edition of the rivalry has the Lakers as the NBA betting favorites, and they’re the defending champions after beating Orlando last year, although you can bet your last dollar that they would traded anything for the Celtics to replace the Magic.  Now, they’ll get their chance to avenge their 2008 misery, and pull to within one of the Celtics for the most championships in NBA history.  Whether you’re a betting player or not, this is a matchup you need to tune into.

World Cup betting players would compare Lakers-Celtics to a meeting between Brazil and Italy: a clash of the two with the most championships.  These two have also met 11 times in the NBA Finals, and the Celtics own a massive 9-2 lead over the Lakers, including a six-game victory in 2008.  Can Los Angeles keep the NBA title on the West Coast, and exact revenge for a 39-point loss in the clinching game?

Celtics Lakers Betting – Game 1 is Thursday, 9:00 PM ET in Los Angeles

The Celtics have had to go through the top two teams in the East, Cleveland and Orlando, in six games each after a five-game win over Miami in the first round.  The Celtics that we’ve seen over the playoffs are the closest we’ve seen to the 2008 championship team as they’re playing outstanding defense, and a lot of that has to do with a healthy Kevin Garnett, but the “Big Ticket” looked a step slow in the Orlando series.  The Celtics are very much a perimeter team with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, but if Boston is going to overcome being an NBA Final betting underdog, Garnett is going to have to put the pain aside and play like he did in the first two series.

The Lakers have a pair of six-game wins over Oklahoma City and Phoenix, as well as a sweep over Utah, and this is a different team than the one that faced the Celtics in 2008.  Kobe Bryant is, well, Kobe Bryant, but the rest of the cast has the championship experience of last year behind them.  This will be especially so for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, who looked out of their element two years ago.  The Lakers now also have Ron Artest, which will aid Bryant and Derek Fisher on the perimeter.  Fisher actually played decent defense on Steve Nash in the last series against the Suns after he was abused by Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and Utah’s Deron Williams.

The Lakers are -180 NBA betting favorites in this series, and the two split a pair of meetings this season with the road team winning by a point on both occasions.  The Lakers are 15-15 in the Finals, while the Celtics are 17-3, and as we mentioned before, nine have come in 11 meetings with the Lakers.  This Los Angeles team is tougher now after what they went through since losing to Boston, and the addition of Artest will be crucial as he looks to make Pierce, who is a Los Angeles native and grew up close to the old Forum in Ingelwood, work for all of his points.  Revenge is a major motivating factor, and we’re banking on the Lakers to come through this time.

Online sports betting pick: Lakers -180

Before making a World Cup betting pick on Germany, players should know that the Germans have a host of injuries to some pretty important members of the squad.  The same situation is raising its head in the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs this year as Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of injury worries that could have an effect on the series.

The Lakers have had a close eye on the status of Andrew Bynum’s knee, which has gotten worse throughout the playoffs.  The young center averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in 65 games, and he averaged 30.4 minutes during the regular season, but all of his numbers are down ahead of the Lakers’ Game 4 meeting with the Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix as Bynum has put up 9.4 points and 7.8 boards in the playoffs, and his minutes have gone down to 24.8.  Over the first three games of the Phoenix series, Bynum has 6.3 points and 4.3 boards in 15.0 minutes of play, and he was limited to only eight minutes in Game 3.  The Lakers’ big advantage in this NBA betting matchup is their size, and even though they have enough with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, their job would be a lot easier if Bynum was at 100%.

World Cup Group D betting players will liken Germany losing captain Michael Ballack to Phoenix losing Steve Nash, but at least the Suns will get to go through the playoffs with their star.  Nash had his nose broken when he collided with Derek Fisher in Game 3, and he will have surgery before Game 4.  This is the second blow that Nash has suffered in this postseason as he was elbowed above the eye by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in the last round, but Nash came back in that game to score 10 points in the fourth quarter of a win.  Nash is the unquestioned leader of the Suns, and his loss to Phoenix would be far greater than that of Bynum and Los Angeles.  The two-time MVP has averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 assists in the playoffs, and his ability to drive and dish opens up the floor for the rest of the Suns, especially for Amare Stoudamire.  The power forward had 42 points in the Suns’ 118-109 win in Game 3, and a lot of those came off of running the pick-and-roll with Nash, something that the whole league has had trouble stopping all season.  The Suns are already behind the eight-ball going against the defending NBA champions, but they have a great chance to tie the series at two games apiece on Tuesday night, and their online sports betting odds are much better with Nash in the lineup.

Any online betting or World Cup betting option that gets a performance from their star like the Los Angeles Lakers got from Kobe Bryant in the opening game of their Western Conference final, and they can prepare themselves for a title celebration as the Lakers’ star shredded Phoenix on Monday night.  The series resumes on Wednesday night, and the Suns have to find a way to contain Bryant.

Suns Lakers Betting – Wednesday, May 19, 9:00 PM ET

Bryant hit 13 of his 23 field-goal attempts en route to 40 points in a 128-107 win over the Suns, and he added five rebounds and five assists as well.  Pau Gasol was 10-of-13 from the field for 21 points, while Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 boards for the Lakers, who shot an outlandish 58% from the field.  The Lakers also used their length to outrebound the Suns 42-34, and they took excellent care of the ball with only nine turnovers.  Sure, the Lakers gave up 107 points, but that comes with the territory when you play the Suns.  The Lakers kept the Suns from getting to their spots on the floor, and they were especially good in preventing Phoenix from getting out in the open floor.

The Suns were led by 23 points from Amare Stoudamire, but he had just three rebounds on the night.  Jason Richardson had 15 points, while Steve Nash added 13 points and 13 boards for the Suns, who missed 17 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc.  The Suns tried to be aggressive, getting to the foul line 10 more times than the Lakers, and this kept it from being a total rout, but Phoenix looked overmatched in this contest.

The Lakers should be favored by NBA betting odds in this contest, as they have now won five in a row at the Staples Center over the Suns, and seven of the last 10 home games overall.  The Suns got Robin Lopez back, but he alone can’t stop the Lakers from getting into the post.  Gasol and Odom were able to do whatever they wanted in the interior, which created space for Bryant on the perimeter, and it just so happened that Bryant was feeling it from the outside on Monday night.  The Suns are going to have to ratchet up their intensity on the defensive end of the floor, or else this is going to be a short, short series.  The Lakers didn’t even need to get Andrew Bynum going, and that’s a sign of the Lakers’ superiority in this series.  It’s not looking good for the Suns to even go home tied at one game each.
Sports betting pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Online betting fans know that Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash may be making World Cup predictions, as both have backgrounds in the beautiful game.  First, they’re going to have to focus on their day jobs, which is leading their team to the NBA Finals as Bryant and the Lakers will take on Nash and the Suns in a series that tips off next Monday at 9:00 PM ET under the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Suns vs Lakers Betting

The Suns finally got rid of the biggest thorn in their side when they swept San Antonio, who had eliminated the Suns in four previous postseason meetings.  Nash was out of control in this series, averaging 22.0 points and 7.8 assists, and he put up 20 and nine assists with a right eye that was basically swollen shut by a Tim Duncan elbow in the series-clinching game.  Amare Stoudamire was next with 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Suns, who are even playing a bit of defense to go with their run-and-gun offense.  Stoudamire put up 20.3 points and 8.8 boards in four games against the Lakers this year, while Nash is going to have to continue his fine playoff run if the suns are going to overcome the NBA playoff betting odds as he has just 13.8 points and 9.0 assists against the Lakers.

The Lakers are coming off their own sweep as they made short work of Utah in the second round, and now they’re in the Western conference finals for the third straight year.  Bryant bounced back from a tough first round against Oklahoma City to average 32.0 points against the Jazz, while Pau Gasol was next with 23.5 points and 14.5 rebounds for the Lakers, who won three of four against the Suns this season.  Bryant notched 27.5 points in those four games, while Andrew Bynum put up 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Lakers.

If you’re looking to bet NBA, the Lakers are favored at -300 to advance to the NBA Finals, and as we said before, they took three of four from the Suns this year.  But they’ll also have some revenge on their mind as the Suns eliminated the Lakers in the first round in 2006 and 2007.  The Lakers have a massive advantage in the post as Bynum and Gasol, as well as Lamar Odom, should be able to have their way inside, but they’ll also going to have defend the pick-and-roll that Nash and Stoudamire have used so well this year.  The Lakers’ bench is also going to have to step up because the Phoenix bench played brilliantly against the Spurs.  However, the Lakers’ championship experience should guide them to a sports betting win six games in this series.

After blowing the early sports betting lead against the Cavaliers in Game One, a game in which they led by 11 points in the first half, Boston made sure it would not make the same mistake in Game Two. The Celtics cruised to an 18-point win to earn a well-deserved road split heading back to Massachusetts for the next two.

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

Friday May 7, 2010 – 7:00 PM ET

NBA Basketball Betting Odds: Cleveland -120

The Celtics parlayed a four-point lead at halftime in to an 18-point win, looking dominant at times. Rajon Rondo was absolutely dominant at the point, directing the Boston offense while scoring 13 points and contributing 19 assists. Six Celtics players reached double figures, led by Ray Allen’s 22 points while shooting better than 50-percent from the field. That number was reached by the rest of the team as well, as Boston’s combined field goal percentage was 51.3-percent, including a 47.3-percent mark from beyond the arc. Kendrick Perkins led all Celtics with a plus-22 mark while on the floor, limiting the effect of Cavaliers’ center Shaquille O’Neal, as the four-time champion finished with just nine points and four assists.

Despite a sore elbow, Lebron James was his usual self, dropping 24 points, but he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast. After an outstanding Game One performance that helped the Cavaliers take Game One, guard Delonte West hit just one field goal in Game Two, finishing with just four points. As a team Cleveland shot just 40-percent. The Cavaliers were out rebounded 30 to 17, and were consistently outplayed down low. The starting backcourt tandem of Anthony Parker and Mo Williams shot a combined 3-for-16, and unless that changes when the series shifts to Boston, the Cavaliers will have an uphill climb to get back to the Eastern conference finals.

One area that could be the biggest concern for the Cavaliers will be the form of reserve center Anderson Varajeo, who left Game Two with back spasms. The Celtics may attack Cleveland down low with purpose in an effort to exploit the limitations of a thin bench of big men behind O’Neal and Varajeo, so bet Celtics

NBA Playoff Betting Pick: Boston + 110

Betting Lines: Over/ Under 190

Each of the opening two games in this series have at least hit the line for the over/under heading in to Game Three, and with the Celtics heading back home, these teams could hit an even higher number when the series shifts to Boston. In the two regular season games played between these teams at the TD BankNorth Gardens, the totals for the game were 230 and 196. While the Cavaliers have proven that they can score big no matter where they are playing, Boston plays a much better offensive game in front of its home crowd. Lebron James understands that his team can’t afford to fall behind two games heading back home, and after two slow starts to open the series, should come out flying in Game Three.

Pick: Over -190

NBA championship odds had Denver as one of the top challengers to Los Angeles’ reign in the Western Conference, but they head into Thursday’s Game 5 against the Jazz trying to stave off elimination to send the series back to Utah, and there have been some obvious signs of disharmony in the locker room.

Jazz vs Nuggets odds – Wednesday, April 28, 10:30 PM ET

The Nuggets fell 117-106 in Utah in Game 4, and after the game, Carmelo Anthony called out some of his teammates for not playing hard.   J.R. Smith (in the “pot calling kettle black” statement of the year) responded on his Twitter feed by saying Anthony was selfish and the reason they lost.  The Nuggets did have only 13 assists in the game, but Anthony had a game-high 39 points on 13-of-26 shooting and surely can’t be to blame for the loss (meanwhile, Smith was 3-of-11 for 10 points).  Anthony wasn’t the problem, it was a leaky defense that allowed the Jazz to do whatever they wanted.

The Jazz shot 53.2% from the floor, powered by 31 points and 13 boards from Carlos Boozer, who abused an obviously-still-hurt Kenyon Martin, while Deron Williams had 24 points and 13 boards, and he’s probably been the best player in the West so far in these playoffs.  The Jazz had 24 assists and were moving the ball around, and their play without two of their starters has been nothing short of outstanding.  Of course, it always helps to play a team that is imploding, but you have to think that the Jazz are aiding in Denver’s self-destruction.

The Nuggets will probably be favored at home by NBA betting odds, but the Jazz have shown they can win in Denver as they proved in their 114-111 Game 2 victory.  The Nuggets are going to have to get their act together in a hurry if they want to extend their series, because no amount of talent will help a team that can’t get out of their own way.  Martin hasn’t been anywhere close to 100% since spending the better part of the season’s second half on the bench with a knee injury, and he is clearly no match for Boozer, who is averaging 22 points and 11 boards in the series.  Meanwhile, Chauncey Billups is having a tough time keeping up with Williams, who is making a claim for the NBA’s best point guard: Williams has put up 26.8 points and 12 assists in this series, hitting eight of his 16 three-point attempts.  If the Nuggets’ defense doesn’t step up, this season is over, and we’re betting on the Jazz to be able to get that one important stop.  Go with Utah

online sportsbetting pick:. Utah

NBA championship odds has Dallas as the team most likely to challenge the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference, and if they get performances from Dirk Nowitzki like they did in their first-round series against San Antonio, they stand an excellent chance of beating the Leakers. Game 2 goes Wednesday night in Dallas.

Spurs vs Mavericks odds – Wednesday, April 21, 9:30 PM ET

Nowitzki was lights out in the Mavericks’ 100-94 win in Game 1, going 12-of-14 from the field and nailing all 12 of his free-throw attempts for a game-high 36 points to power Dallas. The Mavericks also outrebounded the Spurs 45-37, including 13-8 on the offensive glass, and they were 25-of-34 from the foul line as opposed to 12-of-14 for the Spurs. Caron Butler added 22 points, while Jason Kidd had yet another near triple-double with 13 points, 11 assists and eight boards, with four steals for good measure, and the Dallas offense was working like a well-oiled machine. Of course, it’s easy for a team to look good when a player of Nowitzki’s caliber is feeling it, and he certainly was in Game 1.

It wasn’t all bad for the Spurs, as they shot 50% from the field, but they didn’t get to the line enough, and 17 turnovers is far too many to survive in the playoffs. Tim Duncan had 27 points and eight rebounds, while Manu Ginobili chipped in with 26 points. Tony Parker started on the bench, but had 18 points in 34 minutes for the Spurs, and you can pretty much bet that he’ll be in the starting five for Game 2 as coach Gregg Popovich was trying to save him. Parker missed a month late in the season because of an ailing hand, but now Popovich’s hand (no pun intended) has been forced.

The Mavericks should be the favorites in this contest if you’re betting on sports, and the Spurs have now lost six in a row in Dallas, and eight of their last 10 trips to “Big D” overall. The Spurs’ “Big Three” of Parker, Duncan and Ginobili played well, but outside of 10 points from Antonio McDyess, no other player scored more than five points, and Richard Jefferson is arguably the biggest free-agent disappointment of the season. The Mavericks have a lot of weapons and didn’t even get a good game from Jason Terry. The center duo of Erick Dampier and Brendan Haywood combined for 15 points and 18 rebounds, and which allows Nowitzki to have more offensive freedom, which can mean nothing but good things for the Mavericks. The Spurs are going to need all of their championship experience to steal one here, but we think they just don’t have enough talent.

Bet NBA: Dallas