Jimmy Boyd’s 5* NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game of the Year and ‘Never Lost’ 20-0 MLB Interleague SMASH have you covered Sunday!

INSANE 11-1 L12 & 17-4 L21 5* NBA “Game of the Year” plays! Jimmy does not take the “Game of the Year” tag lightly. These are his ABSOLUTE STRONGEST releases. His NBA “GOTY” plays are a PERFECT 3-0 this season and the perfection continues with this GOLDEN investment opportunity in the East Semis. It goes on the Heat/Pacers Game 4 matchup and it’s backed by an AWESOME 29-9 ATS SUPER SYSTEM that has owned the books the L5 seasons!

2007 MLB Champ (profited $1,000/game bettors $50,050)! Like clockwork, Jimmy is off to another strong start in interleague play. He followed up Friday’s 6-0 winner on the Tigers -1.5 w/ a 4-0 winner on the Giants -130 Saturday to improve to a STRONG 50-28 (64%) his L78 MLB picks and a DOMINANT 152-105 (59%) his L257 MLB picks ($1,000/game bettors up $26,460 w/ this run)! He keeps you cashing Sunday with an absolute gem that’s backed by a NEVER LOST trend that’s 20-0 ALL-TIME!

Grab Jimmy’s Big Play Sunday 2-Pack for $49.95 by signing up for his 1 Day All Picks Package – purchase with this link! This package is guaranteed to profit or tomorrow’s entire card is ON THE HOUSE!

GET 3 DAYS FOR THE PRICE OF 2 when you sign up for Jimmy’s 3-Day Pass for $99.95 – purchase with this link! You’re guaranteed to show a profit with this package or Jimmy will send you his next 3 days worth of plays FREE!

Better yet: Get Jimmy’s 1 Week Sampler for just $149.95 to SAVE $200 off what it would cost you to purchase 7 daily packages for $49.95 each – purchase with this link! You’re guaranteed to show a profit over the next 7 days or you get an extra week ON THE HOUSE!

Pick up Jimmy’s 30-Day Monthly Sampler for $349.95 to SAVE $1,149 off what it would cost you to purchase 30 daily packages with this link! You’re guaranteed to show a profit over the next 30 days or you get an extra month FREE!

NBA PLAYOFFS PASS! Get every NBA release from now through Game 7 of the NBA Finals for just $249.95 – purchase with this link!

2012 MLB SEASON PASS – In 2007, Jimmy brought home the MLB World Handicapping Championship while gaining his $1,000/game bettors over $50,000. He’s coming off another tremendous season, during which he profited $1,000/game bettors $13,960! Jimmy closed 2011 on a RIDICULOUS 26-7 (79%) RUN, and he’s ready to pick up where he left off. Come play with a World Champion Handicapper through Game 7 of the World Series for extremely lucrative results.  This season pass, which gets you roughly 7 months of winners, is just $499.95 – check it out with this link!

Today’s Plays:

5* NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game of the Year – Get it now for $44.95 with this link!

‘Never Lost’ 20-0 MLB Interleague SMASH – Get it now for $34.95 with this link!

Check out all of Jimmy Boyd’s picks and packages at http://www.locksmithsportspicks.com/jimmy-boyd/

***GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK***

Grab Jimmy’s 1-Year All-Access Pass for only $899.95 to SAVE THOUSANDS ($17,331.8 to be exact) off the daily rate for all of his expert picks in all sports over the next 365 days with this link! That’s Under $2.50 per day!

Other Recommended Handicappers at Locksmith Sports

Dave Price – Dave’s ONE & ONLY 7* NBA PLAYOFFS 2ND ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR goes Sunday!

No. 1 RANKED NBA HANDICAPPER this season with an AMAZING 137-91 (60%) mark that has profited $1,000/game bettors $39,130! Dave’s NBA playoff sides are a RED HOT 10-4 the L13 days and his 7* NBA “Game of the Year” sides are on a PERFECT 5-0 run! His 1st Round GOTY won on the Magic +5 (5/5) and his STRONGEST play in round 2 is showing even more value behind a 24-5 ATS Super System that’s a PERFECT 3-0 ATS the L3 seasons!

Follow this link to check out Dave Price’s plays and packages!

Jeff Alexander – 10 of L12 days in the BLACK in the NBA playoffs!

WHITE HOT 13-3 L16 NBA 5* Wiseguy Top Plays!
RED HOT 14-6 L20 NBA sides!
#7 NBA Capper this season!
2007-08 NBA Champ!
ONLY capper in the industry w/ 4 top-7 NBA finishes L5 years!

Off yet another profitable day in the NBA playoffs, Jeff continues his postseason dominance with his MIA/IND 5* WISEGUY GM 4 *PUNISHER* & SA/LAC 4* MAJOR GM 4 BAILOUT!

Check out all of Jeff Alexander’s packages and plays with this link!

No. 11 Ranked MLB Handicapper in 2011 ($1,000/game bettors banked 13,960)!

26-7 (79%) Run to close the 2011 MLB season!

2007 MLB World Handicapping Champion (296-263-6 record gained $1,000/game bettors over $50,000)!

No. 1 Ranked Overall Basketball Handicapper in the World in 2008-09 (+3853) – +1056 units better than 2nd place!

White Hot 11-1 L12 & 17-4 L21 5* NBA Game of the Year plays!

No. 6 Ranked NBA regular-season Handicapper in 2010-11 ($1,000/game bettors banked $8,230)!

Top 10 Finish in the 2009-10 NBA Season (No. 9)!

4th Place NBA Handicapper 2008-09 Season (25-11 Run to close out the Season)!

2008-09 NCAAB World Handicapping Runner-up!

Documented World’s Best 19-7 in the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament!

Jimmy was a Dominant 13-2 in NCAAB conference tourney action in 2010 and is now 25-12 (68%) his L37 conference tourney picks.

Strong 17-8 L25 NFL Playoffs picks!

White Hot 14-4-1 L19 NFL Playoffs 5* Top Plays!

Jimmy finished the 2007-08 College Bowl Season on a 14-5 run and came through with a 10-4 home stretch run in 2008-09 for another remarkable campaign! He closed out the 2009-10 Bowl Season on a terrific 8-3 run and finished the 2010-11 Bowl season on Hot 3-0 & 6-3 Runs! He capped off the 2011-12 Bowl Season on a Red Hot 5-1 Run!

FREE PLAY
1 Unit on San Francisco Giants -148
With wins in the first two games of this series, the Giants have now won 11 in a row at home versus the A’s. Expect their home dominance to continue behind two-time Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum this afternoon.

Lincecum hasn’t exactly looked like his old self in the early going, but his success against Oakland can’t be ignored here. The mighty righty is 5-1 with an ERA of 1.38 in 7 career starts versus the A’s.

Oakland’s Bartolo Colon got off to a nice start but has quickly faded. He has been rocked in his last two starts, giving up 12 runs on 21 hits in back-to-back losses.

The Giants are 9-1 in their last 10 interleague games and 21-5 in their last 26 interleague home games. The Athletics are 7-24 in their last 31 interleague road games. We’ll take the Giants.

Don’t forget to check out Jimmy’s Guaranteed 5* NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game of the Year!

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

The 137th running of the Preakness Stakes goes down this Saturday and millions will be watching to see if Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another has what it takes to keep his Triple Crown hopes alive.

I’m sad to say I don’t think I’ll Have Another will cash win tickets at Pimlico. If I’m regrettably right, we will have gone through yet another disappointing year since Affirmed last won the Triple Crown in 1978.

The only thing that will make up for I’ll Have Another coming up short is if I can win some money on the race. I’ve had some success in the Preakness recently, cashing win tickets with Big Brown in 2008 and Lookin At Lucky in 2010. In 2009 and 2011, I had Preakness winners Rachel Alexandra and Shackleford finishing second in my predictions.

Without any further ado, here are my top three horses for Saturday’s big race.

Win: Bodemeister (7/4) – Not much meat on the bone here, but Bodemeister is without a doubt the horse to beat. He was the fastest horse in the Kentucky Derby but couldn’t get the distance. He led the entire way before I’ll Have Another caught him down the stretch and prevailed by a length-and-a-half. In this shorter race, Bodemeister, who I expect to get out fast again, should have enough to hold off the late kickers.

Bodemeister’s nine-and-a-half length win in the Arkansas Derby was the most impressive performance I’ve seen all year. He is a flat out speed demon.

This horse has finished no worse than second in five starts and has followed up each second place showing with a win in his next race.

It also bodes well for us that super trainer Bob Baffert is in Bodemeister’s corner. Baffert has trained five Preakness winners with all five of those in the last 15 years.

Place: Creative Cause (7/1) – This horse ran a respectable fifth in the Kentucky Derby, and it was his only time in nine races finishing outside the top three. He has been Mr. Consistency with four wins, two places and two shows.

I actually like that Creative Cause didn’t finish in the money at Churchill Downs because we are getting him at a pretty good price. Don’t forget that this is one of the few horses in the nation that has defeated Bodemeister. He outran him in the San Felipe Stakes on Mar. 10 on a 1 1/16 mile track – nearly the same distance they’ll see at Pimlico. If you’re looking for a little more value, this horse shows decent bang for the buck.

Show: I’ll Have Another (5/2) – As much as I would love to see I’ll Have Another head to the Belmont Stakes with a chance to make history, I just don’t see it happening. We have seen seven Kentucky Derby winners go on to win the Preakness Stakes in the last 15 years but only one in the last eight years.

I’ll Have Another is on a roll with three wins in his last three races, but this stalker could run out of track when attempting to catch the frontrunners with his finishing kick Saturday.

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

With the 2012 Preakness Stakes all set to go down this Saturday, it’s time to take a look at some tips to help you pick the winning horse.

Respect the Kentucky Derby Winner – Sure, 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another might be overvalued, but recent history tells us not to write off a Derby winner. Keep in mind that the Derby field is the cream of the crop so coming out on top cannot ever be a total fluke. Plus, the Derby field is always larger than the Preakness field so beating less horses in the Preakness is seemingly an easier task. On top of these factors, the Kentucky Derby winner has gone on to win the Preakness in seven of the last 15 years, and we likely would have been looking at eight if it weren’t for the Barbaro tragedy.

Fresh Isn’t Always Best – Many horse racing bettors will elect to go with a fresh horse in the Preakness with the thinking that its legs will be more ready for the 1-3/16 mile sprint than one which just ran in the Derby two weeks prior. Sure, the Kentucky Derby is the toughest challenge out there for three-year-old thoroughbreds, but running in it has been great preparation for the Preakness if anything. Over the last 28 years, only three winners in Baltimore did not run in the Derby. Only Red Bullet, Bernardini and Rachel Alexandra have pulled off the feat of winning the Preakness without running in the Derby during this stretch and all three were impressive horses. Still, as good a horse as Bernardini was, he likely benefited from the Barbaro tragedy.

Bad in the Derby Doesn’t Mean Bad in the Preakness – Just because a horse doesn’t bring it’s A-game on Derby Day, we can’t write them off, forgetting all of their previous success.  Remember Point Given. He ran a disappointing fifth as the Derby favorite in 2001, but he responded with a lengthy Preakness win and a blazing time in the Belmont Stakes. He was one of those horses you just knew was better than he showed at Churchill Downs. Afleet Alex is another example of a horse that did not perform up to potential in the Derby, running 3rd, but went on to win both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. You’re probably thinking that these horses were both among the leaders, though. Well, here’s another example for you. Louis Quatorze finished 16th in the 1996 Kentucky Derby but bounced back to win the Preakness.

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

With the 137th running of the storied Preakness Stakes just days away, it’s time to start thinking about which horse you are going to take with your win bet and which exotic bets you are going to set up. On top of that, some might need to start thinking about where they are going to wager on the second leg of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. The extreme race fan will be making the trip to Baltimore, Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course to take all the action in live. While not quite as big of an event as the Kentucky Derby, the atmosphere at the Preakness makes it well worth the trip. If you won’t be making the trip to Pimlico, then I have several other options for you to consider come race day.

The Local Track – Many horse racing venues throughout the country allow you to watch and wager on the Preakness Stakes via simulcasting. This is usually a great atmosphere full of avid horse racing fanatics unable to make a lengthy trip to Baltimore. If you can’t be at THE track, getting to A track for the big race is the next best thing.

Vegas Baby – Many people will make the trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl or the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, but the Triple Crown Racing season is another great time to plan a vacation in Sin City. Hit the slots, the tables, the sports books, and cap it all off by picking the winner in the Preakness Stakes. The MGM Grand Sports Book and Race Book is my personal favorite. This massive 5,300 square foot gambling mecca offers Vegas’ only sky boxes. The four second-level boxes can fit eight to 10 guests and they each come equipped with plasma TVs, CD systems and surround sound audio – perfect for you and a few of your buddies.

Online Race books – The invention of the internet has afforded us the luxury of wagering in the comfort of our own homes. There are a number of quality online race books to choose from, but doesn’t it make sense to pick a book that offers great sign up bonuses.

However you choose to enjoy the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes, we wish you the best of luck with your wagers.

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby looks as wide open as ever. With that said, I believe I have identified three horses with an excellent opportunity to win the race. Without any further ado, here are my top three Derby horses.

Win – Take Charge Indy (15/1): Since Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby in 2008, it has been wise to search for value with your Derby-day wagers. We saw Mine That Bird win at 50/1 in 2009, Super Saver at 8/1 in 2010 and Animal Kingdom at 20/1 last year. I think Take Charge Indy offers exceptional value at 15/1 odds.

The son of A.P. Indy, grandson of Seattle Slew and great grandson of Secretariat certainly has pedigree on his side. Plus, we can expect jockey Calvin Borel to get the most out of this horse, just as he did in the Florida Derby.

Borel has been aboard the winning Kentucky Derby horse three times in the past five years (Street Sense 2007, Mine That Bird 2009, Super Saver 2010), and I am expecting him to give Take Charge Indy a good ride after a disappointing tenth-place finish aboard Twice the Appeal last year.

Place – Union Rags (9/2): It’s hard not to like Union Rags to finish in the top three. He’s won four of six career starts while never finishing worst than third.

Like Take Charge Indy, Seattle Slew and Secretariat are a part of his gene pool so the breeding is there.

It’s also nice to know he’ll be mounted by one of the best in Julien Leparoux. This Eclipse Award winner should be very focused after riding odds on favorite Dialed In to an eighth-place finish in last year’s Derby.

My concern with this horse is the Derby traffic. He had a bad trip in the Florida Derby and could very well encounter another one Saturday. Even if he does, he has the speed and the endurance to finish high.

Show – Gemologist (6/1): If you like betting winning horses, this might just be your pony. The son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow has won each of his five career races.

It also bodes well for us that super trainer Todd Pletcher is in his corner. Pletcher broke his Derby skid in 2012 with Super Saver, and I do not expect that to be his only Derby victory. The guy is just too good.

Jockey Javier Castellano may not by quite as accomplished as Borel and Leparoux, but he does have Breeders’ Cup Classic and Preakness Stakes wins under his belt.

Other Contenders

Bodemeister (4/1): Bodemeister could be special, but I do not feel he is showing much value at this price given his inexperience. His Arkansas Derby win was impressive, but no horse since 1882 has won the Derby without racing as a two year old.

Creative Cause (11/1): Creative Cause looks to be the best from the West. He’s won half of his eight career races and hasn’t finished worst than third.

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

The 2012 NBA playoffs are set to get underway Saturday, April 28. Here’s how I have them playing out.

Eastern Conference Playoffs 1st Round:

#1 Chicago Bulls v. #8 Philadelphia 76ers – I believe the 76ers are poised for an early exit. They won the season’s first meeting in impressive fashion in February but were defeated by the Bulls in both March encounters. I get the sense the 76ers are just happy to be in the playoffs after struggling in the second half of the season. The Bulls, meanwhile, are gunning for a championship. Bulls in 4.

#2 Miami Heat v. #7 New York Knicks – The Heat dominated the Knicks during the regular season, winning all three meetings by an average of 10.7 points. The Knicks have been a much better defensive team under Mike Woodson, which gives them a chance to be competitive. In the end, however, Miami has too much fire power. Heat in 5.

#3 Indiana Pacers v. #6 Orlando Magic – The Magic took three of four meetings with the Pacers during the regular season, but they don’t have much of a chance without Dwight Howard. Pacers in 5.

#4 Boston Celtics v. #5 Atlanta Hawks – Boston doesn’t own home-court in this series, but I still like its chances. It won two of three meetings during the regular season, which included a 79-76 victory on the road. The veteran Celtics showed they are still a force with big wins over Miami and Indiana down the stretch. Celtics in 7.

Eastern Conference Semifinals:

#1 Chicago Bulls v. #4 Boston Celtics – The Bulls took three of four meetings in the regular season series as they held the Celtics to an average of 85.0 points. Chicago is the more youthful team, and it’s commitment on the defensive end and home-court advantage should enable it to prevail in the end. Unless, of course, Derrick Rose is limited by injury. Bulls in 7.

#2 Miami Heat v. #3 Indiana Pacers – The Heat won the regular-season series 3-1 but was taken to overtime at home and lost 105-90 on the road in the two most recent meetings. While Indiana could provide a test, I can’t see it pulling off the upset with as strong as Miami has been at home. Heat in 6.

Eastern Conference Finals:

#1 Chicago Bulls v. #2 Miami Heat – Miami defeated the Bulls in five games in last year’s conference finals, and I believe it still has the upper hand. Rose’s injury issues throughout the season have forced the Bulls not to be so one-dimensional offensively, but the Heat still have more scoring options. I have to go with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh over Rose, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Heat in 6.

Western Conference Playoffs 1st Round:

#1 San Antonio Spurs v. #8 Utah Jazz – Motivated by last year’s early exit, and up against an inferior foe, the Spurs should advance rather easily. They took three of four from Utah during the regular season, basically conceding the April 9 loss with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli sitting out. Spurs in 5.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder v. #7 Dallas Mavericks – This is not the same Dallas team that won it all a season ago. The Mavs lost three of four meetings with Oklahoma City during the regular season, and the Thunder should waste little time eliminating the reigning champs. Thunder in 5.

#3 Los Angeles Lakers v. #6 Denver Nuggets – The Lakers won three of four during the regular-season series but each of their three wins came by narrow margins. In other words, Denver should be competitive. Ultimately though, Los Angeles, which is a terrific 26-7 at home, holds the edge because of its home-court advantage. Lakers in 6.

#4 Memphis Grizzlies v. #5 Los Angeles Clippers – The Clippers cost themselves home-court in the first round with losses in three of their last four games. Those losses may have also cost them a first round series victory. Memphis is just 15-18 on the road but 26-7 at home. Grizzlies in 6.

Western Conference Semifinals:

#1 San Antonio Spurs v. #4 Memphis Grizzlies – Memphis upset the Spurs in six games in the first round of last year’s playoffs, and they haven’t forgotten. The Spurs won all four regular-season meetings by an average of 9.5 points. It won’t be easy, but I like San Antonio to have its revenge. Spurs in 7.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder v. #3 Los Angles Lakers – The Thunder took two of the three regular-season meetings, with the Lakers needing double-overtime to record their win. The Lakers were exposed by a deeper Dallas team and were swept in last year’s conference semis. They’ll be up against another team that is deeper than they are here, and it likely spells the end of the road. Thunder in 6.

Western Conference Finals:

#1 San Antonio Spurs v. #2 Oklahoma City Thunder – The Spurs will do everything in their power to add one more banner with Duncan, Parker and Ginobli, but I have them coming up short against the more youthful Thunder. At this stage of the postseason, the Thunder will be the fresher team. Thunder in 7.

NBA Finals:

Oklahoma City Thunder v. Miami Heat – James took his talents to South Beach for one reason. After tasting defeat in last year’s finals, he and his teammates will be even more driven. Heat in 6.

Jimmy Boyd is coming off another terrific NBA regular season and enters the playoffs riding 26-13-1 and 38-19-1 NBA runs. Also, he is an incredible 33-12-1 his L46 NBA 5 star top plays! Win with him through Game 7 of the NBA Finals by picking up his playoffs pass.

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

The Boston Celtics were below .500 at the All-Star break, yet have won the Atlantic Division and secured a No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. With one team maybe having some pride to play for and the other just gearing up for the postseason, Thursday’s game may be mildly interesting when the Bucks visit the Celtics. Here’s a look at what to expect from each team, plus my final score prediction to help you make your NBA picks tonight.

Milwaukee Bucks (31-34)

The Bucks were 13-20 at the All-Star break and not really in the discussion for the playoffs in the East. However, Milwaukee entered Wednesday’s home game with Philadelphia just two games under .500 and coming off back-to-back wins, the more recent a 92-86 home win over Toronto. The two recent wins snapped a 1-5 stretch after Milwaukee won four straight to equalize at 28-28. The Bucks are 8-3 in their last 11 road games, but they haven’t beaten a team with a winning record since knocking off Houston Jan. 25 (105-99). Milwaukee did give Boston all it could handle in its last visit, though, falling only 102-96.

Boston Celtics (38-27)

The Celtics have no desire to play their main players any significant minutes, if at all, considering that they are locked in as the No. 4 seed and will face Atlanta in the first round. The team has alternated wins and losses in its last five games, but is coming off a glorified preseason game win over Miami, 78-66. Boston is 2-0 against the Bucks this year, but both games have come since the all-Star break when both teams were playing well and had things for which to play. Now that is diminished with this game, Boston will be at a disadvantage considering it doesn’t score with any regularity and is not known as a deep team.

Predictions

The latest odds show Boston favored by 8.5 points and the total set for 192 points. Like the game with Miami, Boston will not likely have a pretty game in this finale before the postseason. Their bench is not known to be a very good one, and the team in general has had a hard time scoring all year. The Celtics have trouble scoring with or without their Big Three, and Milwaukee will challenge tempo and try to get in the open court. If the Bucks play their starters, they should have the advantage in this game; if they don’t, it will come down to tempo and discipline, where Boston will have the advantage.

Final Score Prediction: Bucks 95, Celtics 94

Be sure to visit Vegas Top Cappers throughout the NBA playoffs for winning free NBA picks!

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

The Miami Heat have pretty much settled in on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, and likely will not be playing all its big guns for extended minutes as the postseason approaches. The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, have clinched the Atlantic Division and the No. 4 seed in the East, so they will likely also try to keep starters healthy while trying to continue positive momentum for the playoffs. Two of the most recent NBA Finalists will do battle in their penultimate regular-season game Tuesday night when the Heat visit the Celtics. Boston leads the season series, 2-1, which includes a 91-72 home win April 1. Here’s a look at what to expect from both teams to help you make your NBA picks for tonight.

Miami Heat (46-18) @ Boston Celtics (37-27), 8 p.m. ET

The Heat come into this game winner of six of its last seven games, the most recent a 97-88 home win over Houston that eliminated the Rockets from playoff consideration. Miami is 18-13 away from home this year, but is 5-8 in its last 13 away from home and 1-4 in its last five versus playoff teams. The Heat won a game and lost a game with Boston playing its up-tempo game, but it was beaten by nearly 20 points when playing at Boston’s desired pace. Miami is capable of playing solid, if not spectacular, defense, but its breads and butter is on the offensive end. It has to control tempo to have the best chance of success, especially in the postseason.

The Celtics are just 3-3 in their last six games and are coming off a 97-92 loss at Atlanta Friday night. However, Boston is 11-1 in its last 12 home games, with the long loss coming by one point to West No. 1 seed San Antonio. Boston will likely be resting starters, as it can’t improve its seeding and won’t fall below the No. 4 spot, although it may end up with a worse record than its potential first-round opponent (Atlanta). Boston has improved offensively since the All-Star break, but it is still one of the weakest offensive teams in the league (92 ppg). However, Boston has been one of the elite defensive teams in the league all season (ranking third with 90 ppg allowed).

The betting lines for this game have not yet been posted, but be sure to check the NBA odds throughout the day to see what oddsmakers come up with. In the grand scheme, this game is pretty close to meaningless, other than the star factor and the fact these are the last two Eastern Conference champions. Neither team will enhance playoff position with this game; this likely will be a glorified preseason game, as neither team will play their starters heavy minutes and risk injury just before the playoffs start. This will be entertaining for the star power in the first half, but after that it will be a battle of the benches – and in that case, Miami seems to have just a little edge.

Final Score Prediction: Heat 90, Celtics 85

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

The Los Angeles Lakers have been without Kobe Bryant for a couple of games, and they have struggled as a result – keeping the rival Clippers in range to wrestle away the Pacific Division. The San Antonio Spurs have surged to within a game of Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the playoffs. Two of the elite franchises in the NBA will tangle Wednesday night in a potential second-round playoff preview when the Lakers (presumably with Bryant) will pay a visit to the Spurs. This is the first meeting between these teams this season, but they will meet three times in a span of 10 days. Here is a look at what to expect from both teams, plus my final score prediction to help you make your NBA picks tonight.

Los Angeles Lakers (36-22) @ San Antonio Spurs (40-15), 8:30 p.m. ET

The Lakers had won four straight games, but then saw Kobe Bryant suffer an injured shin that has left him in street clothes the last couple of games. LA has now lost two of the three and has given up 112 points or more in the two losses. Most recently, the Lakers escaped with a 93-91 road win over lowly New Orleans Monday night. With the recent losses, the Lakers have dropped to just 1.5 games in front of the Clippers for the Pacific Division title. The Lakers allow just 95 points per game for the season, but have allowed more than that 10 times in the last 14 games. One strength all season for LA has been rebounding, where the Lakers gather the second-most in the league (46 rpg).

The Spurs have been their usual dominant selves this year, but in a different way – with increased tempo and extraordinary depth. The Spurs are tied in the loss column with Oklahoma City for the top spot in the West. The Spurs did have an 11-game win streak, but that was snapped Monday night with a 91-84 loss at Utah. At home, San Antonio has won its last eight and has the second-best home record in the league (23-4). While the Spurs have been historically a strong defensive team, this year they have been outgunning the opponents, as the team ranks third in the league in scoring (102 ppg) and has hit the century mark six times in the last seven games – surpassing 110 points five times over that span.

The betting lines for the game haven’t been posted yet, so be sure to check the live NBA odds to see what the oddsmakers come up with. It has seemed over most of the last decade-plus, that to win the West and reach the NBA Finals, teams would have to go through either Los Angeles or San Antonio – and sometimes both. It seems this may be another one of those years. The Lakers, for all of their success with improving their defense, have been only 13-16 on the road, while the Spurs have rolled along at home this year and have found success on the offensive end. If this game were in LA, this would be a tougher call, but as this is in Texas and the Lakers haven’t been an elite team on the road this year.

Final Score Prediction: Spurs 103, Lakers 94

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks

This is how I see the first round shaping up with less than a month to go before the draft.

Pick No. 1 – Indianapolis Colts: With Peyton Manning no longer in Indy, the Colts need a franchise quarterback. I expect Stanford’s Andrew Luck to be their guy. A strong pro day dismissed any concerns about his arm strength, and there was never a doubt about his football IQ and leadership abilities. Baylor’s Robert Griffin III may have more upside because of his athleticism, but Luck is the more polished prospect.

Pick No. 2 – Washington Redskins: The Skins traded three first round picks and a second round selection in order to get Robert Griffin III. Only time will tell if he is worth the price. In the past, dual-threat quarterbacks have thrown up red flags. Cam Newton’s fantastic rookie season, however, did a lot to change the perception. Griffin is an elite athlete but was also a very accurate passer at the collegiate level. He completed 72.4 percent of his throws last season.

Pick No. 3 – Minnesota Vikings: Taking USC’s Matt Kalil here seems to be a no-brainer. He is an instant upgrade at left tackle and will be Christian Ponder’s blindside protector for years to come.

Pick No. 4 – Cleveland Browns: The Browns need more playmakers, and Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon has the potential to quickly develop into one of the best playmakers in the league. He can team with Greg Little to form a formidable one-two punch on the outside.

Pick No. 5 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs could take LSU’s Morris Claiborne here, but I believe they’ll go with Alabama running back Trent Richardson. He is a special player who should instantly improve a running game that ranked 30th in the NFL last season.

Pick No. 6 – St. Louis Rams: Morris Claiborne may have been licked by the Wonderlic, but the Rams won’t be foolish enough to pass on this talented cornerback. They need playmakers for Sam Bradford, but Claiborne is an excellent value in this position considering he is the best defensive player in the draft. The Rams could take Blackmon if he slips.

Pick No. 7 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Iowa tackle Riley Reiff would be a safe pick for the Jags as they seek extra protection for second-year QB Blaine Gabbert. Plus, he’ll also open up a few more holes for star tailback Maurice Jones-Drew.

Pick No. 8 – Miami Dolphins: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill is a bit raw (just 19 starts at QB in college) but has major upside. Plus, Mike Sherman, the Dolphins new offensive coordinator, was Tannehill’s coach at A&M. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind working with a player he’s already familiar with.

Pick No. 9 – Carolina Panthers: Carolina’s offense came alive last season with Cam Newton under center. Now, it needs to do something about a defense that was among the worst in the league. Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe would be a great start. He has freakish athleticism for his size (6-foot-3½, 346 pounds).

Pick No. 10 – Buffalo Bills: The Bills filled a need at defensive end with the addition of Mario Williams, but they may not be able to pass up a player as talented North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples. He’s clearly the top 4-3 defensive end in the draft and would be a nice complement to Williams.

Pick No. 11 – Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Pick No. 12 – Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Pick No. 13 – Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Pick No. 14 – Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Pick No. 15 – Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Pick No. 16 – New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Pick No. 17 – Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Pick No. 18 – San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

Pick No. 19 – Chicago Bears: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Pick No. 20 – Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Pick No. 21 – Cincinnati Bengals: LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

Pick No. 22 – Cleveland Browns: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Pick No. 23 – Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Pick No. 24 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Pick No. 25 – Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Pick No. 26 – Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Pick No. 27 – New England Patriots: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Pick No. 28 – Green Bay Packers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Pick No. 29 – Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Pick No. 30 – San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Pick No. 31 – New England Patriots: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Pick No. 32 – New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Originially posted at Locksmith Sports Picks