BSNblog

Pistons vs Cavaliers odds: Cavaliers -11

The Detroit Pistons need to find some answers very quickly or they will be in trouble.

They need to find some answers on the defensive end after letting LeBron James tally 38 points on 53 per cent shooting in Game 1. The Pistons, who were once known for their stifling defense, also allowed four other Cavaliers to reach double figures.

The Pistons also need answers on the offensive end, where the team finished with just 39 points in the second half of Game 1.

Considering the Pistons don’t have any real adjustments they can make for Game 2, they can expect the result to be similar to Game 1.

Pick: Cavaliers -11

Game 2: Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers – Tuesday, 10:05 PM ET

Rockets vs Trail Blazers odds: Trail Blazers -5.5

On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers blew their home court advantage in Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarter-Final against the Houston Rockets. On Tuesday, they’ll try to protect their home court and – for all intents and purposes – stay alive in their seven-game series.

Playoff experience proved to be the difference as many of the Trail Blazers who were making their playoff debuts played nervously. The Rockets starters outscored the Trail Blazers starters 94-43 en route to the Trail Blazers’ biggest loss of the season (108-81).

After benching his starters for the fourth quarter, Nate McMillan – and NBA betting fans – will be expecting a much more poised performance from the Blazers in Game 2.

The Blazers won 34 of 41 home games in the regular season so don’t expect them to lose two in a row at home in the playoffs.

Pick: Trail Blazers -5.5

Game 2: Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers – Tuesday, 10:35 PM ET

Jazz vs Lakers odds: Lakers -11.5

Even though the Utah Jazz are down just 1-0 in their Western Conference Quarter-Final against the Los Angeles Lakers, the fat lady is already beginning to sing. And she’s not singing jazz music.

The Jazz found themselves down once again at halftime to the Los Angeles Lakers, this time trailing by 22 points en route to a 13-point loss in Game 1.

The Jazz trailed by 13 points at halftime in Game 1 last year against the Lakers and were down by 15 points at the end of the first quarter in Game 2. In a meeting earlier this season, the Jazz were also down by 17 points after the first quarter.

The bigger problem for the Jazz is that they have lost eight of their last 10 games overall and are coming apart at the seams at the worst possible time of the season. Hoops betting fans know that the Jazz just don’t have it this year.

Phil Jackson’s teams are 41-0 after winning Game 1, which is a foreboding sign for the Jazz as they start to face the music.

Pick: Lakers -11.5