For Jack of a Better Name

Phoenix at Milwaukee -4.5 Tonight is Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are up 3-2 in the series after a 123-119 win in Phoenix. Devin Booker scored 40 points combining 82 points in the last 2 games both resulting in losses. Giannis dropped 32 and Jrue Holiday came up clutch with 27 points and 13 assists including the game-clinching steal and alley-oop to the Greek Freek. The Bucks are favoured by 4.5 with the chance to claim the championship and I'm going with Milwaukee to win and cover. Giannis put on the Black Air Force 1s and now they haven't lost. Record Straight: 59-32 Spread- 50-40-1

Milwaukee at Phoenix -4 Tonight is Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. The series is now tied up at 2 after a 109-103 win in Game 4. They won despite an outstanding Devin Booker performance that included 42 points but ran into foul trouble and only scored 4 points in the 4th quarter. Now we are at the swing game of the series that every home team has won. With Phoenix being favoured by 4 at home I'm going with the Suns to win but the Bucks cover.  Record Straight: 59-31 Spread- 49-40-1

Phoenix at Milwaukee -4.5 Tonight is Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. Phoenix is up 2-1 in the series after Milwaukee took Game 3 120-100. Giannis had an incredible 41 points 13 rebounds 6 assist game. The Bucks now have the chance to even up the series at home. The Suns need their entire team to step up and prove that the first two games weren't completely related to being at home. With the Bucks favoured by 4.5 at home, I'm going with Milwaukee to win and cover. Record Straight: 58-31 Spread- 48-40-1

Phoenix at Milwaukee -4.5 Tonight is Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns are up 2-0 in the series after a 118-108 win in Game 2. Giannis stepped up in a big way in Game 2 putting up 42 points 12 rebounds 4 assists and 4 steals/blocks. Devin Booker put up 31 points and was helped out by 27 from Miles Bridges, 23 from Chris Paul, and a 10 point 11 rebound double-double from Deandre Ayton. Now the panic outside Milwaukee has set in before the Bucks set foot in the Fiserv Arena. This to me is a classic the series doesn't start until someone loses at home. I'm going with the Bucks to win and cover the 4.5 point spread. Record Straight: 57-31 Spread- 47-40-1

Milwaukee at Phoenix -4.5 Tonight is Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. Phoenix is up 1-0 in the series after a 118-105 win behind Chris Paul's 32 points and 9 assists. Giannis is clearly battling an injury but still, put up a 20 point 17 rebound 4 assists 2 steals, and 1 block in his Finals debut. In-game 2 with the same spread as Game 1 I'm going with Phoenix to win but Milwaukee to cover and keep it close. Record Straight: 56-31 Spread- 47-39-1

Milwaukee at Phoenix -4.5 Tonight is Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. The Bucks swept Miami in the first round exercising their bubble demons, survived a grueling 7 game series against Brooklyn, then finished Atlanta in 6 without Giannis (or Trae Young), and now enter the Finals for the first time since 1974 and look to win for the first time since '71. Phoenix beat the hobbled Lakers in 6 in round 1, swept the Jamal Murray-less Denver Nuggets, and beat the Kawhi-less but clutch Paul George Clippers in 6. Now we have the classic old guy or young cat title. Although Devin Booker has been the leader of the Phoenix these Suns have taken Chris Paul's personality and hope to earn him a title. While the Bucks are following their 26-year-old 2-time MVP Giannis Antetokoumnpo to try and lead them to a title like Kareem before him. In this Game 1, I think we'll see a feeling out process, some stress from inexperienced players, and I'll trust ...

Milwaukee at Atlanta -3.5 Tonight is Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks are up 3-2 in the series after the 123-112 win in Game 5. Now in another game without the two biggest superstars of this series we have to once again guess who to trust. The Hawks are favoured at home and I think that means something. I'm going with the Hawks to win but the Bucks cover and keep it close. Record Straight: 55-30 Spread- 45-39-1

Atlanta at Milwaukee -4.5 Tonight is Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. The series is tied up at 2 after the Hawks won Game 4 110-88 without Trae Young. Now with no Trae and no Giannis for this game, it comes down to who is the next few guys to step into bigger roles. The Bucks have the more solid top 2 in Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday while the Hawks have more guys that have the ability to get hot. I'm going to trust the better all-around team in Milwaukee and take the Bucks to win and cover. Record Straight: 54-30 Spread- 44-39-1

Phoenix -1.5 at LA Clippers Tonight is Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers. The Suns have the opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. The Clippers and Paul George saved their season with a 116-102 win in Game 5. Chris Paul is walking into the Staples Centre with the chance to advance to the Finals, which is a statement I was expecting to say in 2014 or 15 at home instead of being an opponent in 2021. With the Suns being 1.5 point favourites in a pressure situation I'm going with the Suns to win and cover. Record Straight: 53-30 Spread- 43-39-1

Atlanta at Milwaukee -9 Tonight is Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks are up 2-1 in the series after the Khris Middleton game scoring 38 points and 20 in the 4th quarter. There are questions about Trae Young's availability with the injury suffered in game 3 after stepping on the ref's foot. I'm going on a limb and say the Bucks will win with or without Trae but I'll take the Hawks to cover myself and the spread.  Record Straight: 53-29 Spread- 42-39-1

LA Clippers at Phoenix -6.5 Tonight is Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals between the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns. The Suns are up 3-1 in the series after a 90s classic 84-80 win in Game 4. Now the Suns have the chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. The Suns are 6.5 point favourites with the chance to advance. The Clippers will have to rely on Paul George once again to give them one more chance to extend this series. Even though they're big underdogs I'm going with the Clippers to win and cover and put the fear in Suns and Chris Paul fans going back to the Staples Center. Record Straight: 53-28 Spread- 41-39-1

Milwaukee -4.5 at Atlanta Tonight is Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. The series is tied at 1 after the Bucks blew out game 2 125-91 in which the bench players got the majority of the play down the stretch. This was one of the first times a playoff game actually looked like a Wednesday night game in February. The Bucks are favoured by 4.5 and I have my ultimate trust in this Milwaukee team now. I'm going with the Bucks to win and cover no matter how many points Trae Young can score. Record Straight: 52-28 Spread- 40-39-1

Phoenix at LA Clippers pick em Tonight is Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers. The Suns are up 2-1 in the series after a 106-92 loss in game 3 behind a Paul George 27 point 15 rebound 8 assist performance. The Clippers are in a prime position to come back from 2-0 for the third straight series. In this game, I'm taking the Suns because I'm expecting a slight drop-off from Paul George plus I don't think Devin Booker and Chris Paul could both have bad games again. Record Straight: 51-28 Spread- 39-39-1

Atlanta at Milwaukee -8 Tonight is Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks are up 1-0 in the series after a 116-113 win in game 1 led by Trae Young's 48 points 11 assist 7 rebound performance. At this point, it doesn't look like Trae or Giannis can be contained so it will be on the others to step up and be the necessary secondary scoring option. The Bucks are 8 point favourites once again and it's hard to believe they can contain Trae but will he have the same performance as Game 1. If the Hawks win it will either be another classic Trae performance or the rest of the Hawks stepping up. I'm going with the Bucks to win and Hawks to cover the same as Game 1. Hopefully this time with a different outcome. Record Straight: 50-28 Spread- 39-38-1

Phoenix -1 at LA Clippers Tonight is Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns are up 2-0 in the series after a 104-103 win in Game 2 which will now be known as the "Valley Oop" between Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton. Now the Clippers have the Suns right where they want them apparently. The Clippers have been down in all three series they have been in these playoffs. Phoenix is getting Chris Paul just in time to return to the Staples Center for the Clippers' first-ever Conference Game at home. It is very poetic that Chris Paul does get to be a part of the Clippers' first Conference Final appearance. Just because they like being down I'm going with the Clippers to win and cover. Record Straight: 49-28 Spread- 38-38-1

Atlanta at Milwaukee -8 Tonight is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks went through a gauntlet of fans beating the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Trae Young has ascended to a level that I don't know any fan would know he would be ready for at 22 years old. The Bucks swept the Miami Heat and beat the Brooklyn Nets in 7 games to get to this point. In this game with the Bucks as 8 point favourites, I'm going with Milwaukee to win but Atlanta to cover. Both these teams lack a lot of experience in this field of play which should make it an even series. Record Straight: 49-27 Spread- 37-38-1

LA Clippers at Phoenix -4.5 Tonight is Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns. The Suns are up 1-0 in the series after a 120-114 win. The Suns are 4.5 point favourites with Kawhi and Chris Paul still out. In the Paul George vs Devin Booker battle, I'm going with the Suns to win and the Clippers to cover and keep it close. Record Straight: 49-26 Spread- 36-38-1

Atlanta at Philadelphia -7 Tonight is Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final between the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. With the series tied at 3 and a winner take all scenario we have to look at the experience that both of these teams have. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris all have one game 7 experience (cue Kawhi shot) also in which their injured teammate Danny Green was on the other side. We also can't forget about Doc Rivers who was the Head Coach of the LA Clippers in 2015 and 2020 when they blew 3-1 series leads which they don't have to worry about this time. But Philly is the number 1 seed in the east and the pressure is on them. Atlanta's top players will be in their first game 7 which is unknown if it is a positive or not. Philly is looking to make their first Conference Finals since 2001 and Atlanta is looking to make the second Conference Finals in franchise history (2015). Even though the 76ers core lost their only Game 7 together and now ...

LA Clippers at Phoenix -4 Today is Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns. Both teams enter this series without their leaders as Chris Paul is in Covid protocols and Kawhi Leonard is rehabbing an ACL injury. This makes the star power game between Paul George and Devin Booker. The Suns were not expected to get to this point but once they beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round it almost became a given they would beat the Jamal Murray-less Denver Nuggets. Now although Chris Paul isn't playing it is his second-ever Conference Finals (2018 with Houston) and he gets the opportunity to face the franchise that he was the face of until he was traded to the Rockets. The Clippers escaped Dallas in 7 in the first round which led to some turmoil on the bench and in the front office and beat Utah in 6 after an incredible Terrence Mann performance who will be relied on once again to carry some of the offensive load. In this g...

Milwaukee at Brooklyn -2 Tonight is Game 7 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets with the chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Giannis and Khris Middleton both scored 30 or more points during Game 6 in Milwaukee to force a do-or-die game for both sides in New York. The Nets will be without Kyrie Irving which they have been since he injured his ankle earlier in the season. James Harden had a better performance in Game 6 but the Nets need him to step up in an elimination game without their third superstar teammate. We can expect Kevin Durant to be ready for this moment but some combination of Joe Harris, Blake Griffin, Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, Landry Shamet, and maybe a Mike James or Nicolas Claxton to fill in the gaps for Durant and Harden. The Bucks have better depth behind Middleton and Giannis but they need better games from Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez. In this winner take all game and a 2 point spread you are pretty much picking the winner via the spread. I...