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00:00We also continue our conversation around the NBA we want to hear from the people as Donnie and I debated during our
00:07Second hour the odds makers are starting to catch up on the Cleveland Cavaliers
00:12The NBA's best team winners of 12 consecutive games now 52 and 10 first team in the association
00:18To claim a playoff berth already in the odds are starting to dwindle to win the Eastern Conference and an NBA
00:27Championship, but what exactly is the best bet around the Eastern Conference?
00:32That was the question for all of you and fade the public
00:43At sports grid on Twitter, which team is the best bet and like we did yesterday out west
00:49Let me highlight the phrasing which team is the best bet to win the Eastern Conference
00:55Not the team we expect to win the East but the best wager at this moment early here in the month of March
01:02We listed the three best prices the Celtics at minus 140 the Cavaliers at plus
01:08220 and you got to go a pretty far way back now to get to the New York Knicks at
01:139 to 1 if you voted for other we asked for a reply and Donnie as we expect both from the oddsmakers
01:21Perspective what we are seeing here and how actual games are played. We believe the Eastern Conference finals matchup is
01:28Going to be Cleveland and Boston. That's what the public is saying at sports grid on Twitter as well
01:35But most of the public or I should say more of the public
01:4045% to a little bit shy of 42% is saying the best bet is the Cleveland Cavaliers at plus 220 DRS
01:47I don't assume that you did but did you fade the public?
01:51No, I didn't I went with the public that 45%
01:54That's me in there with the Cavaliers at a plus 220 price and we always like to preface the question. That's actually being asked
01:59It's based on price point. What is your best bet here?
02:02Do you want the 220 to want the minus 140 if you think the Celtics can win you're gonna go that direction
02:06But again, it might sway you over to the Cavaliers with a better price point at plus 220
02:11But also understand this I'm getting plus 220 barring any
02:15Disastrous injuries to either side the Cavaliers wealth home court advantage and I would be getting the plus money price here
02:21Absolutely sign me up on this now
02:23You also see the New York Knicks at a nine-to-one price
02:25Interesting their car Anthony town stepping away from the team personal matters missed the game the other day
02:30Hopefully gets back on the court quickly, but that was one of those teams that we understand is ultra talented
02:34But how do we approach them because in the biggest game sometimes they don't perform up to the test that we believe so for me
02:40It just comes down to yeah that nine-to-one price is night on the Knicks
02:44But nine-to-one doesn't mean anything unless they actually win the Eastern Championship
02:48And I don't think they're gonna win that conference at all
02:50I look at the Cavaliers plus 220 45% the most people voted for the Cleveland Cavaliers and I completely agree with that
02:57My question is who's the other at the 8% who do they choose? I?
03:01Don't believe we received a reply
03:05No, not any six years Ray Stuber jr
03:08Hashtag let him know which I guess is the hashtag for the Cavaliers
03:12Drs is all about it and Donnie you could consider the Cavs your true Eastern Conference team is
03:19Philadelphia is probably not even going to sniff that Eastern Conference play in
03:24Tournament to me. The answer is simple. I also voted for the Cavaliers the best bet. There's no doubt
03:30It's Cleveland
03:31listen
03:31if the Eastern Conference finals come around and it's Cleveland in Boston the Celtics are going to be booked as a
03:38Favorite barring any catastrophic injuries for the C's, but they will not have home floor advantage
03:44So right now you could argue. Is that the series price for the Eastern Conference finals?
03:49Probably not there'd be a couple of cents added either which way
03:53Boston might even be a stronger favorite than they are currently at minus 140 Donnie
03:58I do believe the Celtics would be a favorite in the Eastern Conference finals
04:02Even if Cleveland has home floor advantage, but I don't know
04:07Necessarily if you will get that plus 220 price on the Cavs for much longer the best bet to win the Eastern Conference
04:14It's Cleveland. I still think Boston does it but the best bet at this moment. It's Cleveland
04:20Yeah, and also I think it can't be too like if both of these teams get to the Eastern Conference finals means they played
04:26Well, I can't imagine the Cavaliers are plus 220
04:28There's still I still feel that there's sort of that built-in like we got away for the Cavs do it in pressure moments
04:33They're gonna get some tests here in the playoffs. Some teams will play
04:35Well, it's almost like we're not believing in them just despite they have the best record right now in the NBA
04:40So if you're saying I need to bet that now, it's probably the best price point
04:44I do think the Cavaliers are the best team overall in the Eastern Conference because home court advantage does factor into that price
04:50But it will be interesting to see what that price point is going to be once this series does take place
04:56If it does because also it's gonna factor in did the Celtics get a little bit lucky to get there
05:01Did the Celtics lay waste to everybody getting there and the same thing with the Cavaliers, man?
05:04They could have lost him round number two or round number one the way they're playing or did they go 4040 and I'll see in
05:10The Eastern Conference finals bring the pain here at this point
05:13So it'll be fun to see how it matches up
05:14But just from this poll alone the plus 220 price point for me too hard to pass up on the Cavs
05:19Best bet on the Cavaliers. No doubt just over a week and a half ago a three-to-one number
05:25We are seeing those prices on the Cavs starting to get caught up in terms of the odds market
05:31We have asked that question
05:32One of the odds maker is going to reflect the regular season success for Cleveland and thus their playoff positioning in those conference odds
05:40Outlook and of course to win an NBA championship
05:43They are getting shorter by the day as the Cavs are riding yet again another double-digit win streak 12
05:50consecutive victories in a row and Donnie
05:54I'll just make this final point when we talk about best bet. Maybe there's a sprinkle on the box
05:59Maybe there's a sprinkle on somebody else
06:02I don't really know outside of the box who you would sprinkle on the Knicks can't be the best teams in the Eastern Conference
06:07Can't bet on them right now
06:09And I'm not sure there is great value out there to actually get to a point of the Eastern Conference
06:15Postseason where you could even have a cash out option or a middling option on teams like Indiana
06:20Detroit Miami
06:22Whatever it may be and if Jamie Bickerstaff was the guy to get Cleveland to the postseason
06:27But not elevate their ceiling and Kenny Atkinson is that guy the only good thing you could say for the Cavaliers
06:33It is a new head coach
06:35But it's largely the same cast and crew Donovan Mitchell Darius Garland Evan Mobley
06:41Jarrett Allen that was the four seed each of the past two postseasons
06:45We'll see if those postseason lumps lead to playoff success. Let's start to break down some NBA games on this Thursday
06:53TV Tom Vecchio steps up and in on this Thursday on the early line on SportsGrid
06:59Of course, that is Tom Vecchio of SportsGrid joining us here on this Thursday
07:04We'll look around the NBA including the hottest team right now in the Western Conference
07:09The LA Lakers and break down a ton for you from that prop perspective to get you ready for tonight's slate
07:16Thank you. As always. We appreciate the time. Thanks for being here
07:19Of course, thanks for having me. We are at an extremely important time in the NBA
07:24Important time the NHL with the trade deadline tomorrow
07:27NBA has been interesting this this past week
07:29I don't want to say like some teams are just going through the motions
07:32But we are seeing which teams are ready to play which teams are not
07:36Let's get into it because there's a lot to get to tonight
07:39Yeah, let's get right to it six games late around the NBA and a marquee matchup between two of the biggest markets in the sport
07:45Los Angeles Lakers at home hosting the New York Knicks
07:49Of course, LA that hottest team in the Western Conference winners of seven in a row now
07:54Just a three-point favorite on the FanDuel Sportsbook. So Vecchio answer it for us. Can the Lakers win eight straight tonight? I
08:02certainly think so, but I don't necessarily think this is gonna be a back-and-forth barnburner and
08:09We have seen the Knicks really struggle against teams above 500 and what has been the storyline for the Lakers over the past?
08:16Week and a half two weeks since the return from the all-star break. It has been their defense
08:21It has been their defense that has been absolutely awesome. So I don't mind the game under in this
08:27I specifically like Jalen Brunson under 25 and a half points the Lakers
08:31They've held teams to a hundred and two points or fewer in seven of eight games
08:34They're not playing super fast all this hype around Luke and LeBron and LeBron reaching 50k
08:39No, it's like all this is great and the storylines and the rivalry all these things are fantastic
08:43but we have to look at this from perspective of where things are the Knicks are are getting not playing super well as of late like
08:49They're barely beating Miami when they're seven-point favorites. They've been struggling against the Cavs. They've been struggling against the Celtics
08:55This is not a matchup where they want to get out and run
08:57So I like the game under and I like Jalen Brunson under
09:01Yeah, taking a look at that too because car Anthony Towns missed the last game due to personal issues
09:05We'll see if he's back in the lineup today
09:06But the fan blue sports book open this up as minus three overnight still sitting live currently on the fan blue sports book here
09:12New Jersey at minus three you look at the two superstars tonight of the Lakers
09:15Luka Donjic and LeBron James points props 28 and a half and 25 and a half respectively
09:20Is there an angle that you would play on LeBron James or Luka Donjic tonight here, Tom?
09:24You know there a part of me wants to say that because I like the under I want to take Luka under and I think his
09:29Lines a little bit inflated obviously started off slow at the Lakers
09:32He's had some great games since I think he could hit the under
09:35I also think he's obviously in play for a triple-double like depending on what narrative I'm telling myself
09:39I'm telling myself that this game's not gonna have a ton of points Luka will continue to do his thing
09:43But you're gonna tell me a 25 11 and 10 line
09:46Like that's not gonna surprise you if you saw that from Luka tomorrow morning, so I don't mind a Luka under
09:51I think it's a better spot to go with Brunson just because I'm more confident in the Lakers defense overall
09:56Which is not something I've ever said the Lakers defense is like something that impresses me
10:01Right and as we look at it Becky
10:04Oh
10:04They have been very impressive to the under since the all-star break seven of their eight games
10:09Under the only game over their most recent one two thirty and a half is that total tonight in LA?
10:15Let's get to another streaking team in the Western Conference now out of the play in tournament
10:20Simply a playoff team to succeed
10:22That would be the Golden State Warriors after the acquisition of a blockbuster player as well
10:27Jimmy Butler when he has started for Golden State ten times
10:31They have won nine games and the dubs have covered in all nine of those wins
10:35They're a double-digit favorite tonight on the road inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn ten and a half points spread in favor of the
10:42Warriors total standing at
10:44224 Becky. Oh, what's your approach to this game in BK?
10:48It's kind of the same thing and that's gonna be the under I specifically like the Nets team total under it's 106 and a half
10:54They've been under this Nate out of ten games
10:56we've also seen the Nets along with a
10:59Number of teams and let's call it that tier of teams in the NBA where they're signing players to two-way contracts
11:04They're bringing up 10-day contracts
11:05Whatever might be some of their starters aren't seeing the same amount of minutes just because we're getting to that point in the season
11:10Where they're focused on the draft whatever might be so a team that's a not a good on offense begin with they're facing an
11:16Defense that is really turning things up to another level and this is a spot where again the Warriors as you said
11:22They're out of the plane into the playoffs. This is not a matchup. They want to screw around
11:25We had their 10-point road fever, which is a huge number
11:27They're coming off a huge win at the garden, but they still need to take care of business
11:31I think that just means going about things as rationally as possible
11:34Nets team total under and yeah shade to the under on the game as well six games slayed around the
11:39Association on this Thursday evening. We break it all down for you here on the early line on
11:45Sports grid your to premiere NBA handicappers on the Spitz Grizz Network. He is Donnie
11:50I am Ben we talked about this game with TV Tom Vecchio just a segment ago the Lakers hoping to win eight
11:57consecutive at home tonight hosting the New York Knicks three-point spread in favor of LA that total now
12:04230 and a half in this seven-game win streak for Los Angeles
12:08They have covered in six of the seven first the RS would be eight straight wins
12:13And if so, would you lay the short number in favor of the Lakers at home tonight?
12:18It's one of those where we handicap in the morning where I need to know the starting lineup
12:22Am I getting Carl Anthony town tonight?
12:23If I'm not I'm not betting on the New York Knicks and under so if we do get Carl Anthony towns
12:28That sways it a little bit because you're looking at a heavy public favorite on the Lakers that momentum rides it all the way through
12:33As we said the New York Knicks playing in clutch games marquee games haven't turned out all that well
12:38But also we talk about clutch marquee. It's usually the Cleveland Cavaliers
12:41It's the OKC Thunder and we're talking about the Boston Celtics
12:44and I always like to say
12:45When you do play the New York Knicks in New York people like to step up because it's Madison Square Garden the Mecca of basketball
12:51So you get everybody's best punch typically. Well, the same always is true for the Los Angeles Lakers
12:55That's the West Coast Capitol basketball, which the Knicks didn't need any extra motivation coming into this game to take on LeBron and Luka
13:02But this is a marquee game
13:03So if I'm looking at a heavy public favorite when the Lakers that lines not moving and I'm getting Carl Anthony Towns
13:09I'm gonna take another chance on the Knicks only to be disappointed when another one of their starters sits out an hour before the game
13:15But if they are whole and intact, why can't they win this basketball game and I'd be willing to bet they do
13:20Yeah, the Knicks not great as an underdog a lot of that has come against the Cavaliers the Celtics and the Thunder New York
13:27Just three and six ATS as a dog this year all three covers and outright win
13:32They didn't win their last game outright as a dog against the Memphis Grizzlies
13:37But how do you want to conceptualize that is Memphis one of the top tier of the NBA is LA, right?
13:43we know New York is oh and seven against the Celtics Cavs and
13:48Thunder those three teams in the top two spots in each of their conference standings one two out east
13:55Cleveland Boston one two right now out west
13:59OKC
14:00La being the Lakers that will be the interesting component of this also an opportunity Donny for the Lakers to prove their might they win
14:08H straight they hammer the Knicks at home tonight
14:10They cover as a three-point home favorite in what is expected to be a competitive game
14:15We start to take the Lakers even more seriously in terms of that overall ceiling of being a true conference contender
14:21230 to half the total the Knicks were often playing in games
14:26242-45 plus Mitchell Robinson back more of an anchored offensively for Tom Thibodeau and
14:31New York in the Lakers are turning into a solid defensive team as well
14:36They did play to the over in their last game against New Orleans winning that game by 20 plus
14:41But their first seven games since the all-star break DRS to the under if you're back to the Knicks tonight
14:46How many points do you think we see?
14:49Yeah, no
14:49I would probably still lean toward the over at that point like the Knicks usually like to get up and at it and now you're
14:54Actually finding LeBron James and Luka don't you it's based on that last game where they're starting to become in sync with each other
14:59Oh, we can both have really good games together and you get everybody else involved. That's what I like
15:03So I'm expecting a higher scoring game
15:05I went not
15:0655 points but the legitimate chance to get to the 230 to half if we do look at those LeBron James and Luka don't you
15:11It's numbers like who do you trust tonight in order to do what it's probably for me more looking at the assist numbers here specifically
15:18From LeBron James in a bigger basketball game getting everybody involved. I think you can get the seven assists tonight
15:23So instead of looking at points
15:24I'll look at assists from LeBron James
15:27Involving everybody and that starting lineup because at 230 there's gonna be a lot of buckets out there
15:31Somebody's gonna have to assist on those buckets
15:33If Luka don't you can keep delivering those performances that we expect Luka don't you too?
15:38But he had not early in his purple and gold tenure
15:41I wonder how those are those props continued to update LeBron scored 34 and got to
15:4750,000 points the other night against New Orleans rivalry renewed at least based on geography in history
15:54But maybe not so much tonight 14 points spread in favor of the Celtics hosting the Philadelphia
16:0176ers 40-point performances at a patron print Peyton Pritchard and Derek White last night
16:06Second leg of a back-to-back albeit at home inside TD Garden
16:10Is there anything that Philly can do Donnie to keep this game even remotely close?
16:14I don't know if I want to lay like two touchdowns in the game with the Boston Celtics coming off a back-to-back
16:20But for my money, I agree with that price point dropping
16:22Look at the 226 already down to 220 and a half. So you see that graphic at 222
16:27That's really what it was for most of the morning. I still think this game goes under
16:31I don't know if the Sixers have a hundred points in them tonight based on the offense
16:35They're gonna be getting out of Andre Drummond and Gershon Yabusele. Come on
16:38There was a time right early February the 76ers had won five of seven
16:44They were still nine games below 500 but factoring more into the play in tournament conversation from that juncture
16:51Philly has lost 11 of 12 and it's covered only once in the last 12 games for around the NBA
16:57Live right here on the early line on sports grid the final half hour of this Thursday. It's basketball brother
17:03It's conference tournament action. It's college basketball breakdowns coming up in just a moment
17:09But we finish out a six-game slate around the Association on this Thursday
17:14Let's head to Brooklyn the Golden State Warriors the cross-country trip
17:18taking on the Nets ten and a half point spread in favor of Golden State that total at
17:24224 now live on the fan dual sports book again is Jimmy Butler starting if yes
17:29Good thing since he was dealt to the Dubs in ten games that Jimmy Butler has been in the starting five
17:35For Steve Curry and company Golden State is 1-9
17:38They have covered in all nine victories is Golden State going to continue that trend tonight in Brooklyn
17:44Yeah, I think they do and even though that's an expensive line at ten and a half
17:48It's not as if they just flew into New York
17:49I believe that was their last game the Golden State Warriors play was against the New York Knicks, I believe so still being
17:55Yeah, which is fine. Yep. You say all with the legs you get a little bit tired
17:59It's easier when you're staying in that same city here, so you'll be fine with that one 224 is the number
18:03I think it has a chance to go over but I'd be willing to bet that the Golden State Warriors win this game by double
18:08Digits therefore covering the ten and a half
18:10It's we're at that type of the season where the Warriors are playing the best
18:14basketball version of them on the season and the Brooklyn Nets are like we probably don't want to make the playoffs because we want a
18:19Better draft pick those are hard concepts to understand. Yes, they're professional athletes, but the Golden State Warriors should have no problems beating Brooklyn tonight
18:27Yeah fifth and final game for Golden State on this East Coast road trip that has included stops in Orlando, Philadelphia
18:33They played inside the garden just a few nights ago
18:37We highlighted Brooklyn DRS as a bad team that was good at covering numbers now 21 and 40
18:43They have dropped five consecutive games. They have not covered in their last three as a dog
18:48They are looking at Philadelphia and they're like make a run to the play in tournament
18:52We're trying to tank stop making us suck and giving us a chance to actually be a postseason team
18:58the Bulls probably going to be the beneficiary of that all the dubs under in two straight games as
19:05Well, let's go to Orlando a play in tournament potential when you look at those Eastern Conference standings at the all-star break
19:13The magic were the seven seed they had an opportunity maybe to give Detroit some noise
19:19Not really the case right now the magic have dropped four in a row
19:23They're the eight seed the Bulls aren't going anywhere more than likely
19:27They're in the ten spot in the Eastern Conference standings two and a half games in front of both Brooklyn and Philadelphia
19:33But four games behind Atlanta for that nine ten split in terms of the play in
19:40Tournament seven points spread in favor of the magic tonight in Orlando now at on the hook
19:45Seven and a half points spread Cornell Orlando play some better basketball snap this four-game slide at home tonight against Chicago
19:53I
19:53Think they should but these games are so tough to read certainly when you're trying to handicap in the morning you take a look at
19:58The Chicago Bulls, you know questionable for the game Josh Giddey Kevin Herter and Lonzo ball
20:03Let's just say two of the three sit this one out and also what's the case for the Chicago Bulls?
20:07Like I don't the play in tournament does add excitement because team should want to make the playoffs
20:12but sometimes we feel like down the stretch like
20:14Why are we making the playoffs to lose one game of be bounced out when we heard our draft?
20:19Probabilities at that point when the Orlando magic are saying we're not playing good basketball
20:22We need to start playing better basketball because we know we're making the playoffs
20:26So for me that 219 up there on the graphic does make some sense
20:29Also, they usually play to an under even though the Bulls don't play great defense
20:33But just looking on who really cares more about this game. It's probably Orlando
20:37So that line movement does make sense Orlando should win and get the cover in this one
20:41The mad the magic still have the highest underpercentage in the NBA. Oh actually no Charlotte surpassed them
20:48They have played the most overs in Orlando
20:5139 but they have played more games than the Hornets who have played 38 of their 61 to the under
20:5762.3 percent
20:5961.9 percent for the magic Donnie on this four-game slide the magic have not been great
21:05They have covered once last year Orlando was overperforming expectation a good underdog team this year
21:12Not nearly as much when the magic have been booked as a favorite
21:162017 against the spread 26 and a half is the points prop for Palo Bancaro
21:21He has scored 41 in two of the last three for the magic if you believe in Orlando
21:27It is probably Bancaro and Franz Wagner as well other play in tournament team
21:33That would be the Atlanta Hawks at home tonight against the Pacers trying to better their position in the Eastern Conference standings
21:39Indiana three-point road favorite now in Atlanta always a lofty total four games featuring the Hawks
21:45246 and a half. What's the breakdown in the egg?
21:49Yeah, it just seems like a coin flip game. You see the graphic at two and a half live currently
21:53It sits at a three-point favorite for the Pacers, but understand this to the Pacers are a heavy public favorite on the road
21:58Are they the better team? Yes, but that line does give me a little bit of pause
22:01But that total as you see listed at 247 on the graphic live at the fan blue sportsbook in New Jersey
22:07246 and a half. Does anybody ever look at a game between the Pacers and the Hawks and say, you know what?
22:11That's probably gonna go under no granted. It's not 222 and a half or 224 and a half
22:15It is lofty at 246 and a half. Come on now both these teams
22:19Let's get the pencils out and write 120 a piece for both of these teams
22:22Put your rate in that category of knocking down the 246 and a half as opposed to taking his side
22:27I'd rather take the total in this game to the over
22:29The Hawks over in for straight five of their seven since the all-star break, Indiana under in four of their last
22:37Five as well, but Atlanta is going to let you score
22:40I think if you get into the 120s for both teams
22:43Which feels very likely then you do push to in over the only other game of this six-game NBA slate
22:50We have not broken down just yet the Pels at home
22:52Drs only catching four and a half against the Houston Rockets to thirty and a half. Is that total?
22:57Yeah, the Pels did lose by 21 in Los Angeles to the Lakers earlier this week
23:02But New Orleans still has won five of their last eight. Can they keep this game close tonight against Houston? I
23:09Think they do. I mean certainly they're way out of playoff contention playing contention looking for their draft pick
23:15But the estimated starting lineup is true tonight and Zion is back in it
23:18He's been ultra efficient over the past couple games
23:20They're at home and the Rockets to be quite a Frank
23:22Not a great road team not playing the best basketball game of the season
23:26You look at the heavy public favorite being the Rockets that line was as high as five and a half earlier on now
23:30It's four and a half there. I believe it bad
23:33It's hard to take bad basketball teams
23:35But this line is telling me the new one of the Pelicans might be the right side tonight against the Rockets. I'll buy it
23:41The RS Houston has lost eight consecutive road games
23:44Houston has dropped three in a row the Rockets since being 32 and 14
23:48Near the end of January in the two-spot out west have lost 10 of their last 15
23:54Not a great recipe trying to play your best basketball for this young side
23:59You're still trying to play your best basketball here in the homestretch of the NBA season in the month of March
24:03But your postseason really not until April and May