NBA Weekend Betting Preview: Bish, bash, Bosh! Raptors can down the Bulls in crucial play-off

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 27 March 2009 / Leave a comment

With vital games coming up, some in the play-off hunt will stumble. Nick Shiambouros picks out a couple of upsets for this weekend's NBA lineup.

Even at this late stage of the season only four games separate seven teams in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers are the only team to have secured a play-off spot in this epic battle for the post-season. Even the Phoenix Suns, sat in ninth place in the west, have won six games in a row and still have a chance to catch Dallas for the final post-season spot.

The Suns were involved in another high scoring affair against Utah late on Wednesday winning 118-114 in a thrilling encounter. The Suns had this one under control for most of the game but not for the first time they lost concentration and almost threw it away. It has become apparent in recent weeks that Shaquille O'Neal of the Suns appears to be taking a light hearted approach to his basketball. I think this behaviour has had a detrimental affect on the team and it would come as no surprise to me to see him traded by the start of next season.

Over in the Eastern Conference the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their lead to five games over Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic and will surely have home court advantage in the east.

The Magic beat Boston 84-82 in a low scoring affair in central Florida on Wednesday evening. The Celtics' Kevin Garnett played only a handful of minutes as he slowly prepares himself for the post-season. In truth, both teams failed to impress in this encounter due to the proximity of the play-offs.

The Atlanta Hawks made it in to the post-season this week and are coming good at the right time. Atlanta has now won eight out of the last ten games and I do not envy any team playing them in the post-season.

There are some critical games taking place this weekend all over the country with the Chicago Bulls' trip to Toronto on Sunday a very interesting affair. I think the Raptors can upset the Bulls for a couple of reasons.

Toronto's on-court leader Chris Bosh has made it clear that he wants to be traded but this guy will play very hard every night and will once again run his heart out. The Bulls have had a great run and are currently in eighth place in the east. This is a must win game for the Bulls, but I think the Raptors will spoil the party for this Chicago rotation who are talented but lack experience.

The Phoenix Suns have to travel to Sacramento on Sunday evening, and I really think they will be up against it in this vital game. The Kings have the worst record in basketball but they are more than capable of winning this game. In my opinion the Suns give up way too many points especially in transition and do not look like a true play-off team. As previously reported, the Suns general manager Steve Kerr has made some poor trading decisions which has left this team desperately fighting for a place in the post-season. It will be a miracle if he keeps his job at the end of the season.

Recommended Wagers:

Sunday, back Sacramento in the outright market