Posts by James Taylor3

briskbison66 said:This is my first real season betting on the NBA—so I’m looking for some clarity. Exactly when does the playoffs kick off? Also, roughly how many games per day should I expect during that opening round? Thanks in advance.

The 2012 NBA Playoffs—a season defined by grit and high-stakes momentum. It was the year the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as a legitimate powerhouse, pushing the limits of their young core against established legends. You had LeBron James and the Miami Heat navigating that intense era of dominance, while teams like the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies fought through grueling series just to stay relevant in the conversation. A fascinating snapshot of an era where the league's power balance was shifting in real-time.

The number of daily games played depends entirely on the results—if one team gets absolutely crushed, it shifts the schedule—whereas other matchups might push toward the maximum limit. It all boils down to the scores.

crimsonangler1 said:Where are you all checking for the final confirmations on who's actually playing and who isn't? 🤷

Search Google for NBA injury reports—you'll end up with about 247 pages of nothing but that.

For me, these are the most reliable.

Check out the latest NBA injury updates over at DonBest—essential reading if you want to stay ahead of the curve.

Check out the latest NBA injury updates over at Rotoworld—everything you need to track player availability and roster shifts.

If you need confirmation that someone isn't playing regularly, just check Twitter—follow the official team announcers and broadcasters. You can find all their profiles on Google easily enough.

Cheers, James Howard63. Come on in. 😁

Keep doing exactly what you're doing. 👍

Arthur Hill2 said:Detroit lost in overtime to the Bulls the night before last, then they went ahead and let the Wizards take them tonight 🙂

I messed up—yeah.

I was thinking about how hard they fought against the Bulls—they were actually in it until the final buzzer. 😁

ruggedgull32 said:James Taylor3—what’s your take on Gay over 19.5 tonight? If Gasol is out, the whole load falls on his shoulders.🤷

Gay could really put up some numbers tonight—he’s looking sharp.

Once again, Memphis is stacked—they have plenty of guys capable of dropping 20+ points on any given night without breaking a sweat. You’ve got Mayo and Conley, plus their best player, Zach Randolph, who is finally shaking off the rust after a long layoff; it's pretty clear they're grooming him for a deep playoff run. He might just have a breakout game tonight. On the flip side, Peković is a defensive liability—if he actually tries to play physical, he'll pick up three fouls in the first five minutes and be headed straight to the bench, much like his performance last season.

I see that Gay is putting up 21, 19, and 19 points this season—despite some mediocre shooting percentages—all while Randolph hasn't even stepped onto the court.

I’m not sure—Gay might be an option to bet on, but he isn't exactly the only one capable of delivering a solid performance in series. I’d probably just steer clear of him, though—most of the stats seem to point toward the over anyway.

Wondering why the Sacramento Kings are struggling?

Check out this clip—starting at the 56-second mark—to see how Thortonov's teammates reacted after he drained that game-winner. 🤣

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtqPLQhkRsw&t

The betting lines against the Kings should be interesting to watch over the next few games. 😬

ruggedgull32 said:I dropped Iggy for Gortat—turns out they both ended up hitting.
A solid night...😁

You called it—Aguilera was definitely struggling from beyond the arc last night. 👍

Alex Cook said:Just placed some routine bets over at DraftKings. ☕ I'm also taking the under on the Chicago Warriors and the Charlotte Hornets in a double at DraftKings. It was a solid night—I have a good feeling about this one. ☕

Here's one for you. 👍 Listen, mr. Ćirohito.

Everyone else seems to be winning—meanwhile, I’m just standing here playing the fool, stuck watching from the sidelines despite being absolutely certain about my position. 🤦

The term "panderas" doesn't really hold much weight here—it’s just noise. says:
At least the lead made it through—barely. 😁

These two are just over the line. 🙂

I told you—Johnson would end up scoring more. 🧐

And you’re in the same boat—you're betting on the guy who made you famous on this forum in the first place. haer. 🙄

Looking at today's slate, the matchup between Detroit and Cleveland is actually worth watching. I’m not entirely sure what possessed the Pistons last night to pull that win over the Bulls—they’re sitting right there with four or five other teams with the exact same record. Honestly, they’d be better off playing the numbers and taking a few losses if it means boosting their odds for a better pick.
A rebuild is inevitable anyway.

Cleveland’s score is hovering around the same level as the Pistons—except they actually manage to lose their games.
I'll be damned if we don't pull off an away win tonight—especially since the odds are sitting at a sweet 3.60 on DraftKings.

Looking at the most realistic matchups, a Memphis victory seems like the play here. They really ought to be gunning for that fourth seed—and the home-court advantage that comes with it—in what will likely be a series against the Clippers (or maybe the Lakers, though I wouldn't count on them falling that far). Memphis has been coasting through their last six games—with the exception of tonight’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota is currently sitting on a ten-game losing streak and is playing without their three best players this season; clearly, they’re just cruising toward a better draft pick next year, and honestly, they probably wouldn't be much better even if they actually tried. If my memory serves, Memphis still has to face Cleveland, the Charlotte Hornets, Portland, and Orlando to close out the season. They should sweep through those, which would easily put them ahead of the Clippers—who have a brutal schedule ahead and look like they could drop two or three more games before things wrap up.

Given how things are looking, Memphis is going to push hard in these upcoming games—home-court advantage carries massive weight in the playoffs.

At 1.45, I think the Stanley odds on Memphis are actually quite solid; should be an easy win.

It’s no surprise Phoenix dismantled the Trail Blazers—I didn't bet against them. 😠

Even Dwight Howard put up more points than expected.

Panda, I don't engage in small talk—unlike you. ☕

Just look at my history—I weave tonight's NBA action into almost every post, so you can't really accuse me of just chatting. 😬

ruggedgull32 said:Iguodala looks tempting tonight, much like Rondo last night. Orlando is missing Dwight Howard, Hedo Türkoğlu, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Iguodala is sitting at an 11.5 line—what do you think, James Taylor3?🤷
I think this is quite plausible; Orton starts at center...
It isn't Igijev's usual spot, but it should open up more lanes to the rim...

The line is low, but then again, Iguodala is one of those consistently reliable scorers—he usually lands right around 11 or 12 points, at least from what I see. 🤷

Same goes for Jason Terry; he’s always hovering around the 15-16 mark, which is exactly where his line sits.

Look, Iguodala doesn't hog the ball, and Phil runs a very team-oriented system—there isn't one dominant scorer, everyone contributes a little bit.

I'd pass on this one. 🤷

mellowhawk5 said:James Taylor3, did they change the Stanley line from 6.5 to 9.5? I didn't quite catch what you were saying there.

Wouldn't that be a bit much for a stronger team? 🤷

Yeah, they made the change.

I'm not sure—it might still hit. Portland is missing three starters, after all. There isn't anyone tonight who can actually score besides Matthews, Hickson, and Crawford—and all three are defensive liabilities. Gortat really needs to step up and score big.

analoghound21 said:I posted this at 11:00 AM—the fact that you aren't even reading my posts is a whole other issue...🙂

I didn't really check this thread this morning, and since you have me on ignore, you wouldn't have seen it anyway. 🤷

analoghound21 said:Please stop tracking me; I want to experience this downfall ☕on my own.

You'll miss him—he’ll sink two more shots over the line, just watch, likely in the final minutes. 🧐

I won't be betting anything; I was thinking about taking that handicap on the Phoenix Suns, but Mr. Stanley beat me to it. 😢

I suspect Oklahoma will take the LA Clippers, despite how poorly they've matched up this season. Those Clippers are completely unpredictable—without Paul, they're barely recognizable, and their defense is practically non-existent.

analoghound21 said:🙂

The bet was already placed at @1.45, including that Washington, D.C. under 87.5 that dominium mentioned...

You could have warned me this morning—I might have actually made it to the sportsbook to place it, rather than this.

By the time I finished my errands and hit up Stanley, they clearly caught on and moved the line to 9.5, so I passed. 🙂 🙂

Though even at -9.5, it shouldn't be much of an issue. 🤷

If you can't pick your buddy Johnson, nobody can. 🤣

Lawrence Castillo76 said:Has anyone considered how Atlanta might start tanking just to let Orlando pass them, ensuring they pick Indiana over Boston? They showed exactly what they're capable of against Toronto last night; I wouldn't be surprised if they lose to the same opponent tonight, especially with those home odds sitting at 2.6.

It’s possible. Quite possible.

I also spent some time looking over Philly's schedule through the end of the season this morning.
They have a decent run ahead of them—half playoff contenders, half bottom-feeders.

I suspect they’d much rather face the Bulls in the playoffs than the Heat. They managed one win against the Bulls this year and lost twice—nothing major—whereas the Heat absolutely dismantled them in all four matchups this season, not to mention crushing them in the playoffs last year. 🤷

They’ll probably prefer being the 8th seed facing the Bulls over being the 7th seed staring down Miami. 🤷

Now, Milwaukee is two games behind Philly currently, though they do have a game in hand, while the Knicks are only half a game back.

With six or seven games left, it’s a bit early to start calculating tactics—you don't want that coming back to bite you—but by the final two or three rounds, they might start playing the numbers. I'll keep an eye on that.

None of this matters if they can't catch Atlanta (who, by the way, might be calculating things too) or Orlando (who knows how they'll finish without Howard and a few others), but catching them looks tough given the 3.5-game gap.

Tonight’s matchup against Orlando will clarify things, which should help in mapping out the next few rounds. 😁

I was checking USA just five minutes ago, and I think they're sitting at Stanley 1.40 now. Plus, they’re the only ones offering a -6.5 handicap—everywhere else, you're looking at -9.5 or even -10.5.

I think I'll take the over on that. ☕

Is anyone even looking at the Suns vs. Blazers game tonight?

The 1.45 odds seem massive—especially considering how hard the Blazers worked last night, plus they’re missing Aldridge and a few others... blah, blah, blah.
Phoenix has already dismantled Portland twice at home this season—once by 25 points and once by 38—and that was when the Blazers were actually contending in the West.

With Batum and Felton out today, it’s basically a total tank. And who knows what the situation is with Crawford.

The moneyline is sitting at 1.45, while the spread sits at 1.70.

The Suns are fighting for a playoff spot; they need this win, and everything points toward it happening.
I hate being the guy to say it, but this feels like a lock.

Even the -6.5 handicap in Stanley doesn't look bad. 😁

EDIT: Just as I finished typing this, the odds dropped—moneyline is down to 1.25, and the spread is at 1.50. 😠

Lawrence Castillo76 said:Still nothing official, but look for the #Celtics to be without Ray Allen, (ankle), Paul Pierce (toe) and probably Kevin Garnett (rest) 2nite. about 1 hour ago

Interesting—I doubt the Celtics win tonight, even if they're playing the Bobcats.

ruggedgull32 said:You could take Rajon Rondo over 10.5🤷
He hasn't been scoring much lately, but if those three are out tonight, someone has to step up—plus, the line isn't very high...

Top tier logic there—that line is negligible. He’d probably hit that even with a full roster, let alone this depleted lineup. Expect a double-double from Rajon Rondo tonight (points and rebounds); he won't have anyone to dish to since James Pietrus can't hit the rim this season, leaving only Caron Butler as an option.

Keith Moore21 said:Great games, but none of them are touching my parlay—I'd rather just watch and enjoy the action. 😁

For today, I'm looking at just Chicago and Boston... Chicago is on the road against Detroit; they've swept them three times this season quite easily, and they're healthy—Rose should be back in the lineup. They have the best record in the league, and every win counts, whereas Detroit is nowhere near the playoffs and lacks any real motivation. 🤷
As for Boston, it’s simple: they’re playing the worst team in the league—a squad with no identity, zero motivation, and frankly, no talent.

Watch out, though—this is Boston's third game in a row. They're tough as nails. 🧐

Chicago should outclass Detroit by keeping their scoring low... 🤷

Expect Miami and LeBron James to tear through the New York Knicks; it should be a great game.

Keith Moore21 said:That’s exactly why I went with a straight win. ☕

You caught the scent of that one perfectly. 👍

Today features some top-tier matchups worth watching.

I expect Miami to handle the Knicks quite easily. LeBron always seems to find an extra gear at MSG—he averages around 35 points there—and he’s more than capable of shutting down Anthony. I'm looking at a comfortable Miami win by about 10.

LA Lakers-Dallas—tough one.
Things could get interesting here. Kobe is out, but Bynum is playing absolutely lights out—so that might not even matter.
It could go either way—honestly, I think the best move is to just sink into the couch and watch this one without any unnecessary stress. 😁

Regarding the Sacramento vs. Portland matchup—I think the Kings are much closer to a victory here. Portland struggles on the road, whereas the Kings have been solid at home, taking down much tougher opponents throughout this season. Plus, Cousins has been a constant headache for them all year; without Camby around, I doubt Przybilla can hold him down effectively. It wouldn't be a bad move to lean into his scoring if he's available—I don't see his line going much higher than 18-19 points anyway.

It looks like most of you got absolutely fleeced by the Clippers.

That club is a mess—I can’t recall the last time they actually finished a job without some kind of drama or struggle.

I actually walked out when I saw them up 24-5 in the first; I genuinely thought we were looking at a blowout win for the season. Instead, they barely managed to hold onto the lead through halftime. 🙏

Oh, and their free throw shooting was predictably abysmal. Again. 🙏

Jordan, Griffin, and Evans—nothing but stone-cold misses from the line. 🙏

wiredcanyon39 said:Thompson basically handed it to them with that three-pointer three seconds before the end. 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF7-Do61LZA

mellowhawk5 said:David Lee, Richard Jefferson, Stephen Curry, and Andrew Bogut are supposedly out.

-12.5 on the Clippers, maybe?

I see @wiredcanyon39/">@@wiredcanyon39 went with -10.5, but only for 5/10.

Bogut and Curry have been sidelined for a while now.

You can grab -11.5 at Fortuna.

If the Clippers don't blow them out today, they never will. ☕

Then again—that’s just this squad for you. Just when you expect a walk in the park, they find a way to make everything complicated. 😁

Keith Moore21 said:#109 point Routine. ☕

You caught onto that one quite early. 👍

Keith Moore21 said:Nice work, James Taylor3. 👍 It’s a shame you didn't pull the trigger on that payment...

It doesn't matter—what counts is that you're hitting them. 😬

Zachary Palmer3 said:Does anyone have a "step-by-step" guide for registering with Moneybookers? I'm a bit worried about messing something up somewhere.

Google knows. 😉

http://www.uzmibonus.com/moneybookers.html

As others have already pointed out in this PDF—just make sure the currency on your MB account matches the currency at your online sportsbook. If they don't align, you'll get hit with those pesky conversion fees.