Handicapper Profile

 #708 Boston Celtics pick (8:30 edt) ESPN

Don't fight the trend here with Boston being awesome at home and awful on the road.  The Celtics will be full of confidence and will be energized by the home town faithful.  Also you have to ask yourself can Cleveland actually play competent defense 2 games in a row???  I don't see that happening.  Boston is 18-6 ATS their last 24 home games and the Cavs have not been good on the road in the playoffs (except against the folding Raptors).  Take Boston here as the highest rated play of the sports betting day.

#904 Washington Nationals with Hellickson moneyline -180 (7:05 edt)

Hellickson has been awesome lately with an ERA of 0.52 over his last 3 starts while Lauer for the Padres has given up 10 earned runs in his last 3 starts covering just 13 innings of work.  The Nationals need a win after getting swept over the weekend by the Dodgers so look for a focused effort from the Nats here to get this win.

#9 Tampa Bay Lightning moneyline +113 (8:05 edt) NBCSN

#503 Houston Rockets +7 (8:00 edt) TNT

LOVE the Rockets here getting this many points since the Warriors have been terrible ATS at home this season and lately they have only covered 3 of their last 11 home games.  Houston is 3-2 SU against Golden State this season combined in regular season and playoffs so they will be brimming with confidence here.  Simply have to take this many points with Houston here as the play of the day.

#703 Boston Celtics +6.5 (8:30 edt) ABC

How can you not love the Celtics here???  All they have done is defy the odds all playoffs long and in this series they have shown they can throttle the Cavs offense when they need to.  The Cavs have shown they have no interest in playing defense of any kind and the Celtics have been able to exploit that to come back when behind.  After winning the first 2 games rather easily I am surprised to see this line this high, take the points with the Celtics here as the highest rated play of the day.

#61 - #62 Winnipeg Jets - Vegas Golden Knights UNDER 5.5 -110

LOVE going under this total here since as this series marches on the stakes get bigger and with that the teams will be more focused on defense here.  Both goaltenders have been strong - outside of Hellibuck's flub in game 3 which you know he won't do again.  Both teams tended to go under against other winning teams and both tended to go under in the playoffs.  Play the under here as the Friday play of the day.

#59 Tampa Bay Lightning moneyline -105 (8:00 edt) NBCSN

LOVE the Lightning here since they are a team loaded with playoff experience and they have been the best team in the East all season long.  The Capitals are terrible at home in the playoffs and awesome on the road.  They are at home here and they have to be questioning themselves after that clunker of an effort in game 3 - especially Holtby in net.  Take Tampa Bay to even up this series with a win here as the play of the day.

#501 - #502 Golden State Warriors - Houston Rockets UNDER 225 (9:05 edt) TNT

Game 1 in this series only got to the total with some late fouls for no reason by Houston.  Now the total has gone up a point.  Look for the defense to get cranked up here - especially by Houston - since the Rocket desperately need a win here.  Seven of the last ten games between these teams have gone under the total, Houston favors the under and home and Golden State favors the under on the road.  Look for this one to come in under this number.

#001 Tampa Bay Lightning moneyline moneyline +104(8:05 edt) NBCSN

Have to love Tamp Bay here since Washington has been way better on the road this playoff season than at home.  Looks like the added pressure of being the home team gets to them and that is a very bad thing when taking on the very strong Lightning - especially since the Capitals have won the first 2 games so far in this series.  Add in the much better goaltending for the Lightning and it all adds up to a Tampa Bay win here as the play of the day.

#731 Golden State Warriors +1.5 (9:00 edt) TNT

Not a normal sight to see the Warriors with a plus after their name on the betting board and that will give them a bit of a chip on their shoulder which will lead to a very focused effort here.  They will want to send a message that they are still the champs here and they know how to beat the Rockets as they have covered 11 of their last 16 matchups with them.  Take the Warriors here to get this win or at least this cover as the highest rated play for Monday.