NBA Basketball
2013-05-07 - Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball Play Offs
Tuesday 7 May 2013 - Tip Off 7pm
Midnight (British Time)
Preview
After working so hard throughout the regular season for home court advantage in the first two Rounds of the Play Offs, the New York Knicks laid an egg in Game 1 of the Semi Finals against the Indiana Pacers. It was another poor performance from the big two offensive players the Knicks have, and more poor decisions to play isolation basketball rather than the ball movement that has made them so effective all season.
You also couldn't take anything away from the Indiana Pacers who harried the Knicks at the three point line and used their size to dominate the boards and Roy Hibbert clogged up the lane to the rim. Using what they have, the Pacers won Game 1 fairly comfortably, although they will not want to rely on scoring 100 plus points to win games too often.
There is also clearly some concern in New York that all is not well with Carmelo Anthony whose struggles from the field have lasted the back end of the First Round and through to Game 1. The shoulder is clearly hurting the All-Star, but there has been denials in the Knicks camp that he is injured.
Anthony also has to get through a very tough match up with David West and that has led to suggestions that the Knicks make themselves bigger in the starting rotation. However, that is something that Mike Woodson is not considering at the moment and he still feels Anthony has enough to get out of his offensive funk.
It isn't all up to Anthony either as JR Smith has really struggled since returning from his one game suspension last Friday. There will also be more expectation on Tyson Chandler to win his battle with Roy Hibbert and all the questions are about whether the Knicks can change things must make Indiana fans very happy.
Indiana have already done what they wanted to do and that is steal home court advantage away from the Knicks. Now they can play relaxed and look to take another one on the road which will make them huge favourites to get through to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Head to Head
Indiana now lead the season series 3-2 having become the first of the teams to win on the road so far.
Prediction
It was a tough loss for the New York Knicks to take in Game 1 after a very good start to the game before falling away.
Matching the size of the Pacers is going to be tough and they have to attack Roy Hibbert and force him to move out of the way of the basket where he was so comfortable on Sunday.
I actually thought this could be a low-scoring series, but the first game suggests both teams will have a chance for three pointers and so backing the over is my call for Game 2.
The Pick :
New York Knicks 99-97 Indiana Pacers
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 183 Points @ 1.95
