Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) - 7:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -115 Los Angeles Lakers Rating: 10* Mike's In Series - Series Winner Play (WIN) No, the Lakers probably won't shoot over 53% (49-for-92) consistently but may rule the boards (a 45-34 advantage) for the NBA playoffs. But they'll have high motivation throughout this series after Memphis' now-injured Ja Morant was quoted as saying there wouldn't be much resistance from any west team in the playoffs. Expect Lebron James & the Lakers to really be out to silence Morant & constantly be hacking away at his injured hand in Game 2 (if in the lineup). James is getting Hachimura (29 pts) & Reaves (23 pts) pumped enough to nail down open shots when the moments arise. I'm expecting LA to run the table @ home & close out this series. For a 7-game series, the Lakers have the depth that Memphis can't generate unless their healthy AND knocking them down @ a higher percentage. Let's lay the JUICE & take the LOS ANGELES LAKERS to win the series & advance to the next round! Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics (NBA) - 7:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -13/-110 Boston Celtics Rating: 10* Mike's Laying The Juice First Round Advancer (LOSS) There's many things to like about this game. The oddsmakers are lame ATTEMPTS to turn you off by upping the ML odds. Sorry, I'm not buying it. I focus on the extreme advantages & exploit them. The main issue tonight is the Hawks will be playing without G Dejounte Murray who received a 1-game suspension for bumping referee Gediminas Petraitis at the end of Game 4 in Atlanta. The big problem for the Hawks is it won't be easy trying to compensate for the void left by Murray who averages 25.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.8 APG & 2.3 SPG. Being minus 25 points & 15+ asset points will lead to elimination. Why is so important for Boston to flex their muscles & end it tonight? Because they'll get some key time off before resuming a 2nd round series versus Philadelphia @ Boston on Saturday. The sooner that game is played, the better the chance of 76ers' main cog Joel Embiid could still being out with a knee sprain. My bottom line says Boston is known for their "D" (rank 5th) & stopping Trae Young is so much easier when Murray is not on the floor. Yes, the Hawks (just 18-26 SU on the road when healthy this season) have beaten the Celtics in playoff Game 5's in 2012 & 2016. However, all good things come to a crashing end for them versus a Gang Green that's been very intimidating @ home this season posting a 34-9 SU record as well as a stellar 39-14 SU off of 1 day rest. . We'll rev it up to the TD Garden in Massachusetts to LAY THE JUICE for 10 Stars on the BOSTON CELTICS as my NBA First Round Advancer! Mike Handzelek's 2022-23 NBA Overall Record: 3-1 75%