Friday, May 05, 2023 Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (NBA) - 10:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: 160 Denver Nuggets Rating: 9* 2nd Leg of My NBA Series Parlay (WIN) Adding to my Golden State Warriors NBA Series play over the Lakers, the 2nd of that parlay takes a look at a Denver out to prove their worth & earn respect that they've lacked the past few seasons. These teams split 4 decisions in the regular season with the home team winning each time. I believe the injury to Phoenix's Chris Paul's left groin is monumental to their winning chances even if they still have Devin Booker & Kevin Durant. All Denver has to do is steal 1 win in Arizona to force The Suns to beat then twice @ home to win the series. I don't see this happening without a healthy Paul throughout this series. Paul was the floor general & without him, the offense will struggle to find consistency. With the Nuggets' momentum, my bottom line says Nikola Jokic is a force down low & Jamal Murray can light it up versus the best when hot. Look for the DENVER NUGGETS to close out this series & sent the Suns home yet again without an NBA title. Take the DENVER NUGGETS to advance to the Conference Finals as my 2nd Leg of the NBA Series Parlay with Golden State. Tuesday, May 02, 2023 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors (NBA) - 10:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -195 Golden State Warriors Rating: 9* Mike's NBA Series Play With 1st Leg Series Plus Money Parlay (LOSS) It's no secret that the Warriors struggle without Stephen Curry on the floor as the Kings posted a 30.6 net rating in Round 1. Golden State put up a low 91.3 points per 1000 possessions overall & just 82 points per 100 plays in the half court. The only POSITIVE plus-minus players for the Warriors was when they has the starting lineup in. If 6th man Jordan Poole can play solidly here, Golden State takes this series in 6 or less. Remember, the Dubs are rank #2 in the NBA in offense (Sacramento was #1 which they beat) & match up with a Lakers' "D" rank 20th with stars LeBron James & Anthony Davis nursing foot injuries. Having said that, Los Angeles ALSO averages 110.4 points per 100 possessions in NON-garbage time during the postseason--which is worse than San Antonio's mark in the regular season (110.9). My bottom line says the Warriors can shoot from beyond the arc--an area where the Lakers struggled versus Memphis (shot 31.2%). This majorly fails in comparison to the Dubs who take 41.3% of their attempts from downtown & have shot 3's @ a much higher 39.1% clip on the season. Golden State can play defense too as witnessed by holding the #1 offense of the Kings to just 110.0 PPG in their 1st Round win in 7 games. My 1st Play is to take the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS to win their 2nd Round Series with the Lakers while also playing them in the 1st Leg of a 2-Team NBA Series Parlay with the Denver Nuggets @ Plus Money! Monday, May 01, 2023 Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (NBA) - 7:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -9.5/-105 Boston Celtics Rating: 9* Mike's Monday Night Quick Pick (LOSS) HC Joe Mazzulla should have his team primed & ready against a 76ers squad minus their catalyst in Joel Embiid. James Harden is the obvious man up as I look for the Top 5 defense of the Shamrocks to take the best thing away from the Sixers. My Monday Night Quick Pick is to take the BOSTON CELTICS on the ML in Game 1! Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (NBA) Series 2-Team Parlay (WIN on Celtics) I'm banking on the Boston Celtics to close out their series with Philadelphia. What puzzles me is how the Shamrocks lost Game 1. Here we have a 76ers squad without Joel Embiid & Boston HC Joe Mazzulla doesn't employ a trap on James Harden. They waited for Game 2 to try it on a consistent basis. Now that Embiid is back in the lineup, he'll get his points. However, Boston's defense remains superior & there's just so much Philly HC Doc Rivers can adjust to. My 2-Team Parlay is to play the BOSTON CELTICS (Leg 1) & the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (Leg 2--LOSS -see analysis earlier) to win both series' for 9 Stars! Mike Handzelek's 2022-23 NBA Overall Record: 4-3 for 57%