NBA Playoffs: Frank picks Sixers v Nets, Nuggets v Spurs, and Warriors v Clippers

Sixers (-2.5) @ Nets (227.5)
Pick: Under 227.5
I was already eyeing this under when watching the Sixers score 145 points on Monday night in game two. A war of words has started since between the Sixers and Nets and this could lead to a chippy third game at Barclays Center. Expect both teams to come hard defensively from the opening tip and a more physical game than we saw in the first two games in Philly. Also, remember Brooklyn was shooting the lights out of Wells Fargo Center from the three-point line in the opening half of game two which allowed the Nets to go into the locker room down just one. We’re expecting regression from both teams from beyond the arc, a more physical game, and a juiced up crowd in Brooklyn for the Nets first playoff game in four years which will certainly have the Nets engaged on defense. This might be the lowest scoring game of the series.

Nuggets (+3.5) @ Spurs (210.5)
Pick: Spurs -3.5
Sure enough we give out the Nuggets on the first half line on Tuesday and they lay an egg in the first 24 minutes only to cover the full game spread in the second half. That said, the Spurs are about to turn things up a notch with this series shifting to the Riverwalk. We were on the Spurs as a live underdog to advance to the conference semifinals out West and not much has chance save for a bad fourth quarter in game two from San Antonio. So now we get the team that’s been clearly superior for seven out of the eight quarters in the series coming back home and we only need to lay three and a hook? Yes, please. San Antonio drops the hammer early in this one and it’s never close. Remove the seeds from your head here and just watch these two teams play each other. If you’ve already done that, then you won’t think Denver is the right side to bet tonight. DeMar Derozan leads the Spurs to a 2-1 series lead.

Warriors (-8.5) @ Clippers (236.5)
Pick: Under 236.5
Much like our Philadelphia-Brooklyn handicap, we’re expecting offensive regression in this one. This is a regular season total for a playoff game. Blindly betting unders has been profitable so far in the NBA Playoffs and when you have a total this high, that’s a trend worth following. The Clippers might have figured out a few things on the defensive end of the floor in the second half on Monday during their remarkable rally. Doc Rivers knows his team needs to continue to muck up this series if it wants to stay in it. Patrick Beverley is the perfect player to do just that. Without DeMarcus Cousins, Golden State will go back to its normal small ball style and rely heavily on outside shooting. Given that the Warriors have scored 121 and 131 points in the first two games of this series, even though it’s Golden State, there’s still probably some regression coming. The Clippers will want to keep this game slow early on anyway to keep the crowd involved and prevent Golden State from going on one of its vintage 12-0 runs in 90 seconds of gameplay. The under train slowed down a little bit last night in the association as just one of the three playoff games landed under the closing total. But it regains steam in Brooklyn tonight and makes another stop in the city of angels later on.