Lakers Over Hawks, Inch Closer to Playoff Spot

Sunday must have been quite exciting for those who are betting on sports as the March 3 schedule had some very exciting matchups as top teams in the two conferences battled each other. The Miami Heat just kept on winning as they beat the New York Knicks in Madison Garden to extend their winning streak to 14. On the western conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder showed the Los Angeles Clippers a glimpse of what they will have to go through if the Clippers wish to reach the conference finals. Some intense game also happened between two defensive teams as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Chicago Bulls. It’s game like these that make anyone want to bet on sports.

Amidst all these, some of the biggest highlights happened under the lights of the Staples Center as the desperate Los Angeles Lakers won in a close game against the Atlanta Hawks. The 99-98 win over the Hawks puts the Lakers at the .500 and only two and a half game away from a playoff spot.

The Lakers seemed to feature a younger version of Kobe Bryant as the superstar showed clutch shots and athletic plays, which was highlighted by an emphatic dunk against Josh Smith that really wowed the home crowd. However, despite the win, there is still a tough test ahead of the Lakers as they set out to play on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a hot shooting and fast attacking team, the kind of team that gives problem to the old Lakers.

Photo courtesy of www.basketwallpapers.com 

The NBA Landscape: The Eastern Conference

As we head to the halfway mark of the NBA regular season, with teams having played 40% of their scheduled 82 regular season games, the Eastern Conference standings isn’t really showing a new set of teams that are very likely headed to the playoffs. Considering there are roughly only four months to go, major changes are really not to be expected. However, some teams in the top 8 in the conference are not yet that secured in their spots. It’s undeniable that many NBA fans that bet on sports are probing about what could happen to the NBA standings a few months from. Although there’s not one team that has secured a playoff spot, it’s easy to see what teams are locked in for the playoffs and what teams are not?

Top 3 is a guarantee
In the eastern side of things, fans of Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks can rejoice as these 3 teams are showing a pretty good sign right now. These 3 teams make betting on sports a lot easier. Miami Heat will always be the team to beat in the east as long as the team has Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. The front office did a great off-season job by signing Ray Allen, improving the roster over their previous championship season. New York has shown consistency in their offensive capabilities and their willingness to play on defense. The team only needs fine-tuning, and the only big step for the team is figuring out how to make the most out of Amar’e Stoudamire. Atlanta, albeit a team that is certainly not star-studded seems to always find ways to win. The team shows consistency in beating lower-seeded teams which does not really make them a championship contender, but is the key in securing a play-off spot. Barring major injuries, the top 3 seed is a lock and making easier.

Special Note: Indiana Pacers also looks secured in the fourth spot, but their inconsistencies can easily be seen. Often looking stagnant in their offense and careless in defense, the kind of resembled the Brooklyn Nets in their first months.https://www.sportsbetting.com.au/join_now