I don't know if this was directed at me but I did post something similar to this, so what the hay... first off, you're right. SA/Phoe/Dallas did take care of business in their game 2's. Absolutely. I have to give them props. However, at the time I made that post only Miami and Toronto had played their game 2's. And I don't think I called either of them great, because I don't think they are by any means. However, getting more to the point, they both looked like crap if you ask me. Miami simply didn't show up and got throttled. Toronto looked like they were sleepwalking through the first 3 quarters of the game, then turned it on in the 4th to win.
My point was, and maybe I'm just remembering this wrong, but it seems like the NBA used to be a lot more predictable given the playoff situation. Like I said, I'm used to seeing a team in Toronto's situation come out and play like their season is on the line, because in all honesty, it is. Didn't see that so much. I also expect a team like Miami to put up a lot more of a fight, even though they were in a hostile environment. Now you have Shaq making idiotic comments like "they held their homecourt advantage, now all we have to do is hold ours." Ummm... excuse me? You don't HAVE homecourt advantage?! :mj07: Maybe that's part of the problem. Players today just don't get it. I won't go on a 60 minute diatribe about how the game has disintegrated ever since going from a team game to an individual game, but I think that's a root cause of the problem.
As for it being easier to make money betting on inconsistent sports, I don't see that. Forget lines, I do much better betting on sports where I have a pretty good feel for what's going to happen before the game is even played. In hoops I just don't know anymore. Miami is in a must-win situation? Hmmmm... well they could come out and play their best game of the season, or, then again, they may not even show up and just collect their paycheck. Anybody's guess. That's why I like betting on college sports so much. Things like revenge, nationally televised games, homecourt/field, etc. actually MEAN something. I'm not sure I know of ANY scenarios in the NBA where I can confidently expect a team to go out and give a great effort anymore.