Online Preakness betting players could be in line for a rematch of sorts as Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom may have to go through a few of the same horses in order to come away with a victory in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. If you’re trying to look ahead to the NBA Finals, you may foresee a rematch of a hotly contested matchup from five years ago.
In the East, Miami has looked very impressive as they stand on the brink of putting away the defending conference champions from Boston. Simply put, the Heat are a younger, more athletic version of Boston’s Big Three, and the injury to Rajon Rondo can’t be helping the Celtics at all. Chicago hasn’t looked impressive in this postseason run, and the more you watch them, the more you wonder: how far can Derrick Rose take them? They’re having a lot of trouble with Atlanta, and while they should make it past the Hawks, those watching NBA scores know the Bulls won’t make it past Miami if they continue to play like this.
As for the West, Dallas has been, by far, the best team in the playoffs, and their four-game destruction of the two-time defending champions from Los Angeles was mind-boggling. Dirk Nowitzki looks toughened by past playoff failures, and he’s really been aided by the pickup of Tyson Chandler, who gives the Mavericks a defensive presence that they haven’t had inside in, well, ever. Memphis and Oklahoma City are staging a war in the Midwest, while the Mavericks are at home, resting up and watching out for who they will meet in the West final. The Thunder and Grizzlies may not have anything left in the tank for Dallas, especially after Monday’s triple-overtime marathon.
Even those making NFL betting picks will remember the 2006 NBA Finals, which was won by Miami, but it came with some controversy as many feel the officiating was biased towards the Heat and specifically, Dwyane Wade, who was in the process of turning himself into a superstar. The Heat also had a still-productive Shaquille O’Neal, and everyone knows about the tension between NBA commissioner David Stern and Dallas owner Mark Cuban, which added another layer to the series. The two could be on a collision course as the Mavericks would love to avenge their six-game loss, and a title for the likes of Nowitzki and Kidd would validate their greatness, although they don’t need it. On Miami’s side, the team that everyone loves to hate would quiet a lot of critics, especially LeBron James, whose “Decision” may be the single biggest story of the past year in any sport. If these two meet, it’s going to be a very hot ticket in your sports betting book.
