Today is Cinco de Mayo. Bueno! I kicked off the May 5th festivities a little early. Last night I sipped on Pacifico beer and watched the first half of the Laker game in a sports bar. Some drunk guy was saying how he bet on the Lakers and how they would win by 20. He didn’t know I knew the line and that the Lakers are my favorite team. But I do this betting thing everyday and I watch the Lakers all the time. I told him that Kobe would score 43 points. Translation: the Lakers definitely do not win by 20 if Kobe scores 40 plus and they might not even win at all. When they loss Game 5 an uneasy feeling came over me because they reverted back to the style that caused them to go 1-3 versus the Suns in the regular season. It made you wonder if they had become too complacent with a 3-1 advantage. And more pressing, if Kobe could find it in himself to go back to the style that got that 2 game advantage. Further, when Kobe was clotheslined he got pissed. He wanted to come out in game 6 and show everyone he is still Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba, The Prophet. Translation: Kobe would score over 40 points.

The Lakers played their asses off, but if Kobe scores 50 points like he did last night that means that the pace of the game is in the Suns’ favor. The Lakers should want to keep the score under the century mark. Everyone who watches basketball closely OR plays (wink wink Lakers) and has a brain knows that.

Some interesting stats: As I mentioned a few days ago, a 7 seeded team has only defeated a 2nd seeded team in a playoff series 4 out of 44 times. The 7th seeded Lakers took a 3-1 advantage a couple days ago. Only 7 times in the history of basketball has a team battled back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. Laker coach, Phil Jackson, is 44-0 in playoff series when his team is ahead.

The line has already been release and it has the Suns favored by 6 points. You know I don’t bet on the Lakers, but trust me and take L.A. It is a LOCK. I think the Lakers will win if they show discipline. At the very least, they will keep it close. Here’s the deal:

NBA Playoffs:
WASHINGTON(-4.5) over cleveland
san antonio(-3) over SACRAMENTO

MLB: 9-4 record yesterday
NATS over bucs-they gotta get a win sometime right?
giants over PHILLS
cards over SWORDFISH
ROCKIES over astros
D BACKS over reds
cubs over PADRES
DODGERS over brewers
RED SOX over orioles
BLUE JAYS over angels
tigers over TWINS
RANGERS over yanks-Surprisingly I am going to advise that you take the under (10) in this one even in Ball Park at Arlington. Over the past 3 years Mussina has a .64 ERA in that stadium. Padilla is going for the Rangers. He is not great, but the Rangers are in the midst of a 6 game win streak and I think the whole team will be amped with the Yanks in town. Plus this will be the first time most of the yanks have seen Padilla. Normally the pitcher has the advantage in that type of situation.
WHITE SOX over royals
d rays over As
INDIANS over mariners

HOME TEAMS IN CAPS
Happy Betting!!