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In March Madness there are moments that band a team together. There is always that one game that a team has to figure out a way to pull off. The close call can be a disappointing end to a season or a rally mentally that we got through it.

For the past champions NCAA champions that close call came for UConn against Saint Joseph’s. Yes, round one. Seemingly the entire game the Huskies trailed. Each time they got within a basket a counter would come from Saint Joseph’s. Their leader in Kevin Ollie just would not let the Huskies give up.

None of the players caved and in the final minute the Huskies tied the game on three point play.

Saturday the NBA has three game sevens. All the hoopla is surrounding how this has never happened.

This is sports and from a handicapping standpoint, the media’s opinions need to be oblivious if you want to succeed.

The Thunder’s monster game six win over the Grizzlies was a stark contract from the first five games in the series. Oklahoma City set the tone with their style of play and matched the Grizzlies defensive intensity with their own concerted effort.

That type of loss coupled with the suspension of Zach Randolph is a double dagger mentally to this Grizzlies team.

They didn’t get the job done at home and they’re not going to in a game seven without their best player.

Head to your sportsbook or online book and get your play in on the Thunder at 8 to 8.5. Line movement will be swift before action begins.

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NFL talk has actually calmed down quite a bit. Typically it is an oversaturated area from the sports media even in the off-season. Qualms about possible draft picks and off-season player movement are endless debates.

One of the hot media topic teams continues to be the New York Jets. They’ve had an bevy of key personnel decisions made the last several years that have gone awry. The latest appears to be the signing of Mike Vick.

To the Jets credit, Vick was likely the top viable free agent quarterback for them to sign. With young prospect Geno Smith looking like a shaky starter, the Jets needed to bring in another candidate. But Mike Vick?

Some Jets fans would argue that they should have went through the NFL Draft for their new talent. Don’t rule it out yet Jets fans as the draft is just a few weeks away.

Is the team stunting it’s possible forward growth if Vick is named the starter? I believe so. Vick has had his opportunities in this league, and frankly does not have the durability to be a full time starter. As blessed as he is with freakish athletic ability, he does not have an edge in the health department.

The risks he takes scrambling and taking a beating by prolonging plays have caught up to him. He has had every imaginable physical ailment possible as a quarterback. Ranging from hamstring injuries, ribs, shoulders, and the whole nine.

He is a battered quarterback not only physically but mentally. Chip Kelly disregarded Vick the second Vick suffered yet another injury. Could have Vick been a better quarterback than Nick Foles for the duration of last season? It’s likely a 50/50 debate.

Where Chip Kelly gets the kudos as a first year coach, is the realization that it was time to move on from Vick. By keeping Foles as the starter, Kelly moved forward with the team’s future. It’s the same scenario you see coaches do with rookie quarterbacks replacing an unheralded starter.

The Jets just can’t seem to put their foot forward at the quarterback position. Without a shadow of a doubt they held on to Mark Sanchez far too long as a starting quarterback. The quick use of Geno Smith looks like a foreseeable mistake that will haunt the rest of his career.

Why can’t the Jets make the proper moves at quarterback to reclaim a reputable team?

You can’t platoon players at quarterback like the Vikings tried a year ago. Mike Vick is who he is. He may start the season with two to three solid games, but it’s going to fade quick. He is comparable to an old pitcher that starts the season strong but can’t keep hold up past a certain point.

Hopefully the Jets front office has a backup plan to the backup plan. Lets see what they do on draft day.

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History often times does repeat itself. Many prospective bettors have their eyes on the Mavericks now that they are up 2-1, and playing game four at home. Just a few years ago the Mavericks ousted the Spurs as a huge underdog in the NBA playoffs.

Today’s free play does not focus on the line but rather the total. The line is set at 201.5 after eclipsing the total in game three. That game three total was toppled because of a pour it on first half from the Dallas Mavericks.

San Antonio just did not have the balance on the defensive end that we are use to seeing.

Defense hasn’t been their strong suit throughout the season. How the Spurs managed to have 62 wins is with undeniable half court offensive execution.

That execution would start right off the bat with fantastic first quarters. It seemed like the majority of the Spurs regular season games were won by run away first quarters.

I’m expecting the Spurs to try to outpace the Mavericks like they almost did in the second half in game three.

The last two games the Spurs just haven’t been able to match the Mavs defense. Therefore, keep going with the wave of the over on totals.

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During the NBA playoffs the bookmaker or sportsbook typically rakes in at a higher rate. People placing wagers just can’t ignore what they’ve last seen. Therefore miscues are made as people get in a one-set mind state.

The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards has been neck and neck with the Pacers/Hawks as the ugliest series thus far. Game three the Bulls toughed it out and got a narrow win at Washington. The Wizards struggled offensively when it mattered most, and the Bulls did just enough to grab the win.

More than likely the total is going to attract sharp and public money on the under. Nene Hilario has to sit out due to suspension and people are going to expect the struggles they saw in game three.

I’m going to go the opposite direction here. The first two games of the series were not even close to the set total.

The Bulls are not the dominant defensive team that they were in prior playoff years. It’s a team that is patched on the offensive and defensive end. There is no D-Rose, Luol Deng, Rip Hamilton, or Ronnie Brewer.

Their younger in the guard and forward positions. They can play stretches of strong defenses but entire games is a bit much to expect.

Nailing a total in the low 180’s in any NBA game is difficult. Take the over as Sunday’s free play.

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Cleveland’s up and down roller coaster season was expected record wise. Where it wasn’t expected was with backcourt teammates Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving. Both should just be entering the NBA as Waiters left Syracuse two years early, and Irving three. Maturity definitely did not show throughout the season. The two struggled to co-exist and rumors ran rampant of a locker room fight between the two.

After their alleged scuffle rumors swirled on potential trades for either. The negative feedback from Cavaliers fans and the media seemed to have an impact on both. Down the stretch in the months of March and April both elevated their play. Not from an individual standpoint, but as a team.

They started winning unexpected games and confidence seemed to grow for both and the team.

Now it seems that Irving may stay in Cleveland and sign a long term contract. Dion Waiters still has a year left on his deal, and a team option for the next season. In all likelihood the Cavs will make a decision before the season on Waiters.

Teams all across the NBA are always in need of a scorer and Waiters fits that mold. Similar to JR Smith, Waiters has the same baggage from a team player standpoint. Smith has bounced around but has never relinquished his skills as a scorer.

I do not expect Waiters to be sent to the Las Vegas summer league like he has the past two years.

Certain players command the inner-circle of the front office and personnel decisions. If Irving resigns with Cleveland he will have that leverage.

Ultimately I believe the organization will see how the two co-exist in preseason training camp. If the two get along, Waiters will likely stay in Cleveland and be resigned.

If not then the Cavs will wait until before the trading deadline and get whatever they can for Waiters before the team option kicks in.

Lets hope that both can walk away from their on-court egos and realize the two can be as dynamic a guard tandem as there is in the NBA.

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Playoff series in the NBA are usually pretty predictable. Seeding dictates a heavy factor in who advances—especially in a seven game series. I believe the NBA took away five game series due to some upsets that likely would not have occurred in seven game series.

Still there are scenarios that can be attractive for handicapping purposes eyeing plus payouts in series. Below are upsets from each conference that I believe possible in round one.

Eastern Conference- Toronto Raptors +110 over the Brooklyn Nets
By no means is this a strong upset—but it is a plus payout. Most series have lopsided odds because it is round one. Toronto is the higher seed but Brooklyn by experience gets the oddsmakers favor. Neither team is going to win this in five or six games in my opinion. Based on what I’ve seen in the regular season each team is extremely unpredictable. Brooklyn can lack mental defensive focus on one night, and Toronto can cave in on both ends of the court. Playoff time is different though, and father time can come calling at any moment in sports. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were on their last legs in Boston and I’m not sure the cohesiveness without those two in playoff form will be strong enough to last a playoff series.

Western Conference- Golden State Warriors +320 over the LA Clippers
A year ago the Memphis Grizzlies knocked off the Clippers. Adding more pieces to the puzzle does not automatically guarantee a leap the following season. LA has been all flash in the regular season but has lacked any game to game focus on the defensive end of the court. They get back in games by making consecutive shots and tiring teams with their offensive aggression. Tiring the Warriors is not going to happen, so we can scratch that off. Outshooting the Warriors is possible but not in a quick sweep. This is by far the best plus payout series around. I think Clippers fans are going to be disappointed for the second year in a row.