When NBA teams are eliminated from the playoffs, it has become tradition for TNT's iconic "Inside the NBA" series to commemorate the occasion with a 'gone fishing' meme that reflects the newfound free time such squads enjoy. The feature image (above) shows the graphic Shaq, E. J., Kenny, Chuck and the crew came up with after the Lakers ended the Warriors postseason ambitions in the 2020-21 Play-In Tournament.
Regarding the present second round post-season series between Golden State and L.A., consistent with our expectation, #DubNation proved much too much for the #LakeShow in game 5 action Wednesday evening, winning by 15 and easily covering the 8-point spread...and at least making the series look respectable. History though suggests that effort was a last gasp for the defending champs, and that the Warriors will earn a revamped gone fishing graphic after the proceedings at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena Friday night. The angle indicated below rationalizes this perspective.
The simple system shown above has delivered a 32% long-term return on investment (ROI), and has submitted cover rates below 50% in only four seasons in the examination period. Further, this approach has proven solidly profitable throughout the NBA Playoffs, delivering at least a 20% ROI in each of the four rounds.
Justifying the consistent success of this set of criteria, we hypothesize that, in general, teams that go up 3-1 in postseason series are simply better. So while there might be a tendency to let up in game 5 after building such commanding leads, these superior squads find renewed focus and determination to finish the job in game 6, to avert having to slog through a game 7 on the road, against reinvigorated opposition.
A desire to get a bit of R&R before the next series begins (or, at least, to limit the next round opponent's recovery time) might likewise fuel the motivation to dispatch the present competition sooner than later [teams in this spot have been favored 73% of the time, so covers are highly correlated with straight up wins].
Accordingly, were are laying the 2.5 with the Lakers Friday, and hoping the fish will be biting for Golden State.
On personnel, Anthony Davis took an inadvertent shot to the face from Kevon Looney Wednesday that resulted in him leaving the game. However, the Lakers' eight-time all-star big man is expected to be available Friday, per Chris Haynes.
Happy betting!!