The NBA playoffs pick back up on Monday night, following a fun two-game Sunday slate where we saw the Cavs advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Thunder officially give the Spurs a tough series, trying things up at 2-2.

The East isn’t that problematic, but things could still get hairy tonight with the Heat and Raptors duking it out in South Beach. Can Toronto withstand a Jonas Valanciuns injury and take a 3-1 lead, or is this series destined to get to 2-2 and eventually run a full seven games? After Portland stole game three from the Dubs at home, the same question can be asked when the Warriors travel back to try to keep the Blazers from notching things up at 2-2.

We could officially have three very intense playoff series, or we could take one more step toward finalizing the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Let’s take a closer look at both games and see which way we should be leaning in regards to NBA betting:

Golden State Warriors (1) @ Portland Trail Blazers (5)

Line: Warriors -5 Total: 214

Stephen Curry is highly unlikely to suit up yet again in game four, which would make zero appearances for the league MVP in this second round series.

Stephen Curry is ‘Doubtful’ for Game 4 in Portland https://t.co/WH3ycwg7HO pic.twitter.com/3JFgA3upn0

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) May 9, 2016

Golden State can and still should win game four, provided they actually show up on defense. That wasn’t the case in game three, but little could be done with Damian Lillard going off with 40 points.

Things will have to be different tonight, as the Dubs got terrific offense from Klay Thompson and Draymond Green again last game, but may need more from the rest of their supporting cast. With the likes of Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguoadola just waiting to chip in, there’s a good chance we see more help from the role players tonight.

The big dark cloud continues to be Curry’s sprained knee, which isn’t going to have him ready for this one and there has to be a serious thought toward the Dubs not playing him at all for this entire series. In knowing that, the Warriors are going to be hard-pressed to buckle down and take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Doing so on the road could be difficult, especially against a pretty potent Blazers offense that took advantage of similar injury issues and won four straight games to upend the Clippers in round one.

Golden State isn’t the Clippers, of course, as Thompson and Green are two fine two-way players and will once again bring maximum effort. The key will be limiting Lillard this time and also getting some help for the supporting cast. Portland is at home and certainly is capable of evening this thing up, but even without Curry the Warriors are still the better team. Curry or no Curry, let’s also keep in mind that this Warriors team didn’t lose back to back games all year.

Pick: Warriors 109, Blazers 103

Toronto Raptors (2) @ Miami Heat (3)

Line: Heat -5.5 Total: 191

Both Toronto and Miami are down two key stars going into game four, as both are likely going to be without their starting centers. The Raptors have already ruled big man Jonas Valanciunas out for the remainder of post-season play, while the Heat are likely going to be without Hassan Whiteside for at least game four.

THIS JUST IN: Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas will miss rest of series vs Heat with a sprained right ankle. pic.twitter.com/jMyVUOUivp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 8, 2016

That should strip both squads down to a small ball approach, but the edge remains with Toronto, who can easily slide DeMarre Carroll over to the four spot and have the better backup center to turn to in Bismack Biyombo. With Biyombo, Toronto loses nothing on the defensive end, as he can alter and block shots, while also cleaning the glass at a high level. The real issue will come on the offensive end, where Jonas V was starting to clean up over the past couple of games.

This was always going to be a hard-fought series, and we saw that right away with Miami stealing game one in Toronto and both of the first two games going into overtime. Needless to say, the center injuries could be a total wash to start out and Miami may come away with a narrow edge with game four going down in South Beach. I still find it very tough to fully buy into the Raptors, especially since they haven’t really slowed down Dwyane Wade and Miami is quite good at home. A close game should be expected and the Raptors have a shot at beating the spread, but Miami should tie this thing back up, 2-2.

Pick: Heat 101, Raptors 98

The Los Angeles Angels began the 2016 MLB season with reasonable odds to chase the 2016 World Series. The main question mark remained their offense behind MVP candidate, Mike Trout.

As fate would have it, the defense may be an issue, as well.

Major Injury

The team was already struggling to stay afloat in the competitive AL West, going just 13-15 with 115 runs allowed through their first 28 games. Oddly enough, their offense was looking better across the board than they did a year ago, producing 105 runs and giving the Angels a shot if the defense could pull through at some point.

That probably won’t be happening. Per reports, pitching ace Garrett Richards is lost for the season after the team learned he will need Tommy John Surgery thanks to a torn right ulnar collateral ligament. Richards was initially scratched from what would have been his most recent start on Friday, with the team citing fatigue and dehydration as the reasons for why he was unable to take the mound. The real cause for alarm was the damaged UCL, which the Halos reportedly discovered on Thursday.

Not Just Richards

Richards had not been enjoying better 2016 than advertised, as he has racked up 34 strikeouts and posted a solid 2.23 ERA despite going just 1-3 in six starts. By far the Angels’ top arm, the loss of Richards looks to be a massive blow on paper, especially since it combines with the likely loss of fellow pitcher, Andrew Heaney.

Heaney was said to have been dealing with a UCL issue of his own, although reports have not yet indicated that his season is at risk or if it is as serious as Richards’ issue. Initial reports suggest that Heaney’s issue could be as minor as “normal wear and tear” of the elbow, to an actual ligament tear.

#Angels GM Eppler on Heaney: “Findings (from docs) ranged from normal wear and tear consistent with age and usage to some degree of tear.”

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) May 6, 2016

For now, early word suggests Heaney will not be lost for the season just yet and could opt to rehab his injury.

Next Man Up

No matter which way you look at it, Richards is done for the year and at least for the interim, the Angels lose two competent arms that could have aided a slumping defense. Jered Weaver is left as the top ace in the pitching rotation, while Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano should both be thrust up in the rotation. That puts added pressure on the top pitchers in Los Angeles, none of which are true aces like Richards.

The team could get some help later in June when 35-year old starting pitcher C.J. Wilson aims to return from a shoulder issue. Wilson tends to be an erratic option, but had his moments in 2015 and given the recent injuries, would be in line for a key spot in the main pitching rotation.

Outside Help?

The Angels are in a tough spot and unless they can bring in some outside help or a young arm from AAA can rise up, they could be in serious trouble when it comes to making the playoffs. Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was scheduled to hold a throwing session on Friday afternoon, and provided it goes well, could quickly become a hot name for the Angels to consider adding.

Until the Angels make a move, the loss of Richards and Heaney leaves a major dent in their rotation and naturally negatively impacts their defense. They’ll be tough bets to get out of their early season funk if they can’t find some helpful arms in the near future.

The Toronto Raptors disappointed in a game one for the second time during the 2015-16 NBA playoffs, allowing the Miami Heat to enter Air Canada Centre and get a win. Just like that, the 2-seed Raptors are trailing to start their second consecutive playoff series, and this time it’s possible they never rebound to stave their opponent off in a game seven.

Miami was the aggressor for most of game one and even a miracle three-pointer by Kyle Lowry to force overtime couldn’t save the Raptors. Lowry showed up for that one play, but has otherwise been lifeless for most of Toronto’s playoff run, one that has seen DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valancunas do much of the heavy lifting on offense. Should that continue to be the case and Lowry keeps up his ghost act, the favored Raptors may quickly fall apart.

The Miami HEAT look to go up 2-0, while the Toronto Raptors look to even #RAPTORSvHEAT 1-1!

Game 2: 8pm/et @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/Q8CDr44AUK

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2016

There are other factors to consider, of course. Let’s take a look at Thursday night’s lone NBA post-season matchup and see which way bettors may want to lean:

Miami Heat (3) @ Toronto Raptors (2)

Line: Raptors -4.5 Total: 189

The skinny here is that the Raptors have become tough to trust. Their round one series win went further than it should have and even their game seven win over the Pacers saw them almost cough up the series. A win is a win, but Toronto got their first series win since 2001, which is both comforting and also scary. Needless to say, for as many veterans as this team has, they are not used to winning in the playoffs. Miami, meanwhile, has the seasoned Dwyane Wade, along with other playoff vets like Joe Johnson and Luol Deng. Guys like Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic give them an interesting lift as talented, impactful options that clearly want to do their part in pushing the Heat further down the playoff tourney tree.

The question is, can Miami strike now and take a commanding 2-0 lead, or will the Raptors show life at home and tie this series back up, much like they did against Indiana in round one?

One thing I think we can all agree on is that if Toronto comes up short again tonight, this series is probably over. It’s not often that teams storm back from 2-0 holes, and even when they do, the team that goes up 2-0 usually still closes the series in the seventh game.

The good news for the Raptors is that they showed fight in a game one loss and they’ve dealt with their backs being against the wall already in these playoffs. They’re rather stout at home, too (32-9 during the regular season) and specifically had success against Miami during the regular season (won the season series, 3-1). That doesn’t necessarily equate to a game two win tonight, but it can’t hurt that they know they can’t afford to lose and both Wade and Whiteside aren’t quite 100%. Both are slated to play, but with them at less than full strength, Toronto knows they’ll have a mild edge.

INJURY UPDATE: Hassan Whiteside (knee) was a limited participant in this morning’s shootaround but says he plans to play tonight in Game 2.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 5, 2016

INJURY UPDATE: Dwyane Wade (knee) was a full participant in this morning’s team shootaround.

“I’m fine.”

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 5, 2016

Miami did their part here, too. The Heat’s goal was to come out and open the series strong. Getting just one road win already gives them the edge in the series. Winning game two would put their odds over the top, but going back to South Beach at 1-1 still puts them out in front with two straight home games to be played. So, are we to assume Miami is tired and gets a little complacent? Or does that even matter against a Raptors team that seemingly is getting uncomfortably used to disappointing NBA bettors?

If the NBA regular season tells us anything, we probably can’t give up on the Raptors just yet. They are a headache and annoying, but they still were above .500 against the spread on the year, fared well against Miami and usually get the job done at home. Losing game one was a bummer and could be deflating, but it’s possible Miami is enduring their own deflating moment right now, too.

ICYMI, @chrisbosh will miss rest of #NBAPlayoffs & here’s why

STORY: https://t.co/9B0IWKeaJP #RAPTORSvHEAT pic.twitter.com/cXvfdIUBCf

— NBA.com (@NBAcom) May 5, 2016

With news that big man Chris Bosh has officially been ruled out for the rest of the playoffs, the Heat now know there won’t be a calvalry coming. They are who they are, as they stand, and if they’re going to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, they’ll have to accept and embrace that.

All speculation aside, this is a must-win game for the Raptors at home. The series is over if they don’t get it done, so the safe bet is them coming out hot on both ends and making sure this one is never really in doubt. We should probably brace for a low-scoring, defensive battle, or at least a one-sided affair. All of that likely equates to Toronto covering and puts an onus on the Under if you’re betting on the Total tonight.

Pick: Raptors 98, Heat 87

The Washington Redskins took a decent gamble on Thursday afternoon, when they signed off on a huge contract extension for star tight end, Jordan Reed. The deal is reportedly good for five years and $46.5 million, keeping him in D.C. through the 2021 NFL season. Reed gets $22 million guaranteed and ties Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham for the highest average salary for the position.

.@Real_JordanReed will be sticking around for a while & doing more stuff like this.

📰: https://t.co/RbAUeLq5Lmhttps://t.co/UdxzLPWz3K

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 5, 2016

Special Talent

It’s a great signing on paper, as Reed is among the most talented and versatile tight ends in the league and is fresh off of a career campaign. He caught just about everything thrown his way in 2015, finishing with career highs in receptions (87), receiving yards (952) and touchdowns (11). Part of that had to do with the faith quarterback Kirk Cousins had in one of his best passing weapons, part was due to a strong offensive system initiated by head coach Jay Gruden and the rest is Reed simply being one of the most talented tight ends the league has seen in some time.

Of course, there is some reason for cynicism here. Reed’s career year could have arguably happened a little sooner, except he had both his rookie and sophomore campaigns ended prematurely due to injuries – most notably recurring concussion issues. While Reed only missed two games in 2015, he wasn’t able to finish his rookie season after playing in the first nine games and missed another five contests in 2014. That’s a cool 12 missed games to start his career and 14 total over his first three seasons in the league.

Bad Gamble?

The bet the Redskins are making is that the money they’re investing won’t come back to haunt them. That a 25-year old freak athlete will both stay healthy and continue to be a severe matchup problem for the opposition. Thanks to his rare size/speed/athleticism combination and increased focus and catch success rate, the latter is pretty likely. Likely, of course, if the former doesn’t continue to be an issue.

The difficult thing to trust is Reed’s concussion history, specifically. Redskins Capital Connection took a closer look at his lengthy concussion history back in 2015, and it didn’t look great.

Per the information they provided, Reed has suffered five concussions since joining the Florida Gators in college back in 2011 and has since sustained three concussions in the NFL. On top of that, he’s also had some knee and ankle ailments.

Again, knee and ankle issues can happen to anyone and the real concern, especially with the league’s new concussion protocol, is Reed’s head and whether or not he can keep it on his shoulders.

Reed is a remarkably talent for the position, but the question isn’t if he’s worth the money. It’s if the Redskins have a good chance of seeing a good return on their investment. While Redskins fans will be crossing their fingers extra tight, history suggests this signing could backfire horribly.

Super Bowl Odds

While bad luck and bad contracts can be discussed ad nauseum, the reality is this is a good signing if everything breaks right. If Reed stays on the field and is healthy, he’s going to be a problem for opposing defenses. He will spring big plays, he will keep Washington in games, he will score touchdowns and he will make life easier for Cousins and the rest of the offense. After all, the Redskins did win the NFC East and get back to the playoffs on the heels of this guy’s best season yet. That’s not a coincidence.

The big question is if taking a gamble on Reed is worth it. It’s a valid question considering $22 million in guaranteed money and Reed’s shaky injury history. However, Reed was a huge part of their 2015 success and if the Redskins have realistic hopes of doing anything of merit in 2016 and beyond, it will likely be made possible because of a healthy, effective Reed. Provided he can stay on the field, they could get a massive return on their investment.

It’s May and we’re already thinking about fantasy football. The degenerates in all of us only really care about daily fantasy football these days, but season long fantasy football leagues still promote comradery and at times can even tug on the heart strings. Oh, the days of drafting Terrell Davis with the #1 pick, only to see him stink up the joint and blow out his knee. Or you draft Adrian Peterson and he plays one game all year because of an off field scandal.

That’s the bummer of regular fantasy football leagues, but they can also be a ton of fun when you start incorporating keeper and dynasty aspects and consider how incoming rookies will play into the equation. And while the weekly grind is a little more attractive in the DFS scene, there is still nothing like holding drafts with your buddies in a basement in late August. Or if you’e a true crazy like me, you’re trying to lure people to do just that in mid-June. Or next week.

But I digress. The point is the 2016 NFL Draft just wrapped up, pro football returns in its real and fantasy form in just over three months and in a flash, we’re going to be caring a lot about rookie roles, stats and potential impact. No matter what type of fantasy league you’re conducting, you’ll want to know who is who and whether or not they can help you out. Let’s sort through the madness by ranking the top NFL rookies in fantasy football by position going into 2016:

Quarterbacks

• Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams)
• Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Paxton Lynch (Denver Broncos)
• Cardale Jones (Buffalo Bills)
• Cody Kessler (Cleveland Browns)
• Dak Presscott (Dallas Cowboys)
• Jacoby Brissett (New England Patriots)

Goff and Wentz kick this thing off with the only real value, but Goff is firmly planted as the top fantasy quarterback among rookies because he’s probably the only one that will have a realistic shot at starting all 16 games as a rookie. He is also the most polished, blessed with great size and arm strength. He doesn’t have amazing weapons and will face the brutal NFC West, but he has Todd Gurley to help him and reminds me a bit of Matt Ryan. If he’s half of Ryan, he could enjoy a decent rookie year.

Wentz and Lynch are next up in the batting order, but Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez respectively could hold down the fort for the first half of the year. Wentz and Lynch have serious upside due to big arms, nice mobility and a nice supporting cast, but playing time is going to be key here. If Wentz gets the starting nod early, he brings all of the upside to the table.

Jones is my next favorite passer based solely on sheer talent and upside. He’s a big dude with a cannon, has had some success at a high level in college and has loads of upside. He also is raw and inexperienced, and probably won’t unseat Tyrod Taylor right away – if ever. If he does, though, he could end up being what E.J. Manuel was supposed to be.

Kessler is a total wild card, as he put up some decent numbers in college and really has the tools to be an effective game-manager, but Browns gonna Browns, and all. He does not have a proven system or weapons and he himself is going to be extremely tough to trust. He also has to get through RG3 and Josh McCown to see playing time, and that’s no lock.

Prescott has a ton of upside as a very interesting dual threat, but Tony Romo is king kong in Dallas. Romo has become rather injury-prone in his later years, of course, so it remains quite possible the Prescott Era begins in 2016. There would be serious ups and downs if it did, but he can run and sling it, so fantasy upside would certainly be there.

The same goes for Brissett, who probably would max out on a four-game window, but considering his immense talent and upside, packaged with no one knowing what Jimmy Garappolo brings to the table yet, he could still see some important field time. He has the least value of this list, but oddly some of the more intriguing talent.

The Skinny: Stash Wentz late, forget about everyone else.

Running Backs

• Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys)
• Kenyan Drake (Miami Dolphins)
• Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans)
• C.J. Prosise (Seattle Seahawks)
• Keith Marshall (Washington Redskins)
• Devontae Booker (Denver Broncos)
• Kenneth Dixon (Baltimore Ravens)
• Alex Collins (Seattle Seahawks)
• Jordan Howard (Chicago Bears)

Running back is going to be fun, as there are a lot of moving pieces going into 2016. Matt Forte is on the Jets, Alfred Morris left D.C., Eddie Lacy lost weight and the list goes on. A good amount of rookies coming in could have some serious say in what goes down, but there are really only two that I’m infatuated with. Elliott is the obvious eye-popper as the new head banger in Dallas.

Ezekiel Elliott heads @YahooNoise‘s list of rookies set to make a #fantasyfootball impact in 2016 –> https://t.co/c4A74ZNHor

— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) May 1, 2016

He’s an elite talent and was picked 4th overall, so dude’s gonna get work. He will be coming off the boards possibly as high as the first two rounds once people catch wind of him in preseason.

The other guy I’m liking is Kenyan Drake, who the Dolphins took off the draft board in round three. I honestly did not know much about him before the draft, but two things are clear: Miami is not totally sold on Jay Ajayi as their new feature back and Drake was over-shadowed by Derrick Henry at Alabama. I’m not saying Drake is amazing – he’s not – but he does everything very well, has solid long speed and constantly keeps his feet moving. An energy guy like that could find solid success if thrust into a big role, ala Devonta Freeman last year.

Then there is the guy that was ahead of him on the Crimson Tide, Henry himself. His immediate value hinges to early down and goal-line duty, and that may be a problem with DeMaro Murray in town. I’m sure they eventually both get work, but Henry has not proven himself as a receiver and will ultimately need to supplant Murray to hold serious value. That being said, if he took over that role, he’d have enormous upside due to his awesome speed/power combo.

Prosise, Marshall and Booker are probably the only other guys you really need to pay attention to. Prosise is a special runner who can slide in between cracks and has the speed, agility and elusiveness to bust off exciting runs. His main knocks are impatience and a lack of experience, but with Marshawn Lynch retired, he’s going to be a name to watch. The same can be said for new teammate Alex Collins, but I’m much higher on Prosise.

Sticking with that final three, Marshall and Booker are starting caliber talents who will simply need to find their way into roles. Booker is concretely behind C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman for now, but both guys have disappointed in the past and Booker has a feature back skill-set. It may only be a matter of time before he’s the main man in Denver’s backfield. There is also Marshall, who has blazing speed and loads of talent, but slid due to injury issues. If he’s ready to rock and starter Matt Jones falters, he could be one of the biggest rookie running backs in fantasy football this year.

The Skinny: Over-pay for Eliott early and stack on top rookie backs late.

Wide Receivers

• Laquon Treadwell (Minnesota Vikings)
• Will Fuller (Houston Texans)
• Corey Coleman (Cleveland Browns)
• Josh Doctson (Washington Redskins)
• Sterling Shepard (New York Giants)
• Tyler Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals)
• Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints)
• Malcom Mitchell (New England Patriots)
• Braxton Miller (Houston Texans)
• Pharoh Cooper (Los Angeles Rams)

Role is arguably more important than anything when it comes to wide receivers, especially when you’re dealing with PPR formatted leagues and DFS sites. Running backs can score pretty easily on short plunges, but receives that aren’t out on the field a good amount of time will understandably suffer because of it.

That’s one reason why the leading candidates are going to be Treadwell, Fuller, Coleman and Doctson. Even with those guys, there are question marks. Treadwell has speed issues, Fuller has hands issues, Coleman is on the Browns (ha!) and Doctson is going into a situation where there are already a lot of mouths to feed in D.C. That being said, these guys are immensely talented. Fuller, Coleman ad Doctson are all burners on the field, while Treadwell makes some of the best on-the-ball plays we’ll see out of rookies. They all have a shot at early round value if things break their way.

The next level consists of Shepard, Boyd and Thomas. All three of these guys could eventually be studs, but whether or not they thrive as rookies will depend on how active they are. Shepard needs to move firmly past Victor Cruz, Boyd needs to work his way past Brandon LaFell and Thomas needs to find his spot alongside Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman.

If we’re looking at the talent, Shepard, Boyd and Thomas all start and could quickly ascend the ranks, or at least push the top four guys hard. For now, they need to be slow-played and taken late in fantasy drafts – if at all.

Mitchell could be the lone outlier in this group, as the Pats typically do not give rookie receivers much playing time. They could use his long speed and route-running ability, though, so if he cracks the top rotation, look out. Miller has too much learning to do to make a huge impact in year one, while as talented as Cooper is, he’s probably going to initially be buried in Los Angeles.

The Skinny: Don’t force it at WR this year. Aim for Treadwell, Fuller, Coleman late.

Tight Ends

• Hunter Henry (San Diego Chargers)
• Austin Hooper (Atlanta Falcons)
• Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams)
• Seth Devalve (Cleveland Browns)
• Nick Vannett (Seattle Seahawks)

Not surprisingly, there isn’t a whole lot to get excited about when it comes to rookie tight ends. The position is naturally slow to develop in year one at the NFL level anyways, but then this is also a weak crop and few of these guys are guaranteed a big role in their first season.

Henry is without a doubt the most talented guy in this group, yet he’s slated to begin his career behind veteran pass-catcher, Antonio Gates. That restricts his upside, but in San Diego’s pass-happy offense, he still could have value. Gates is also old and could start to regress steeply, so there are a number of reasons the athletic Henry could come into solid production.

Hooper is easily second in line among rookie tight ends, as the Falcons still don’t have an answer at tight end. There’s a lot to like about Hooper, too, as he brings good size and solid straight line speed to the table.

The excitement drops off from there, but it’s worth noting that Devalve is a sure-handed option behind Gary Barnidge in Cleveland and Vannett could potentially get some opportunities with Jimmy Graham working back from a devastating knee injury. Higbee could also get a shot with the Rams being short-handed at tight end, but if you’re looking for stability beyond Henry and Hooper, you’ve got another thing coming.

The Skinny: Draft veterans at tight end, per usual. Let the newbies take Henry and Hooper.

Overall, there are not a ton of rookies that stand out right away, but the next few months could paint a different picture. In summary, Jared Goff is really the only quarterback to consider, but he’s on a team that wants to run the ball and he could struggle, so for fantasy purposes he’s likely off limits. There certainly are some running backs to monitor, but the position with the upside, like usual, is going to be wide receiver.

The 2016 NBA playoffs are slowing down a bit as we get fully submerged into the second round. The round two action did already start this past Saturday, however, when the San Antonio Spurs successfully defender their turf in a game one demolition of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

LaMarcus Aldridge and co. aim to do something very similar in game two tonight, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks also square off to complete an exciting two-game slate. The big question, of course, is if these matchups can go further than initial interest and actually provide us with an upset. Just as importantly, should NBA bettors be chasing bets for the spread or the total in either game? Let’s find out by breaking down both of Monday night’s matchups:

Atlanta Hawks (4) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (1)

Line: Cavs -7.5 Total: 200

This series is interesting for a few reasons. For one, this is a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, which ended with a 4-0 sweep for the Cavs, but was actually a pretty intense and hard-fought series to declare an entrance into the 2015 NBA Finals. This series won’t punch that ticket, but it’s worth wondering if Atlanta has learned anything from that series and if they’ll be out for blood. Two other things playing into that notion is Cleveland’s so far unblemished 4-0 2016 playoff record, as well as Cleveland’s 3-0 regular season hold over these very Hawks.

So, can Atlanta beat the odds here and take down Cleveland in game one? It’s unlikely. Dating back to the playoffs last year, the Cavs have won seven straight in this series, are pretty unstoppable at Quicken Loans Arena and boast a star-studded roster led by the King himself, LeBron James. Atlanta also isn’t as good as they were the last time these two sides met in the playoffs. Kyle Korver has regressed a bit, while losing defensive stopper DeMarre Carroll had their defense – while still quite strong – taking a hit. Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefalosha still provide resistance out on the perimeter, but it’s just not the same.

The simply harsh reality is the Hawks don’t have someone to consistently slow down James, they don’t rebound very well and they also lack a reliable go-to scorer. We can probably expect some tough games and maybe even 1-2 wins for the Hawks, but not to start things out. That being said, Atlanta knows they’ll have to come out with their A game to start this one, so I do like them to hang around and beat this spread.

Pick: Cavs 104, Hawks 98

Oklahoma City Thunder (3) @ San Antonio Spurs (2)

Line: Spurs -7.5 Total: 203

San Antonio is very annoying at home. They lost just one home game all year during the regular season (to the Warriors) and have proven just how good they can be with several home game blowouts in a brief playoff run thus far. It’s tough to assume they’ll blow the Thunder out for a second game in a row, but judging by how easy it looked for them in game one, we also can’t rule it out.

OKC certainly brings elite offense to the table, but it’s tough to list that as a strength when you have Kawhi Leonard draping Kevin Durant and both LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan limiting Russell Westbrook to a jump shooter. Barring huge outside shooting nights from KD and Russ and/or their role players being huge, it’s very tough to see how they get past both San Antonio’s stifling defense, and also find a way to slow their offense down on the other end.

The reality is OKC just does not have the tools to consistently defend, and their offense can fall into lulls if KD and Russ get held in check. With San Antonio showing precisely how they can do that in game one, we have to give the Spurs the benefit of the doubt heading into game two. Better effort on defense should help the Thunder, while KD and Westbrook are too good to be held down forever. Another 32-point win probably isn’t in the cards, but covering should be.

Pick: Spurs 109, Thunder 101

Nyquist enters next weekend’s 2016 Kentucky Derby as the odds on favorite to win. From there, it’s entirely possible that Nyquist wins again and sets himself up for a shot at winning the Triple Crown – sweeping horse racing’s most prestigious event that includes jaunts in the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

Naturally, three main questions take front and center heading into this year’s Kentucky Derby – the first leg of the Triple Crown: can Nyquist win the Kentucky Derby, will that propel him to a full sweep of the Triple Crown and if not, who else can get it done?

Nyquist’s Kentucky Derby Bid

The first step is taking a look at Nyquist’s chances of winning the first leg of the Triple Crown, which would be this Saturday’s 142nd Kentucky Derby. Vegas says it will probably be so, as the undefeated champion is slated to step foot at Churchill Downs with strong 10-3 odds. He’s the favorite, he hasn’t lost, and the last three undefeated horses to enter the Kentucky Derby did in fact move on to the second leg of the Triple Crown with their record unscathed.

Of course, history can be tricky and being a favorite does not guarantee a thing. Worse yet is this field, which is painfully strong for any horse racing bettor. A quick dart at the odds tells you that, as 10 other horses enter the weekend with odds of 20-1 or far better.

On top of the accompanying odds, Nyquist actually has some seriously stiff competition ready to take him down. Exaggerator, Mohaymen and Gun Runner are probably his top three threats and all have the talent, training and experience to really make some noise. We still like Nyquist to pull off the Kentucky Derby and give us a shot at a repeat Triple Crown champion, but how likely is that, really?

Repeat Champion?

History tells us it probably won’t happen. We hadn’t seen a Triple Crown sweep since Affirmed back in 1978, and while Affirmed was the second of back-to-back Triple Crown winners in 1977 and 1978, that was the only time in the event’s history that we’ve ever seen the impossible happen two years in a row.

To put it further in perspective, the Triple Crown wasn’t completed in 37 years and since the first champion back in 1919, we’ve seen the event swept a grand total of 12 times. The odds of a horse winning another Triple Crown within the next 10 years might not be great. Banking on Nyquist – or any other horse, for that matter – winning it for the second straight year might be a serious pipe dream.

That doesn’t kill the hype or joy associated with trying to predict or pick a potential winner. It just makes it very unlikely to actually happen.

Other Contenders

That being said, it could happen and if it does, it’s very possible it comes from a horse other than Nyquist. So, if Nyquist can’t win the Kentucky Derby and go on a crazy Triple Crown run, what other horses can? There is first the thought of which of these horses have the best chances of winning this first particular race, there is the argument over which sleepers could pull off the upset and then, quite naturally, there is the question of the Triple Crown feat.

If you’re looking for safety and logic, you’re looking at a four-pack of Nyquist, Gun Runner, Exaggerator and Mohaymen. They have strong odds, they’re well trainer, they’re talented and they have solid experience. They all have mild flaws, and it’s still very arguably Nyquist is the cream of that crop. However, if an upset looms, it’s likely coming from that secondary trio of colts.

There is the thought of a sleeper with extra fun odds. If you want to make a play on someone who will provide a nice payout, perhaps horses like Creator (20-1), Suddenbreakingnews (16-1) or My Man Sam (25/1) should be considered.

Suddenbreakingnews has a great pedigree and won the Southwest Stakes, while also possesses great power and the ability to hunt down distance. My Man Sam is one of the more inexperienced colts on display, but we can’t discount him, as he’s got a win and two second place finishes in limited action and also displayed the ability to rally. He could be a true sleeper just because we don’t know all that much about him and he could come out of nowhere late.

The other horse to consider could be Creator, who has done quite well with 7 top-three finishes in eight career races. Creator crushed the Arkansas Derby and has shown the ability in different spots both to rally and close. All three of these horses have fun odds and could spell trouble for Nyquist and the other top contenders. Of the sleepers, Creator has a mysticism that produces wonder.

That being said, can any of the main contenders or the sleepers make a Triple Crown run if they do upend Nyquist? It’s doubtful. Nyquist has an unblemished record and has a truly remarkable resume when you think about it. He should win and Vegas knows it. If he doesn’t, it will be a shocker and the Triple Crown is certainly be spiced up quite a bit. It’d be a shame, though, as Nyquist is quite easily our best bet at another Triple Crown sweep in 2016.

The 2016 NBA playoffs have so far been a wild ride, but there haven’t been wilder days than what we’re about to encounter on Friday night. Easily the most intense day of the young playoffs, the first round could come crashing to a halt with three game sixes hitting the hardwood.

The Raptors, Hornets and Blazers all enter the night with a 3-2 advantage in their respective series, and if they play their cards right, they can walk into round two before the night is through. Charlotte and Portland have a chance to do it at home after both winning three straight games, while the Raptors have to finish the job on the road. Let’s take a look at all three series and see which are likely to wrap up before the weekend:

Raptors (2) @ Pacers (7)

Line: Pacers -1.5 Total: 194

Vegas isn’t doing us any favors tonight, as two games have basically pick’em lines, starting with Toronto’s date with the Pacers in Indy. Paul George has been pretty great this series, but the one thing shining through for the Pacers is their lack of help offensively. This series has been a defensive battle otherwise, with no team scoring more than 102 points in any game and no game featuring both teams topping even 99 points.

A defensive struggle leans Toronto’s way in terms of edge, while they have the more complete and balanced roster. Indy does have the mild edge at home and they have the best player still active in the playoffs, but the Toronto badly wants to win their first playoff series since 2000. Allowing this to go to a game seven puts that at serious risk.

Pick: Raptors 98, Pacers 96

Hornets (6) @ Heat (3)

Line: Hornets -1.5 Total: 192.5

I want to trust the Hornets, but I just can’t. Steve Clifford has proven to be a bit of a genius lately, as he switched Frank Kaminsky and Al Jefferson into the starting lineup and the Hornets have since battered Miami down low, whether by scoring or on the boards. That length has been problematic for Miami’s offense and on the other side Jeremy Lin has been unleashed. All that being said, Charlotte won in South Beach in game five and Miami is bound to return the favor.

The Heat might still lose this series, but these teams are insanely evenly matched and I can’t see Dwyane Wade going quietly into the night. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Heat crumble, but I see this series going the distance.

Pick: Heat 101, Hornets 96

Clippers (4) @ Blazers (5)

Line: Blazers -10.5 Total: 199

This could be the other tricky game, as Los Angeles is set up to lose a fourth straight game to drop a first round series they were supposed to coast in. Injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin crippled them, though, and now Portland is about to accomplish the unthinkable. They’re going to get it done one way or another, whether the Clippers stave them off for one more day or not. I don’t really see L.A. preventing the inevitable – especially in Portland – but I saw fight out of them in game five.

The Blazers really aren’t dominant enough on either side to completely coast here, either. They might have a shot at hitting the spread if they pull away late, but Los Angeles has proven to have solid depth and they’re not going to quit. I think Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford are both better this time around, even though Portland gets the win and takes the series.

Pick: Blazers 106, Clippers 101

Things are about to get very interesting in the 2016 NBA playoffs. Injuries to Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Stephen Curry in the past few days made sure of that, but specifically on Tuesday night, we’ll take a step closer to finding out how two of the tightest first round playoff series may unfold.

The Spurs, Cavs and Thunder have all moved on and the Warriors are likely to shortly follow. Left over, however, is a tight Blazers/Clippers series, as well as a tied up clash between the Heat and the Hornets. Tonight we get the other two series that are very much still undecided, as the Pacers and Celtics both head back out on the road to take on the Raptors and Hawks, respectively.

Indiana stole game one in Toronto and then defender its turf in game four to keep what should have been a mis-match series very much alive, while Boston rallied and won in overtime to hold serve with a 2-0 stand on their home floor. Can Boston finally grab a road win? Can the Pacers get their second road win of this series? These are the questions we must ask ourselves as we take a close look at both games and see which way we should be leaning tonight:

Pacers (7) @ Raptors (2)

Line: Raptors -7 Total: 193

A few things we’ve learned in this series: Indiana is a threat, they can win at Air Canada Centre and we can’t fully trust the Raptors simply because they’re supposed to be the better team. Toronto failed us by not coming to play on their home floor in game one and with the ability to take full control in game four, they wasted another golden opportunity.

They have another one on Tuesday night, of course, as Indiana is merely an average road team and they themselves also couldn’t take advantage in game two or three. The Pacers had the Raptors almost reeling after game one and after allowing the Raptors back in, they gave up their leverage by losing at home in game three. That has everything to do with their overall inconsistency and their wavering defensive intensity, but the life they showed in a game four home win is enough to scare any NBA bettor.

The simple reality is this is the NBA playoffs, and while entire series are usually fairly easy to predict, the game to game flow absolutely is not. The Raptors could still win this series, but Indiana could first steal game five and put Toronto on edge. It could also go the other way, where the Raptors look like the aggressor and win tonight, and then choke in the final two games.

Vegas doesn’t think Toronto will blink in the face of the pressure tonight, though, and we tend to agree. The big reason is they’re at home and they know going down 3-2 to a dangerous Pacers team just isn’t an option. That leaves the door open to unfathomable horrors in Indiana in game six. The other factor has been that each win has been rather wide, with no game coming within 10 points. I think with so much on the line, that trend finally stops tonight. A big reason why is Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan can’t possibly both be stopped forever. The Pacers have done an awesome job on the scoring duo, giving Lowry just two solid outings all series, while DeRozan (averages 23 points per game) has topped even 14 points just once. At home, the duo need to figure Indy’s defense out and finally come through together to push Toronto with a win of advancing to round two for the first time since the days of Vince Carter.

Indiana gives the Raptors a fight, but Toronto’s stout home record shines through and the better team prevails for a 3-2 series advantage.

Pick: Raptors 102, Pacers 98

Celtics (5) @ Hawks (4)

Line: Hawks -7 Total: 198

The tricky thing about this series is it is exactly as intense as we predicted it to be, but every single game individually has gone the opposite way we expected it to. On the surface we probably should have expected Atlanta to get the job done at home (and they did), and the same goes for the Celtics (and they did). Boston was our pick to take this series in seven games, but with Avery Bradley going down, their plight got a lot more difficult. It’s tough not to cite their momentum after winning two straight, however, while it’s tough to imagine this series wrapping up without either team stealing a game on the road.

Last time we had a Game 5 in our building… pic.twitter.com/nmOM2mA93t

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 26, 2016

So far, however, there is little evidence to suggest the Celtics will get the win tonight. Boston was very average on the road during the regular season (20-21), the Hawks defend their home court well (27-14 this year) and it took the Celtics a late rally and OT win to make this series interesting again. That certainly works in their favor to a certain degree, but the Hawks get to go back home and stop the bleeding. Atlanta also dominated the regular season series (3-1) and it’s tough to see them drop three straight. Much like the first game of the night, I think we’re going to see the spread beaten and enjoy a tight game. Atlanta is at home and was in full control of this series, though. They’re the healthy and more balanced team. I think they get it back together and take a 3-2 series lead in a well fought game five.

Pick: Hawks 101, Celtics 97