Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 4/12/2016

by Doc's Sports - 4/12/2016

Both the NBA and NHL playoffs get underway this week, and in today's discussion with Doc's Sports' expert handicapper Raphael Esparza we will get his take on a few of the hottest trending topics surrounding both of these popular sports betting events.

During a long and successful career in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry that culminated with becoming the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria up until 2013, Raphael was known as the Vegas Sports Informer for his unique insight into the sports gambling capital of the world. Since then, he has branched out to the Big Easy in New Orleans to help expand a very successful and diverse sports investment service. The following is this week's Q&A with one of Doc's most interesting handicappers.

Doc's Sports: Before the opening round of this season's NBA Playoffs, are you joining the crowd with another Golden State vs. Cleveland matchup in the NBA Finals, or is there some other team out there set to break up this heavily-favored showdown?

RE: It is far from a lock that both of these teams advance to this year's NBA Finals. Toronto has stayed on Cleveland's tail all season long, and both Boston and Miami have outside shots at making things interesting. Golden State's incredible success in the regular season could actually work against the Warriors in the playoffs. I still like San Antonio or even Oklahoma City to play the role of spoiler in the West.

Doc's Sports: One of the big NHL opening-round playoff series in the Eastern Conference pits the New York Rangers verse the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Metro Division tilt. The Penguins were one of the hottest teams in the East since early March, so do you have Sidney Crosby and Co. keeping things going by ousting their bitter rivals in this best-of-seven series?

RE: Any time you have a quality goalie like Henrik Lunqvist between the pipes you have a chance to beat any team you play in an extended seven-game series. However, I still think this could be Pittsburgh's year to finally make that deep run to the Stanley Cup Finals given the way the Penguins have been able to play down the stretch.

Doc's Sports : Over in the Western Conference, both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings begin their run at another Stanley Cup title. Which one of these NHL powers do you have going further in that quest?

RE: Everyone knows that I am a huge Chicago fan, but I have to go with my head and not my heart in picking St. Louis to knock the Blackhawks out of the playoffs in the opening round. Since I have already gone on record as taking Los Angeles over San Jose in that first -round matchup, I would naturally go with the Kings to go further than Chicago this year.

Doc's Sports : The new MLB season is underway, so can you give Doc's readers one or two insider tips for betting on baseball in the early part of the schedule?

RE: The biggest factor for quite a few MLB games in April is weather. Be sure to always check the forecast for any outside game up north, and even in the warmer climates rain can wreak havoc this time of the year. There is nothing more frustrating than spending time handicapping a set pitching matchup only to have it undone by inclement weather.

Doc's Sports: We know that you are always on the lookout for some offbeat events to bet on such as your recent picks for WrestleMania 32 earlier this month. Along these same lines, what is the next event on the horizon that has caught your eye?

RE : The whole political race in a presidential election year has captivated my attention. However, with the Kentucky Derby prep race season coming to a close, I will focus a great deal of my efforts over the next few weeks handicapping this year's "Run for the Roses". There is always a challenge picking an outright winner, but what I really love to bet is all the various props released in conjunction with horse racing's biggest betting event of the year.

Click here to visit Raphael Esparza's Insider's Page at Doc's Sports for more information on his amazingly-profitable sports handicapping picks. Also, get $60 worth of Esparza's member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit for any sport Esparza handicaps. Click here for $60 worth of free picks from Raphael Esparza .

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