Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza 5/16/2017

by Doc's Sports - 5/16/2017

There are a number of intriguing storylines surrounding this season's conference finals in both the NBA and the NHL playoffs when it comes to betting on the games. In this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza , we will get his perspective on one of the top storylines for each of the four series. We will also get him to weigh in on his betting strategy for this Saturday's Preakness Stakes .

Once known in Las Vegas betting circles as the Vegas Sports Informer during a long and successful career in the sportsbook industry, Raphael worked his way to the top of the list as one of the best sports handicappers in the nation while also rising through the ranks to become the Director of the Race and Sports Book for MGM Grand's Aria. He decided to retire from the sportsbook industry in 2013 to devote all of his time running a successful and diverse sports investment service from both his home base in Las Vegas as well as from the Big Easy in New Orleans. The following is this week's Q&A with one of Doc's most interesting handicappers.

Doc's Sports: The Cleveland Cavaliers have swept their first two opponents in the postseason, but they are facing a Boston Celtics team that has won its last five home games both straight up and against the spread while averaging close to 120 points a game. Does Boston's home-court edge in this series give the Celtics any shot at pulling off an upset against the heavily-favored Cavaliers?

RE: We should get a really good feel for this series based on what happens in Game 1. Boston is in excellent position to take that early edge given how well it has been playing at home along with some possible rust in Cleveland's performance due to that long layoff. However, if the Celtics get blown out on Wednesday night, I would look to bet on the odds that Cleveland pulls off another four-game sweep.

Doc's Sports: Golden State stole Game 1 of its Western Conference Finals matchup against the San Antonio Spurs by erasing a 25-point deficit to win by just two points as a 10-point home favorite. What aspect of that series opener was more damaging to the Spurs: blowing such a large lead against the NBA's top team or losing their top scorer Kawhi Leonard for Game 2 with an ankle injury that turned the tide in Game 1?

RE: The Spurs are a veteran team with a head coach that knows how to keep his players grounded and focused. It is easy to chalk up their collapse in Game 1 to the loss of Leonard and they should be ready to move on in Tuesday's Game 2. The real series between these two Western Conference powers might not start until it shifts to San Antonio for the next two games as long as Leonard is healthy and ready to go.

Doc's Sports: The defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins were stunned in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Ottawa Senators as heavy home favorites, but they responded with a big win in Game 2 to tie things up. How do you see things playing out in the next two games of this best-of-seven matchup in Ottawa?

RE: The time to jump on the Penguins was after that Game 1 loss with a much lower -135 series price to win. The number is back up to -210 following the win in Game 2. This series has all the makings of a back-and-forth battle that Pittsburgh finally wins in the end. Given how banged up the Penguins are coming out of Monday's Game 2, I would give Game 3 this Wednesday to Ottawa. That being said, I am also looking for Pittsburgh to tie this series up again at 2-2 with a victory in Game 4.

Doc's Sports : The NHL's Western Conference Finals between the Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators is also tied at one game apiece heading into Tuesday's Game 3 in Nashville. You have been high on the Ducks the entire postseason, so do you believe they have what it takes to get past the surprising Predators in this series?

RE: Most NHL teams ride a hot goalie to the Stanley Cup Finals, but the Ducks are still at their best when they are scoring goals. Nashville has been impressive to say the least, but if Anaheim can continue to light the lamp like it did in Game 2 with five goals, I still like its chances to win this series.

Doc's Sports: Always Dreaming's strong run to a 2 ¾ lengths victory in this year's Kentucky Derby has him positioned as the clear favorite to also win this Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Is this race his to lose or can a horse such as Classic Empire or possibly Gunnevera end any possible run at a Triple Crown title?

RE : Always Dreaming is a good horse but not a great horse, so you would have to believe that there are a number of other contenders that could pull off the upset in Saturday's Preakness. Classic Empire should have the next-best odds when the morning line is released later this week, but I am looking a bit further down the list at horses such as Lookin At Lee and Hence. After posting a winning day in the Kentucky Derby with the right call on a few high-unit head-to-head matchups, that will be the primary way I will bet this Saturday's main event at Pimlico.

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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