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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/15/2024

The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the playoff season with two games on TNT and truTV. The Boston Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:05 p.m. ET in the fifth game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Celtics took a 3-1 series lead with their 109-102 win as a 12-point road favorite on Monday. Boston is a 14.5-point favorite with the total set at 204 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Oklahoma City Thunder play a home against the Dallas Mavericks a 9:35 p.m. ET in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Thunder evened his this series at 2-2 with a 100-96 upset victory as a 1.5-point underdog on Sunday. Oklahoma City is a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 213.The National Hockey League playoffs continue with one game on ESPN. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Colorado Avalanche at 8:10 p.m. ET in the fifth game of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Stars took a 3-1 series lead with their 5-1 victory on the road on Sunday. Dallas is a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Wednesday card in Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Baltimore Orioles host the Toronto Blue Jays at 12:35 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Miami Marlins as a -166 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago White Sox host the Washington Nationals at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks play at home against the Washington Nationals at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -148 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Two more MLB games start at 4:10 p.m. ET. The San Diego Padres are at home against the Colorado Rockies as a -250 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Seattle Mariners host the Kansas City Royals as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Philadelphia Phillies play at home against the New York Mets at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 7.5. The Boston Red Sox are at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:10  p.m. ET as a -142 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Atlanta Braves host the Chicago Cubs at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -166 money-line favorite at BetMGM with a total of 8.5. The Minnesota Twins play at home against the New York Yankees at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Texas Rangers are at home against the Cleveland Guardians at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Houston Astros host the Oakland A’s at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -245 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The St. Louis Cardinals travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:07 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Francisco against the Giants at 9:45 p.m. ET. Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches. Chelsea is at Brighton and Hove Albion at 2:45 p.m. ET as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Newcastle United visits Manchester United on the USA Network at 3 p.m. ET in a pick ‘em match with a total of 3.5.

WNBA GM Survey Poll Provides Insight For Futures Props

Anyone looking to invest in WNBA futures, perhaps the league's general managers can help provide some insight.Two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was selected as the player most likely to win the MVP award this upcoming season, per the 2024 GM Survey, which brought together votes from the league's 12 general managers to reveal the league’s best teams, players, coaches, offseason moves, and more in advance of the tip off of the league’s 28th season - in their minds.The 2024 regular season tipped off Tuesday with four games, but there is still time to jump on prop bets for certain awards.The league's GM's responded to 45 questions and were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages were based on the pool of respondents to that particular question.Wilson, who led Las Vegas to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, received 67 percent of the MVP votes. The Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas was next with 25 percent and reigning MVP Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty was third with eight percent. Wilson, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023), was selected as the league’s best defender, receiving 42 percent of the votes to finish ahead of Thomas, who was second with 25 percent.Also as part of the survey, Aces guard Chelsea Gray earned the top spot in six categories voted on by the GMs. The five-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA champion gathered the most votes for best point guard (75 percent), best passer (67 percent), active player who would make the best coach (42 percent), player with the best basketball IQ (36 percent) and best leader (25 percent). Gray also tied with the Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale as the player GMs would most want to take the shot with the game on the line (each received 25 percent).Stewart, a two-time WNBA champion and five-time all-WNBA First Team selection, received 58 percent of the vote as the most versatile player in the league, finishing ahead of second-place vote-getter Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx (17 percent). Stewart was also picked as the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments (42 percent), while Wilson ranked second (25 percent) and Thomas third (17 percent). GMs also viewed Stewart as the best power forward (42 percent).After selecting Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark with the No.1 pick in the draft, the Fever finished ahead of Seattle as the GM’s pick for most improved team for the upcoming season with 58 percent of the votes to Seattle’s 33 percent. The Storm, which signed a pair of six-time All-WNBA performers in Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith as free agents, was viewed as the team that made the best overall moves this offseason through free agency and trades, receiving 67 percent of the votes.The Storm, based on longshot odds, might be a good bet to win the title, considering the price of the ticket and being able to hedge once they make the playoffs.Seattle’s signing of Ogwumike was voted as the player acquisition that will make the biggest impact in 2024, earning 58 percent of the votes. The Storm’s Jewell Loyd, who last season set the WNBA’s single-season scoring record with 939 points, received 75 percent of the votes as the league’s best shooting guard. Clark received 92 percent of the votes for preseason WNBA Rookie of the Year, with the Los Angeles Sparks’ Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, getting the remaining eight percent. Clark also garnered 50 percent of the votes as the player the GMs would select if they were starting a franchise today and had the opportunity to sign any player, ahead of Wilson (42 percent) and 2023 Rookie of the Year and Fever teammate Aliyah Boston (eight percent).For me, I believe that alone could fuel Wilson's quest for an MVP title, considering she's still yapping about getting a fourth-place vote last season.Boston was also named as the player most likely to have a breakout season in 2024, earning 18 percent of the vote, while nine other players each received nine percent.Connecticut’s Thomas was tabbed as the player with the greatest hunger to win a championship this season (40 percent). Seattle’s Diggins-Smith was second (30 percent) and Phoenix’s Natasha Cloud and New York’s Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu all tied for third place (10 percent each).Among the highlights from the 2024 WNBA.com GM Survey were these: - Las Vegas is the team that is the most fun to watch (75 percent) and has the best homecourt advantage (42 percent), so make sure you keep an eye out for value with the Aces at home.- The Aces’ Becky Hammon is the best manager/motivator of people (45 percent) and the overall best head coach (42 percent), a good indicator for Coach of the Year props. - The trade of Kahleah Copper from Chicago to Phoenix was the most surprising move of the offseason (58 percent). - The Mercury’s addition of Rebecca Allen in a sign-and-trade deal with Connecticut was considered the most underrated player acquisition (33 percent).  - Washington’s Brittney Sykes was voted as the best perimeter defender (50 percent). She also was the top vote-getter for most athletic player (50 percent), edging out Copper (42 percent). Without Cloud and Elena Delle Donne, the Mystics will rely on a slower pace and tighter defense, which means potentially lower-scoring games. - Connecticut’s Thomas received the most votes as the league’s most versatile defender (33 percent), so watch for high totals with the Sun. - Angel Reese, selected by Chicago with seventh overall pick of the WNBA Draft 2024, was viewed as the biggest steal in terms of where she was selected in the draft (27 percent). She, too, could be a bargain for Rookie of the Year.

Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/14/2024

The Tuesday sports card features NBA, NHL, MLB, and EPL action.The National Basketball Association continues the playoff season with two games on TNT and truTV. The New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers at 8:05 p.m. ET in the fifth game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Pacers evened this series at 2-2 with a 121-89 victory as a 6-point favorite at home on Sunday. New York is a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 215.5 (all odds from DraftKings unless indicated otherwise). The Denver Nuggets play at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 10:35 p.m. ET in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Nuggets made this a 2-2 series with their 115-107 upset victory as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Denver is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 205. The National Hockey League playoffs continue with two games on ESPN. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Boston Bruins at 7:10 p.m. ET in the fifth game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Panthers have won three straight games to take a 3-1 series lead with their 3-2 victory on the road on Sunday. Florida is a -218 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Edmonton Oilers host the Vancouver Canucks at 9:40 p.m. ET in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Canucks took a 2-1 series lead after their 4-3 victory on the road on Sunday. The Oilers are a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.The Tuesday card in Major League Baseball has 16 games on its schedule. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to New York to play the Mets at 1:10 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Washington Nationals play in Chicago against the White Sox in the first game of their doubleheader at 4:40 p.m. ET as a -120 money-line road favorite. The Baltimore Orioles play at home against the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:35 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers are at home against the Miami Marlins at 6:40 p.m. ET as a -180 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox host the Tamp Bay Rays at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -122 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Atlanta Braves play at home against the Chicago Cubs at 7:20 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Nationals battle the White Sox in the second game of their doubleheader, with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8. The New York Yankees are in Minnesota against the Twins on TBS as a -135 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Texas Rangers host the Cleveland Guardians at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Houston Astros play at home against the Oakland A’s at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The St. Louis Cardinals visit Los Angeles against the Angels at 9:38 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Three more MLB games start at 9:40 p.m. ET. The Arizona Diamondbacks are at home against the Cincinnati Reds as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies as a -270 money-line favorite with a total of 7. The Seattle Mariners play at home against the Kansas City Royals as a -155 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7. The Los Angeles Dodgers play in San Francisco against the Giants at 9:45 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. Matchweek 37 in the English Premier League continues with one match. Manchester City is at Tottenham on the USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite at BetMGM with an over/under of 3.5.

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