Israeli Premier League Basketball

By Divol

Hapoel Holon v Ironi Nahariyya



13th May 17:45 GMT

A 6 point line is a lot for two teams that had most of the games pretty even. Still, Holon led most of the game by double digits in Game 2 and I feel it will be the same tonight. Holon are still the better team in my opinion and so far the home team has been really dominant and it was Holon who were the only team that managed to take the line on the road. I won't write again for the 6th time this season about match ups between the teams, but Holon now with their backs to the wall and the last thing they want at home is to go in to the final minute in a relegation game knowing that Naharia are still in the game.

Pick: Holon -5.5, 2.0 - 3.5 units - Stan James


Elitzur Netania v Maccabi Haifa



13th May 18:55 GMT

I can't say that the odds are wrong here. I think that Netania should be slight favourites and they are. Still, Haifa in my opinion are the better team and they won pretty easily in both games in Netania this season. I think they are too relaxed at home. They have been trailing by double digits in all three home games against Netania. In one they ended up winning easily, in another they came back and even were up by 9 points but lost and one they got trashed. On the road that sense of urgency is with them from the start and it shows. Still, it's hard to bet against such a home team like Netania to lose both home games, but you could have said the same about Haifa.  So far I have avoided taking Haifa at home, but on the road I think that as long as Haifa has odds of 2.1 or higher, they have got value.

Pick: Haifa to win, 2.30 odds - 1.75 units play - Stan James


Bney Ha Sharon v Maccabi Tel Aviv



13th May 17:30 GMT

The line is wrong here but has still got value. Maccabi actually does a better job on the road than at home. Last year's playoffs, Maccabi won much easier on the road against Ashkelon than at home. I think that just like Haifa, that sense of urgency, the need to play good ball from the beginning is what causes them to play much better on away from home. Still, having said that, a 14.5 point line is huge. I think that -12.5 should have been the line, but I think that most of the chances Maccabi will put this one to bed early, winning by 20+ points. Still, low units only.

Picks:

Tel Aviv -7.5 half time, 1.80 odds - 1.5 units - Stan James

Tel Aviv -14.5 (1.9) + Haifa to win (2.3) + Holon -5.5 (2.0) - 8.74 odds - 0.5 units play - Stan James


Ironi Ramat Gan v Hapoel Afula



13th May 17:45 GMT

I don't know how I forgot to take the Over bet in the 3rd game in Afula, but I will take it today. Teams with their back to the wall but both know how to attack and not really how to defend. Both teams will also fight until the end. A loss for Afula means to lose the series, so they will have no problems fouling at the end of the game even if the game will be almost surely lost and Ramat Gan if they don't win will have to play in Afula the 5th game and that is something they will do their best to avoid. Both teams are 85+ points’ teams and I don't see any reason for it to change.

Pick: Over 166.5 points, 1.87 odds - 2.5 units play - Bluesq

Divol