News & Notes From The First Round Of The NBA Playoffs

Both NBA teams, who play their home games at Staples Center in Los Angeles, advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, when the Lakers held off the Denver Nuggets 96-87 at home Saturday and the Clippers, as an eight-point underdog, shocked the Grizzlies 82-72 in Memphis Sunday.

Both wins took place in game 7's of the quarterfinal round. 

The Clippers won a game 7 for the first time ever, capturing only their third playoff series in franchise history. 

LAC's win was even more stunning when considering that home teams have won 10 of the past 13 game 7's, with 9 of them won by 10 or more points.

Despite the suddenly glamorous nature of the Clippers, oddsmakers in Las Vegas remain unimpressed.

The Clips odds of winning the NBA title stand at 40-1. This is compared to the Lakers, whose odds sit at a far more respectable number of 9-1.

In spite of Chris Bosh's strained abdominal muscle, the Miami Heat remain the overwhelming favorite to win the title, posting odds of 11-10 (which is virtually even).

Here is one more interesting factoid from the first round to chew on.

As a result of Philadelphia's ousting of injury-ridden Chicago, 76ers head coach Doug Collins won his first playoff series since 1989, when he was of course coaching Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls.