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NBA Playoff Prediction: Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
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Written by Scott Burgess
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008
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 The Boston Celtics are at home tonight where they excel, but LeBron James ain’t having none of that. LeBron is still having nightmares of their Game 1 loss in Boston where he missed a layup with 8.5 seconds left to win the game. Tonight they’ll try the same when the Celtics host the Cavs. The best of seven series is tied at 2-2. Oddsmakers at BetUS.com have the Celtics as 9-point favs over the Cavs with the over/under set at 176. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at BetUS.com
The Cavs know the playoffs don’t start until you get a win on the road. They are 2-3 SU on the road in the playoffs where they’ve averaged 84 PPG. Their last two games at Boston they could only muster up a low 72 ½ points. The main reason has been the great defense of the Celtics. So how do they slow down the Celtics? They must fight defense with defense, they are allowing the Celtics too many points in the paint. In Game 1 and Game 2 the Cavs were outscored a combined 44-58 in the paint. Their offense must do better shooting from the field and LeBron needs to start sinking the rock. He was 8 for 42 from the field in the first two games in Boston.
The Celtics are deadly at home, they are 5-0 SU at home in the playoffs where they average 94 PPG. They are 4-1 ATS at home. Despite their great home record they still need to work hard. Technically they could win a Championship without ever winning on the road, but no team has ever done that. "I'm not even thinking about a Game 7. That's definitely the idea: Get a win (Wednesday) night and try to close it out in Game 6," Pierce said. "We definitely have to play well (in Game 5), because we haven't been playing well on the road.”You kind of want to treat it like a Game 7, because you can't count on winning Game 6." Paul Pierce leads the Celtics averaging 19 PPG while Kevin Garnetts pulls down an average 9 RPG.
Recent Trends to Consider
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
- Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
- Celtics are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Boston.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
GAME: Cleveland Cavaliers (51-41) at Boston Celtics (72-21)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 14 - 8:00 PM EST
LINE: BetUS.com TOTAL: 176
PICK: Cleveland +9
The Bottom Line: I think the Cavs can pull of the spread if LeBron gets his field goal percentage up. He hasn’t had the greatest games in Boston but he will come out strong tonight. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at BetUS.com and recieve a 10% sign-up bonus on your initial deposit.
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