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NBA Playoff Prediction: Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
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Written by Scott Burgess
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Friday, 16 May 2008
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 It’s do or die time for the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, but with home court almost guaranteeing a win, it looks like we’re heading for a Game 7 in Boston. The Celtics lead the Eastern Conference Semi-finals 3-2. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have the Cavs as 2 ½-point favs over the Celtics with the over/under set at 179. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com
The Cavs are 4-1 SU at home in the playoffs where they’ve averaged 98 PPG. Their only home loss was 87-88 to Washington in Game 5 of the Eastern Quarter Finals. Overall in the playoffs they are 6-5 SU. The last game in Boston saw the Cavs dominate at the start of the game, by the half they had a 46-43 lead. Then they went downhill. They squandered a 14-point lead in a hail of missed free throws and they were entangled by the Celtics' stellar defense. LeBron James had a much better game with 35pts. He was 12 for 25 from the field, 0 for 5 from beyond the arch and 11 for 13 from the line. Guard Daniel Gibson, one of the club's best perimeter shooters and a star in last year's postseason, separated his left shoulder going for a loose ball early in the fourth quarter of Game 5 and will need a minimum of one week to recover. He was averaging 10 PPG, 2 APG and 2 RPG for his team. As a team they need to make more field goals and their 3-point shooters must sink more to keep up with the Celtics offense.
The Celtics are 0-5 SU on the road in the playoffs where they’ve averaged 89 PPG. Technically with home court advantage throughout the playoffs they could win the Championship without ever winning a road game, but no team has ever done this. Both road games in Cleveland haven’t even been close, the Cavs won by 10 points or more in each game. Still it is the Celtics and if Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett catches fire, there could be trouble for the Cavs. Garnett is averaging 20 PPG, 9 RPG while Paul Pierce is good for 17 PPG. A big reason for their success has been the great play of Rajon Rondo who scored 20pts with 13 assists, two steals, two blocks and just one turnover in 42 minutes. Late in the first half, the Cavaliers left Rondo, not known for his outside shot, wide open and he knocked down two 3-pointers as the Celtics closed with a 14-3 run that gave them momentum they would carry into the second half. They’ll look to do the same again tonight.
Recent Trends to Consider
- Celtics are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog.
- Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
- Cavaliers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
- Underdog is 8-3-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
- Celtics are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Cleveland.
- Celtics are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
GAME: Boston Celtics (73-21) at Cleveland Cavaliers (51-42)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 16 - 8:00 PM EST
LINE: SBGglobal.com TOTAL: 179
PICK: Cleveland -2 ½
The Bottom Line: LeBron and his teammates aren’t going to let the Celtics celebrate on their court. They will come out strong and carry that momentum throughout the game. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com
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