Posts Tagged ‘Boston Celtics’

May 1st, 2011 By Louie - Cappersinfo Admin

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Round two of the NBA playoffs begin today with the Boston-Miami series and the Memphis-Oklahoma City series getting underway. The first round has been filled with upsets and underdogs. San Antonio knocked off by 8th seed Memphis has to be one of the larger upsets in NBA playoff history. Atlanta revenging last year’s record sweep by Orlando was another first round surprise. 8-3 NBA 1st round record, let’s start off the 2nd round in similar winning fashion.

NBA Matchup: Boston Celtics at Miami Heat
Game Date/Time: Sunday, May 1, 3:30 ET
Location: American Airlines Arena- Miami, FL

NBA Odds: Miami -5
Over/Under Odds: 182

Game Analysis: The second round begins and we can’t ask for a better match up with Miami and Boston facing off to see who represents the east in the conference finals. Boston held a 3-1 regular season lead over Miami although they were soundly beaten in their most recent contest a game that helped Miami secure the home court advantage for this series. This series figures to be an instant classic, with both teams not only capable of winning against the current opponent but also capable of winning the NBA championship. Miami is a 5 point favorite in game 1 with the total set at 182. I think the key to this series is how well Boston plays on the road, which this year has been a real strength of theirs. The Celtics appeared to play much better against the Knicks once went to the Garden in New York. Don’t get me wrong they play excellent at home, but they really seem to focus on the road which in a playoff series is a real asset. 5 points is just too many to be giving Boston in game 1, and I have to like getting that many points in this spot a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Boston won this game. I wasn’t impressed with Miami from what I saw of them against Philadelphia. LeBron did not look like the LeBron I am used to seeing in the playoffs. Against a better opponent like Boston if his shaky play continues it is the end for Miami in this year’s playoffs. Look for Rondo to set the tone in game 1 with a big game shooting and distributing. Rondo is the key to the series due to Miami’s lack of a true point guard, and if he can have a big series especially scoring it really puts tremendous pressure on Miami’s big 3 of James, Wade and Bosh. Look for Boston to try to run off missed shots and score as much as they can in the transition game. That has been their profile this year on the road which really makes the total a tough call at 182. Take Boston +5 for round two’s first pick, and look for a close game and a very close series.

Free NBA Playoff Picks: Boston Celtics +5

 
April 29th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and they are going to really be going at it for what could be an epic second round series in NBA betting action.

How the Celtics Can Win This Series
Boston badly needs to be able to shore up its defense in this series better than it was in Games 1 and 2 against the New York Knicks. However, Head Coach Doc Rivers has a veteran team which really knows how to keep the energy turned up when push really comes to shove. The ‘D’ allowed just 89 points in Game 4 against New York, but this was a significantly better game than the stats really suggest.

It would really help if someone is able to step up to help out the veteran players for Boston. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Garnett all had absolutely remarkable series again the Knicks. Pierce was good for 22.2 points per game in the first round, while Allen was just behind at 22.0 points per game. The man that really made the offense go was Rondo at 19.0 points, 12.0 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game. Garnett averaged a double-double as well at 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Glen Davis and Jeff Green only contributed a dozen points between them on average. Their contributions weren’t needed against New York, but you can bet that they will have to be against the Heat.

The big question is whether there is going to be a big man that can help out in the paint. KG can only do so much, and Big Baby Davis just isn’t quite there. Jermaine O’Neal only averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 boards per game, and Nenad Krstic really didn’t make any contributions against the Knicks either.

How the Heat Can Win This Series
Miami might have needed five games to take care of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, but we tend to believe that this was a better series for its long term health in the playoffs than the short series was for the Celtics. Again, defense is going to be key, as the Heat really didn’t play all that well on this side of the ball at all times against Boston this year.

The Heat are also going to have to get over their own problems of playing against teams that were legitimate contenders to beat the NBA Finals odds. They really didn’t play well against teams like Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and the likes on this season.

Just like Boston though, the Heat are really struggling trying to get production outside of their biggest scorers. Of course, there isn’t a much more talented trio in the league than LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The three combined for over 65 points, 28 boards, and over 12 assists per game. James Jones and Mario Chalmers both averaged right around seven points per game, while Joel Anthony and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had decent contributions as rebounders and blocked shot artists.

The Last Word – Home court advantage is going to be absolutely key in this series. We tend to believe that both teams can steal one game on the road, but when push comes to shove, Rivers and company are really going to kick themselves for giving up in those last few games of the season when they could have earned Game 7 at home. The Heat will just barely live to tell about a series with the defending conference champs. NBA Playoffs Picks: Heat in 7

 
April 16th, 2011 By Andy "The Raven" Frank (Cappersinfo Contributor)

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Matchup: New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Date: Sunday, April 17th, 7:05 ET
Location: The TD Garden

NBA Odds: Boston -6
Over/Under Odds: 197

Game Analysis:  The rivalry that exists between the cities of Boston and New York is one that few outsiders really understand.  If it’s not the Yankees and Red Sox doing battle or the Bruins and the Rangers it’s the Knicks and the Celtics.  Boston and New York are the two largest cities in the Northeast and are constantly pitted against each other in sporting events.  Their fans are known for their enthusiasm to say the least and this year an old playoff rivalry is renewed.  The rivalry between the Knicks and the Celtics goes back a long time and this year’s renewal is somewhat of a surprise.  The Knicks made some big moves in the off season acquiring Amare Stoudamire and improving their team.  Right before the trade deadline they made another huge move getting Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in a big three team trade.  Unfortunately the results have been mixed since the trade.  The Knicks offense is something they have gotten going since the trade with the obvious double threat of Carmelo and Stoudamire it gives New York two very good scoring options and difficult match ups for the opposition.  The Knicks have had their issues on defense this year and especially since the trade.  Against a good team like Boston that will lead to plenty of open jumpers and easy baskets.  If you leave Ray Allan open he will kill you and he should have a field day against the Knicks.  Boston relies on their defense but is not averse to getting into the open floor if the opportunity presents itself.  Against the Knicks there are many open floor opportunities and that should help keep the score of this game well above 100 for both teams.  This total could be eclipsed early in the 4th quarter if New York tries to run which I suspect they will.  Due to the Celtics defensive reputation the line is set a relative low number 197.  However I know they will take advantage of the Knicks lack of defense and put up a nice score in this game.  Whether they cover the 6 points is questionable although I’d lean to yes, what is not questionable is that this game should go way over the posted total of 197. 

Free NBA Playoff Picks: OVER 197

Matchup: Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: Saturday, April 17th, 9:305 ET
Location: Oklahoma City Arena

NBA Odds : Oklahoma City -5.5
Over/Under Odds: 200

Game Analysis:  Perhaps the best of all 8 first round playoff match ups is this Oklahoma City-Denver series.  Oklahoma City is obviously a young and talented team that got a lot of much needed playoff experience last year and made a key move before the trade deadline getting defensive presence Kendrick Perkins.  They are lead by perennial NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant and the combo of Durant and Westbrook may be the best young combo in the NBA.  The Thunder will host Denver who made quite a run after trading away their top scorer Carmelo Anthony.  After trading Carmelo it appeared two things happened in Denver, first off they started to share the ball more and that made their offense actually more versatile.  Second, for the first time since I can remember the Nuggets actually started playing defense. That combination sparked them to a #5 seed and a real chance in this series to come away with the win.  The reason I feel Denver not only has a great chance in game 1 but also a great chance to win the series is that although Oklahoma City got the experience of playoff basketball last year and excelled especially giving the Lakers a scare this year they have to deal with the added pressure of expectations.  Last year was all good for the Thunder as no one expected anything from them so what we got we were surprised to see.  This year is a different story all together; Thunder fans and the media in general are expecting a rematch with the Lakers.  Where there was no pressure at all last year there is tremendous pressure this year.  How this young team reacts to this pressure is the key to their playoff fate this year.  I think in game 1 we will see some of that pressure surface and the Thunder will struggle to win the game.  Denver went 1-3 against Oklahoma City this year and just played them April 8th losing 104-89 on the very same court they will play on Sunday.  Sunday should be a different outcome with Denver not only covering but very likely winning the game.

Free NBA Playoff Selection:  Denver Nuggets +5.5

 
March 5th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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It’s another big time Sunday for NBA betting battles, and our expert NBA handicappers offer up their free basketball picks for the biggest game on a huge slate of clashes!

NBA Matchup: Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 1:00 ET
Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
NBA Odds: Miami -5
Over/Under (Total): 188


The Heat are in bad shape right now, as they have been outscored by a whopping 51 points in their last three halves of basketball. Needless to say, regardless of who you’re playing, that’s not going to get the job done. Miami has been wildly inconsistent this season at home, going just 11-18 ATS over the course of its 29 games played here in South Beach. However, this is the back end of a brutal road trip for the Bulls after beating the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center on Friday night. Sure, Chicago has an incredibly deep team, but Miami just matches up particularly well against this team for whatever reason. Go with LeBron, D-Wade, and company to take care of the NBA odds in this one, as the good run of play for the Bulls will go by the boards. NBA Free Pick: Miami Heat

NBA Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers @ San Antonio Spurs
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
NBA Odds: San Antonio -2.5
Over/Under (Total): 191


If the Spurs were out to make a big time statement on Friday night, that’s exactly what they did when they obliterated the Miami Heat by a whopping 30 points at home. The defense was just locked in, and the lack of depth on the Heat just wasn’t able to keep up with the run and gun style of offense that Head Coach Gregg Popovich is now bringing to the table. Will it keep up against the Lakers? Kobe Bryant and company had better hope not, especially if Derek Fisher is going to be held out of the fold with an elbow injury. There is just so little respect for the Spurs this season, and this is really no exception. Sure, Los Angeles is good, but the time is really going to have to come that the oddsmakers realize that the Spurs really are the best team in the Western Conference, and potentially in the whole NBA. Tony Parker will be back at full strength in this one after getting his feet wet against Miami, and he should help lead this team to a ‘W’ on Sunday. Free NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs

NBA Matchup: New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 6:30 ET
Location: Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA
NBA Odds: OTB
Over/Under (Total): OTB


Neither the Hawks nor the Knicks really thrill us right now, but health could really be a key factor in this one. We know that Chauncey Billups has been out of the lineup for these last two games with a thigh injury, but he is likely to be back to join the team in the Peach State for this NBA betting affair. However, the Hawks are likely going to be without Josh Smith. It is clear which team made the right moves at the trade deadline and which one probably didn’t, though Kirk Hinrich finally had his first big game with the Hawks in the loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. The truth of the matter though, is that the combination of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Billups could easily combine for 75, or even more points in this one, and if that’s what happens, there isn’t a heck of a lot that the rest of this team is going to have to do to make for great NBA picks in this one. Expert NBA Pick: New York Knicks

NBA Matchup: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 7:00 ET
Location: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK
NBA Odds: Oklahoma City -5.5
Over/Under (Total): 212


This game could be significantly closer than the expert NBA handicappers really think. The Suns have been playing great ball of late, and they really probably found a diamond in the rough when they brought in Aaron Brooks to help out as a scorer. It’d be great if Vince Carter would play in this one, and the possibility is still there, but even if he doesn’t, we still tend to believe that Phoenix is the right play. It really just feels like the Thunder are merely trying to hang on until Kendrick Perkins gets into this lineup for the first time, as the truth of the matter is that the only differences between this team now and the one from a few weeks ago is that Nazr Mohammed is in, and both Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green are out. Not exactly a great deal quite yet, and it won’t look all that great on Sunday either. Free Basketball Pick: Phoenix Suns

NBA Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks
Date: Sunday, March 6th, 9:00 ET
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
NBA Odds: Boston -7.5
Over/Under (Total): 182.5


We’ve been talking a lot about injuries in this piece, but we know that there isn’t a team that we feel worse for this season than this one. The Bucks are just all over the board right now, as there aren’t any players that have been in the fold for even 59 of the 60 games this season. Still, grabbing that last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference isn’t totally out of the question, making this one a potential playoff preview. However, Jeff Green has really arrived at this point, and his 21 point effort off of the bench on Friday proved that. The C’s are a dangerous club, and even though they really haven’t turned up the defensive intensity in a few games, they are scoring a ton of late. The Bucks don’t have that inside banger to make up for the lack of bigs that Boston has, and as a result, the visitors should triumph in a big time way in the Bradley Center on Sunday. Free NBA Pick: Boston Celtics

 
February 23rd, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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If it's a Thursday night, that means that it's time for NBA betting action once again! This week, in the final two duels before the NBA Trade Deadline, we make our free basketball picks on the clashes between the Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets.

NBA Matchup: Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Date: Thursday, February 24th, 8:00 ET
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
NBA Odds: Miami -1
Over/Under (Total): 192

Injuries (or lack thereof) will be playing a key role in this NBA betting battle on Thursday. Joakim Noah should be back in the lineup on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors, meaning that this should be the second straight game that he is sharing a lineup with Carlos Boozer, assuming that there are no setbacks on Wednesday night or unexpected trades between now and the 3:00 ET trade deadline. Of course, the Bulls would love to get another game out of Derrick Rose like they got just before the All Star Break, as he put up 42 points on 18-of-28 shooting, while both Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer went absolutely bananas. What we have to remember about Chicago though, is that there is still a huge interest in Courtney Lee, and if a deal gets done, it will likely shorten the bench quite a bit. Miami will certainly be without Mike Miller, who is dealing with an eye injury, though the prospects are there for him to be traded before Thursday's deadline as well. Still, we're talking about LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, who combined for a whopping 76 points in Miami's last victory before the All Star break. These two teams have combined to win seven games in a row between them, but the Bulls are just doing better right now than the Heat are. Chicago has a win here already this season, a 99-96 triumph on January 15th, and it would love to make a statement in this potential playoff tussle against one of the best teams in the East.NBA Free Pick: Chicago Bulls +1

NBA Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Denver Nuggets
Date: Thursday, February 24th, 10:30 ET
Location: Pepsi Arena, Denver, CO
NBA Odds: Boston -3
Over/Under (Total): 204

This is definitely going to be a new look for the Nuggets on Thursday night, as they will be debuting Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, and Wilson Chandler, their new acquisitions in place of the departed Carmelo Anthony . The team did alright even though it was really crippled without any of these players on Tuesday night, coming up with a big win, albeit against the Sacramento Kings. There is a real question about how these pieces to the puzzle are going to gel in Denver, but we tend to believe that transitioning over from the Knicks' up tempo system to this one won't be all that bad. Meanwhile, there is indeed a second team in this game, and it happens to be one of the best teams in the entire league. Boston smacked the Golden State Warriors 115-93 in the first game of the second half of the season, and it hopes that this road trip is one that goes as smoothly throughout as this first battle in Oakland did. Of course, when you get 23 out of Paul Pierce, 24 from Kevin Garnett, 18 from Ray Allen, and 19 from Rajon Rondo, you're going to win a heck of a lot of games. These four make up a cohesive package for certain, but if you're Head Coach George Karl for the Nuggs, this is the game that you can make your big time statement in. Many are just writing Denver out of the postseason right now thanks to this trade, but we're not so sure that that's the case. The Nuggets just might figure out how to pull off the upset in this one. Free NBA Pick: Denver Nuggets +3

 
June 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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All 82 games of the NBA betting regular season and four full rounds of the playoffs all come down to this one game on Thursday night at Staples Center, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics square off in a winner take all Game 7 to determine the NBA champions.

Boston Celtics (+7) @ Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
9:00 ET, Staples Center

Boston Notes: By all accounts, Game 6 was nothing but a total dud for the Celtics. This hasn't been the first time that they have gotten blown out of the water in a game in the playoffs, but it had better be the last time, or the season all goes for naught. The bench, which has been key for HC Doc Rivers in this series, was downright miserable on Tuesday night. The seven reserves that Rivers called upon shot a combined 4/26 from the floor (15.4%) and only scored 13 total points in spite of the fact that five players saw at least 15 minutes of court time. Those players are probably going to be called on quite a bit to help fill the minutes that will most likely be lost by the absence of C Kendrick Perkins. Perkins was out of the game after just seven minutes on Tuesday with a knee injury, and he is doubtful to play in Game 7. G Ray Allen had an encouraging second to last game of the season, scoring 19 points. Even though he and his three "Big Four" teammates all scored at least ten points, the efforts by all four are going to have to step up, especially offensively, for the C's to be called champions on Thursday night.

Los Angeles Notes: The Lakers have done their job and have narrowed the NBA Finals down to just this one game in front of their hometown fans. Game 6 wasn't a particularly strong offensive one for LA, as it shot just 41.8 percent from the field. However, holding Boston to 33.3 percent was all the more impressive. Both G Kobe Bryant and F Pau Gasol had double-doubles in the victory. Bryant shot 9/19 from the floor and scored 26 points to go with 11 boards. Gasol nearly had a triple-double, as he totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists to go with his three blocks. Defensively, Gasol really has made the difference in this series. Speaking of defense, F Ron Artest has done a fantastic job in the first six games of the NBA Finals as well. However, his real difference making moment came in Game 6 when he nailed three triples and scored a personal series high with 15 points. F Lamar Odom came up two points short of a double-double as well, as he had eight points and ten boards.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 7

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+7
-7
187
Diamond Sportsbook
+7
-7
187.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+7
-7
187

Trends of Note: Six games up, and six games down for the team that has won the rebounding battle. After blowing Boston out on the glass 52-39 on Tuesday, the team winning the battle of the boards moved to 6-0 SU and ATS in this series. If the Celtics do win tonight SU, they would become the first team in NBA history to beat HC Phil Jackson in a seven game series in which his team won the first game of the best of seven (47-0). They would also become the first team in the history of the game to lose Game 3 and fall behind 2-1 in the NBA Finals in the 2-3-2 format and win the championship (10-0). Boston dropped to 12-5-1 ATS in its L/18 meetings with the Lakers overall. The Celtics have covered four straight games following a double digit defeat and are 7-1 ATS in their L/8 games following either an SU or ATS loss.

The Final Word: There really is no common logic for describing how the Celtics can win the NBA championship tonight after such a devastating setback in Game 6, but they are a bunch that has figured out how to overcome adversity every step of the way in these playoffs. We're going to back this bunch once again with the touchdown that is given to us, as we are expecting a nail-biting final game to the NBA betting campaign.

Prediction: Boston 99 – Los Angeles 98

 
June 15th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The last game of the NBA betting campaign could be tonight in Tinseltown, as the Los Angeles Lakers try to save their season in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Boston Celtics (+6.5) @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
9:00 ET, Staples Center

Boston Notes: If the Celtics are to close out the series tonight, they are once again going to need to put together the complete team effort. HC Doc Rivers really hasn't had any true "superstars" in this series, but at any time, he could call on any number of about ten players to hit big shots or make crucial plays for him. Defense for the C's was a real staple at home, and it was that unit that carried the club to back to back wins to turn a 2-1 series deficit into the 3-2 series lead that they currently hold. In Game 5, Boston pretty much allowed G Kobe Bryant to do whatever he wanted to do, but the rest of the men in purple and gold were totally shut down. The team only shot 39.7 percent from the field, which include Bryant shooting 13/27. F Kevin Garnett had his second very strong game out of his L/3, recording his first double-double in this series with 18 points and ten rebounds. F Paul Pierce nailed 12 shots, including a pair of triples, scoring 27 to lead the way. It was another questionable game for G Ray Allen, who went 0/4 from downtown, but he still scored 12 points to be a key contributor.

Los Angeles Notes: As stated before, Bryant scored his 38 points in Game 5, but the rest of the team was totally missing in action. We give C Andrew Bynum a bit of a free pass, as he only scored six points and had one rebound, because of his injured knee, which has already been drained twice of fluids in these playoffs. However, F Pau Gasol shouldn't be held to 12 points and 12 rebounds in the NBA Finals in 39 minutes worth of court time. The Spaniard knows that he should be putting in at least 20 on the average night to give Bryant a hand, because there really isn't anyone else on the squad that feels like they can be counted upon on a consistent basis to help out offensively. The Lakers also shot themselves in the foot from the charity stripe in Game 5, going just 17/26. They outscored the C's at the line by eight points, but did so on 13 more attempts. The Lakers only had three fast break points for the entire game, and they were outdone in the paint 46-32. For the third time in this series, they also lost the rebounding battle, though a -1 margin shouldn't be considered alarming.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 6

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+6.5
-6.5
187.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+6.5
-6.5
187.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+6.5
-6.5
188

Trends of Note: We've talked about this every step of the way, but the team winning the rebounding battle is still perfect both SU and ATS in this series at 5-0. If the Celtics do win tonight SU, they would become the first team in NBA history to beat HC Phil Jackson in a seven game series in which his team won the first game of the best of seven (47-0). They would also become the first team in the history of the game to lose Game 3 and fall behind 2-1 in the NBA Finals in the 2-3-2 format and win the championship (10-0). However, it is hard to ignore the fact that the Celtics are now 9-2 ATS in their 11 NBA Finals duels with the Lakers over the L/3 seasons, and even harder to overlook the 12-4-1 ATS they are in their L/17 meetings overall.

The Final Word: The series ends tonight. The Celtics are just playing better team ball right now, and what the Lakers have proven to themselves is that Bryant isn't like to win a game on his own with no help. Confidence cannot be riding high right now in Tinseltown, and unless Bryant proves us wrong, that he indeed can beat the Celtics all by his lonesome, we very much so expect to see the city of Boston celebrating its second championship in the L/3 years tonight over the Lakers.

Prediction: Boston 97 – Los Angeles 91

 
June 12th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Boston's TD Banknorth Garden will be the site of one final NBA Finals betting affair on Sunday night, as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers clash in Game 5 of the championship series. For the second time in this series, the C's fended off a potential two game series deficit when they stole a 96-89 win at home in Game 4 on Thursday.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics (-3)
Sunday, June 13th, 2010
8:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: This has become a very, very dangerous game for the Lakers. Losing Game 4 was a bit predictable after the Game 3 triumph, as there was probably a bit of a feeling of satisfaction knowing that this series was, at very worst, heading back to the Staples Center. C Andrew Bynum's injury concerns are once again present, as he had his knee drained yet again after not being able to play in the second half of Game 4. His partner in the paint, F Pau Gasol, once again had a respectable game for the defending champions, scoring 21 points and ripping down six boards. It should come as no surprise that G Kobe Bryant once again led the Lakers in scoring. He only shot 10/22 from the field, but he did connect on six three pointers and totaled 33 points. HC Phil Jackson probably wishes that his star would need fewer shots to score his points, and turning the ball over seven times is incredibly unacceptable. LA only shot 45.1 percent from the field, but the more embarrassing statistic was the fact that the team shot just 1/9 from beyond the arc if you discount Kobe's six triples.

Boston Notes: For the second time in this series, the Celtics have won the rebounding battle, but the key was the offensive glass for the hosts. Boston grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, which was eight more than the Lakers mustered. F Glen Davis had four of those o-boards. He was the real star of the game, scoring 18 points on 7/10 shooting in just 23 minutes of court time for the Celtics. Davis was one of six players that scored in double digits for HC Doc Rivers in what amounted to be an incredibly well rounded effort. It wasn't a fantastic game for F Paul Pierce, though Rivers will surely take 19 points, six boards, and five assists from "The Truth" on a regular basis. G Ray Allen rebounded from his woeful 0/13 shooting night by scoring 12 points and hauling in five rebounds. G Rajon Rondo really needs to get himself together in this series, as he only averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game, but a lot of those numbers really came about from his triple-double in Game 2. Rivers is going to hope that he can count on his bench to come up in a big way yet again, as Boston outscored LA's bench 36-18 in Game 4.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3
-3
187.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3
-3
188
BetUS Sportsbook
+3
-3
187.5

Trends of Note: These two teams have split the SU and ATS proceedings against the NBA Finals odds in the first four games of this series. The team winning the rebounding battle has gone a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS. Los Angeles is now just 4-11-1 ATS in its L/16 clashes with the Celtics. Boston is 8-3 ATS in its L/11 home games and 9-4 ATS in its L/13 NBA betting affairs overall. When they are on at least two days worth of rest, the Celtics are a perfect 5-0, with all five games coming in these playoffs. They're also 4-1 ATS in their L/5 games as favorites of less than five points.

The Final Word: Once again, there is far more pressure on the Celtics in this game than there is on the Lakers. Boston has no chance of winning the NBA Finals from down 3-2 going back to Tinseltown in all likelihood, so this becomes a game of paramount importance. The Celtics are simply playing better all-around ball right now, and until Bynum or someone off of the LA bench proves that they can step up and make a difference in this series, we're going to continue to back the C's.

Prediction: Boston 100 – Los Angeles 90

 
June 9th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The fourth game of NBA Finals betting action takes place on Thursday night at TD Banknorth Garden, and here at Cappers Info, we're dissecting the odds and picking out your free picks for the game.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics (-3.5)
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
9:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: Game 3 probably wasn't the most impressive game that the Lakers have played all season, but it certainly was an effective one that moved them to within two steps of becoming NBA champions for the second straight season. G Kobe Bryant probably took far too many shots for his own good (29 to be exact), but scoring 29 points was really a huge difference maker in the triumph. The rebounding battle swung back to the way it was in Game 1 for Los Angeles, as it won the bash on the boards 43-35. To no one's surprise, the team that has had the more rebounds in each game in this series is both 3-0 SU and ATS. C Andrew Bynum had his second straight quality start in this series, scoring nine points and bringing in ten rebounds. Even though many would expect him to be a bigger point producer, grabbing five offensive rebounds setup a number of opportunities that otherwise wouldn't have happened, which makes him as valuable of an asset as there was on the court in purple and gold.

Boston Notes: For all of the right reasons, G Ray Allen was the man that was highly discussed following Game 2 of the NBA Finals, as he was coming off of a game in which he nailed an NBA Finals record eight three pointers and pretty much single handedly carried the team to victory in Tinseltown. However, Ray Allen gives, and Ray Allen takes away. Allen shot 0/13 from the floor, including a woeful 0/8 from beyond the arc in the Game 3 loss, proving that he can be just as deadly to his own team as he can to his opponents. F Paul Pierce really needs to get his act in gear and take over as a leader of this team in order for it to survive. He has only averaged 16.3 points per game in this series, and though those numbers are respectable, he has yet to look like the superstar that the Celtics so desperately need on the court. G Rajon Rondo had an off night on Tuesday as well, scoring just 11 points. The best game in weeks by F Kevin Garnett was wasted. KG put up 25 points, and at times, he was the only offensive threat that was keeping Boston alive in the game.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3.5
-3.5
190.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3.5
-3.5
190.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+3.5
-3.5
190.5

Trends of Note: Since starting up the 2-3-2 format in the NBA Finals, there have been ten teams take a 2-1 series lead in Game 3. That team that took the 2-1 series edge is a perfect 10-0 in terms of winning the NBA Championship. Obviously, the Celtics are still staring in the face the prospects of that 47-0 mark by HC Phil Jackson in series in which his team took a 1-0 series lead. Still, Boston backers must rest assured that their team is a solid 10-4-1 ATS in their L/15 NBA betting battles with these Lakers. However, since Game 6 of the NBA Finals two years ago, LA is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at the Garden.

The Final Word: We knew that Allen wasn't going to have the game of his life once again in Game 3, but going 0/13 is a tad bit ridiculous. If the former Connecticut Huskies guard even remotely looked halfway decent on Tuesday, the story would've been significantly different than the seven point defeat. Motivation and desperation should be the keys to victory for HC Doc Rivers' crew on Thursday night, as the Celtics should storm back and level this series for the second time.

Prediction: Boston 96 – Los Angeles 88

 
June 8th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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NBA Finals betting action continues on Tuesday night, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics get ready to have at it in Game 3 of this best of seven set.

Los Angeles Lakers (+3) @ Boston Celtics
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
9:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: It was most certainly a tale of two different games for the Lakers in Tinseltown last week. The NBA Finals odds were stacked in LA's favor in Game 1, as the hosts dominated the glass and watched G Kobe Bryant notch his fifth straight 30+ point game in the postseason in an easy victory to take a 1-0 series lead. That series lead became critical, as HC Phil Jackson has never lost a series in which he has opened with a victory. Game 2 looked totally different, though. Though F Pau Gasol had his second straight dominating game, Boston simply shot the Lakers out of their own building and evened this series at a game apiece. Gasol is averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, and 3.0 assists per game in the NBA Finals, which is by far the most impressive performance from a player in purple and gold. If there was one encouraging sign in Game 2 for Lakers fans, it was that C Andrew Bynum scored 21 points in what easily amounted to be his best game of the L/2 rounds of the playoffs. Bryant only scored 21 points in Game 2 and must improve upon that for Los Angeles to get back in front in this series.

Boston Notes: G Ray Allen took it upon himself to make sure that the Celtics were getting back to Beantown all square in the NBA Finals. Just three days after only scoring 12 points and not logging a single other statistic, Allen was all over the court, nailing an NBA Finals record eight three pointers and outdueling every single sharpshooter that the Lakers have to offer. The former Connecticut Huskies star finished the night with 32 points to lead all scorers. G Rajon Rondo had his say as well. He had a triple-double through just three quarters of play and ultimately ended up with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and ten assists in the best game of his NBA Finals career in Game 2. Fs Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have really yet to truly get into this series, as the two only combined to shoot 4/16 and score 16 points in Game 2. HC Doc Rivers can't be thrilled about the fact that his team has yet to top 43.3 percent shooting from the field in this series. However, he can rest easily that the C's outrebounded the Lakers 44-39 in Game 2, just three days after getting their clocks cleaned 42-31 in that department.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5

Trends of Note: Including the Game 1 dud, the Celtics have now covered seven out of eight NBA Finals betting affairs against Los Angeles dating back to the '08 season. The Lakers are just 3-10-1 ATS in their L/14 against Boston overall. The C's are 6-2 ATS in their L/8 against the NBA playoff odds as favorites and are 8-3 ATS in their L/11 games overall. Los Angeles is only 5-14 ATS in its L/19 games playing on one day of rest, but Boston just snapped a five game ATS losing streak against the Western Conference in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

The Final Word: Does anyone else feel like it is now Kobe Time? Bryant and the Lakers know that they played perhaps their worst game possible, particularly on the outside on Sunday night. Playing well in the post once again will eventually yield a 'W' in Boston at some point, and we tend to believe that that victory is coming on Tuesday night. Look for Bryant to have another 30+ point showing as he carries the Lakers to victory.

Prediction: Los Angeles 100 – Boston 94