posted May 14, 2008 at 13:08 in NBA Betting Trends
NBA Playoff Wagering – Eastern Conference Finals Preview
Despite the Boston Celtics, (6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS) apparent inability to win a playoff game on the road this postseason, I am still expecting the Celtics to win their second round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, (6-4, 7-3 ATS) and eventually advance to an Eastern Conference Finals showdown against the Detroit Pistons, (7-3 SU, 7-3 ATS) that I predicted long before the 2007-08 season ever got underway.
This NBA Betting article will give the BetUS basketball betting community a preview of the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals -and all the important wagering statistics that matter – while providing a brief breakdown on the possible matchups that should take place, though I’ll admit that the Cavaliers and superstar LeBron James are certainly not leaving the postseason without a fight against the Celtics.
The Celtics and Pistons faced each other three times during the regular season with the Celtics winning twice after dropping their initial meeting in a thriller at home, 87-85 on December 19th, failing to cover as eight-point favorites in the process.
The Pistons hosted Boston on at home on January 5th, losing 92-85, helping Boston to cover as two-point underdogs before falling to the Celtics for the second time, 90-78 on the road on March 5th failing to cover as four-point underdogs.
While the Celtics are featured in this article as the eventual opponent of the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, and I firmly believe that will be the case, it is possible the Cavaliers could upset Boston and advance to face the Pistons.
Bettors should note that Detroit and Cleveland met four times during the regular season with the Pistons winning three of the four matchups. Detroit averaged 87.7 points per game while limiting the Cavaliers to a scant 79.5 points per contest.
While the Pistons held Cavaliers superstar LeBron James to just 19.3 points per in the three contests he played in, none of the Pistons’ three best offensive players produced many points either, as Chauncey Billups scored an incredibly low 8.5 points per game, Richard Hamilton, just 12 points per game and Rasheed Wallace, a miniscule 9.0 points per contest.
Here is a look at each team’s regular season Against The Spread, (ATS) statistics and current postseason scoring averages:
Detroit Pistons, (66-26 SU, 52-39-1 ATS, 40-51-1 O/U)
Playoffs: Averaging 92.4 points per game while allowing 88.0 per contest.
Boston Celtics, (72-20 SU, 57-33-2 ATS, 41-50-1 O/U)
Playoffs: Averaging 94.3 points per game while allowing 86.3points per contest.
Cleveland Cavaliers, (50-41 SU, 43-48-0 ATS, 41-48-2)
Playoffs: Averaging 91.8 points per game while allowing 89.1 per contest.
Player matchups: The Celtics will have to contain Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups who averaged 23 points per game in the three contests. The Celtics did a relatively decent job in holding Richard Hamilton to 18 points per game and Rasheed Wallace, 16.0 points per game.
Boston’s ‘Big Three’ responded with Kevin Garnett putting up, 24.0 points per game, Ray Allen, 12.0 points and Paul Pierce, 15.0 in the three meetings.
Position matchups to watch,
Rajon Rondo/Cassell vs. Chauncey Billups/Lindsey Hunter/ Rodney Stuckey
Paul Pierce vs. Tayshaun Prince
Kevin Garnett vs. Rasheed Wallace
BetUS NBA Odds And Lines
Boston Celtics +140
Cleveland Cavaliers +2000
Detroit Pistons +800
Now, let me answer the question as to which team actually has the better shot of winning the NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics, should they get past the feisty Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, are my pick to reach the NBA Finals despite their clear lack of deep postseason experience when compared to Detroit’s.
While the Pistons have been perennial championship contenders for the better part of the last, near-decade, reaching the conference finals six consecutive years, the less experienced Celtics should be able to do more than hold their own because of one reason – their spectacular defense and the fact that they have home court advantage throughout the playoffs, although their inability to win on the road this postseason is, admittedly, very disturbing and a problem that could come back to bite them in the rear at some point.
Another factor working against the Pistons is point guard Chauncey Billups’ health, after injuring his right hamstring against the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of their second round series. If Billups, who had three excellent regular season games against the Celtics, is at less than full strength, the Celtics could have an even bigger advantage should these two teams meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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