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posted June 5, 2008 at 15:37 in NBA Free Picks

While a multitude of NBA basketball betting fans, analysts, sports wagering gamblers and even players themselves, have talked a lot about the historical aspect of the 2007-08 NBA Finals betting matchup between the Boston Celtics, (78-24 SU, 60-40-2 ATS, 45-56-1 O/U) and Los Angeles Lakers, (69-28 SU, 57-37-2 ATS, 45-51 O/U), the fact of the matter for BetUS online sports betting gamblers who wager on NBA basketball is that nothing that happened between these franchises in the past will have any bearing on the outcome of this NBA betting series whatsoever.

While the historical story lines make for interesting reading – and plenty of nostalgic moments - this series – all subplots aside – will be won or lost by the current players who take the floor for their respective teams, starting tonight.

"I think this is a great thing not just for the NBA, but just for sports in general," Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. "I think it's a great thing when the best gets a chance to compete against the best, and whoever comes out on top, they earned it. I think both teams should be proud to be here."

Online NBA hoops bettors will be treated to a matchup featuring the best defensive team in the league in the Celtics and one of the best offensive teams in the league this season – and best this postseason – in the Lakers.

While the Lakers are favored to win the series handily over the Celtics in the BetUS Sportsbook, Boston is favored in this contest -and should be favored in this series because of their season-long penchant for spectacular defense if you ask me.

While the Lakers have the clear advantage in championship game experience with Bryant and point guard Derek Fisher having won three titles with the Lakers to start this millennium, Celtics’ Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett, said that experience doesn’t mean as much as people may make it seem.

"At the end of the day, it's just basketball," Garnett said. "You play the way you know. You bring what you bring, play with your heart and soul and play together, play as a team."

While a lot of the national focus on the series has centered around Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce’s pursuit of their first NBA Championship – and Bryant’s first without behemoth center Shaquille O’Neal - Garnett said those intangibles also don’t mean very much at all in the long run.

"From my experience, you have to execute," Garnett said. "You can want it worse than anybody on the planet, but if you don't have a group of guys or a team that executes well enough to win, you're not going to win."

The Lakers odds are 12-3 straight up, (SU) this postseason and have recorded the second-best ATS record in the playoffs, going 10-4-1 against the spread.

The Celtics odds are 12-8 straight up, (SU) this postseason but just 8-12 against the spread, (ATS) during the postseason.

Here is a look at tonight’s key online sports wagering trends followed by my NBA Betting Free Picks:

The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games playing on three or more days rest.

The Lakers are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.

The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.

The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. Western Conference.

The Under is 5-0 in Lakers last five games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600.

The Over is 4-1 in Celtics last five home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Boston.

The Lakers are 7-3 ATS in the last ten meetings.

Analysis: While I think the Lakers are going to cover the spread for the BetUS online NBA betting community more often than not, I’ve picked the Celtics to win this series and really like them to win Game 1, fueled by simple raw emotion and a raucous home crowd that has helped the Celtics drop just one game at home this postseason. I say, online sports bettors who love to wager on the NBA, should take the Boston Celtics to win outright and cover the spread in Game 1 tonight. I also like the Under a lot in this contest as Boston has turned every game this postseason, (except their first round road contests against the Atlanta Hawks) into a slow-down, grind-it-out affair.

MLB Free Picks: Celtics – 2½ Points/Under 192 Total Points

09:05 PM EST NBA Odds

LA Lakers +2½ -110

Boston Celtics -2½ -110

Over 192 -110

Under 192 -110

NBA Championship Game #1

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