Posted on
3/10/2008 2:12:14 PM
NBA Betting – Red-Hot Sixers Play Host To Equally Incendiary Celtics
By Eric Williams
While tonight’s matchup between the Boston Celtics, (49-12 SU, 36-23-2 ATS, 29-31-1 O/U), and Philadelphia 76ers, (29-33 SU, 33-26-3 ATS, 28-33-1 O/U), doesn’t necessarily rank with the multitude of memorable clashes that these two franchises have regularly put on over the course of a four-decade rivalry that was at one time considered the greatest rivalry in all of sports, this pairing between two of the hottest teams in the league at the moment, could be more entertaining than originally anticipated.
While the Celtics have reenergized their franchise and currently own the NBA’s best record in the BetUS.com Sportsbook, by acquiring future Hall of Fame players in power forward Kevin Garnett and shooting guard Ray Allen, to go along with their own future Hall of Fame inductee in small forward Paul Pierce, the Sixers have been mired in mediocrity the past several seasons – until they made a change in the front office.
After firing former general manager Billy King and replacing him with former New Jersey Nets general manager Ed Stefanski, the Sixers have taken off, as Stefanski has encouraged, (ordered?) head coach Maurice Cheeks to go to a more up-tempo open court style of play as the team has a slew of athletic swingmen and perimeter players.
While the Celtics come into tonight’s contest riding an eight-game winning streak that includes a 119-89 blowout of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Philadelphia has been nearly as hot, winning 12 of their last 15 games overall and four straight coming into tonight’s affair, including an emphatic 119-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on Sunday.
While the Celtics have excelled on defense all season and have won their last three road games by an average of nearly 24 points per contest, the Sixers have been burning up the nets on offense recently.
Philadelphia has won their last eight home games by an average of 18.9 points and have outscored their opponents by nearly 28 points per game in their last three contests.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my NBA Betting Free Picks.
The Celtics are 9-2 ATS in their last eleven Monday games.
The Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a road favorite.
The 76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a home underdog.
The 76ers are 10-1 ATS in their last eleven home games.
The Over is 4-1 in Celtics last five road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
The Over is 8-0 in 76ers last eight games playing on zero days rest.
The Celtics are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Philadelphia.
The Celtics are 8-2-1 ATS in the last eleven meetings.
Analysis: While I don’t doubt the fact that the Celtics will win this game, I am a bit leery of the Sixers’ recent winning ways and think they could actually put up a real fight against their Atlantic division rivals. I may be going against my better judgment, but that small betting voice in the back of my brain keeps whispering, “Sixers, Sixers,” so tonight’s pick in this contest is Philadelphia. Take Philly to cover the spread in a losing effort while keeping this game closer than expected.
NBA Free Picks: Sixers +6 Points/Over 195 Total Points
07:05 PM EST NBA Betting Odds
Boston Celtics -6 -110
Philadelphia 76ers +6 -110
Over 195 -110
Under 195 -110
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