posted February 27, 2008 at 15:45 in NBA Betting Trends

Cleveland Cavaliers (32-25) vs. Boston Celtics (43-12)

Wednesday, February 27th --- TD Banknorth Garden, Boston --- 7:30pm EST

NBA Betting Line: Boston -7.5

I came this close to titling this piece “The Kings Men Versus The Three Musketeers”. I feel like it has a nice/terrible ring to it, but I was also scared that some rabid Celtics betting maniac would go crazy on me for calling them the Three Musketeers. While I’m on the subject, why haven’t we come up with a fancy name for the Pierce-Allen-Garnett trio? Is GAP to obvious, and inappropriate since they don’t play in khakis? Somebody get on this please.

Tonight, the new-look Cavs will visit Boston in what is definitely the game to watch tonight. The last time these two teams met, KG sat on the sidelines and watched Lebron go postal in a 114-113 victory for the Cavs. Now he has a new batch of jesters and knights at his will, and this will be a preview of what we all hope will eventually be a seven-game showdown in the NBA playoffs.

The Cavs have had to adjust to chemistry issues, and trying enough time for Big Zydrunas Iglauskas to rest his weary (and awkwardly long) bones. The Big Z has been piling in minutes to allow for the newbies in Cleveland to adjust to the new playbook (the main play is still “everyone get out of Lebron’s way”). Cleveland has gone 8-3 ATS in 11 road games and are 4-1-1 ATS when playing Boston on the road. They are a road betting man’s best friend. Something about this line seems a little fishy to me.

Boston is a juggernaut at home, and there is no doubt that the Boston fans will be rabid to see the King get dethroned while he surveys the land. The Celts are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home, with the total going OVER in 6-of-8 home games. But that simply doesn’t negate the incredible play of Cleveland as of late. A buzzer beater deflated their three-game winning streak as they lost to Milwaukee last night. But if you think Lebron James is going to go silently in to the night and let Boston cruise to a 5+ point win, then you’ve got another thing coming. As in, you’ll lose your hard earned betting dollars.

I know the GAP trio (ok, it doesn’t work, that’s the last time I’ll use it) have won their last two games, and look to be adding Sam Cassell to the mix very, very soon. I told you that the Big Ugly would ask for a buyout after witnessing the Celtics first hand on Monday. Boston averages 100.4 points per game and is one of the stiffest defenses in the league, allowing just 90.5 against.

But this Cleveland team is now full of more scoring threats than Lebron alone. Big Z has been a tour de force for the past three seasons, but now he can play more aggressively with Ben Wallace backing him up. Joe Smith is a much more reliable scoring option in the low-post than the head case Drew Gooden every would be. Smith has averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in just two games with the Cavs. And with defenders collapsing the lane on Lebron, he know has a much better kick-out option in Wally’s World.

I’d advise strongly to bet on Cleveland with 5+ points against the Celtics anytime. There is no better way to make a statement than by taking down a monster like the Celtics in their own building. And I say that the Cavaliers show the Celtics that they are for real. I like the Celtics to win, but not by more than three points at the most.

NBA Free Pick: Cavaliers +7.5 (OVER)

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