Posted on
5/8/2008 1:05:30 PM
NBA Furious Free Picks 2008 – Celtics and Cavs Ready
By Tim Furious
Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37) vs. Boston Celtics (66-16)
Thursday, May 8th --- TD Banknorth Garden, Boston --- 7:00pm EST
Series: Bos 1-0
NBA Betting Line: Boston -8.5 (177.5)
LeBron James looked more like a plebian and less like a King in Game 1 when he dropped only 2-of-18 shots in a horrific performance that left Cleveland’s online betting fans cringing. Thankfully for their betting faithful, Boston was just as miserable. Paul Pierce did a fine job of defending LeBron, blocking his path to the lane, but was unable to rev his offensive motor. Ray Allen…well I’ll leave Ray Ray alone for now.
Boston took Game 1, but the fairly large spread was easily covered even without the scoring punch of LeBron. Now, the oddsmakers have dropped the O/U by a fairly large amount after the brutal output in Game 1. The combined total was 148 in that game, but there’s no way in hell that The King and the Boston Three Party phone in another game like that. I love the OVER in this game (yes, I loved it in the last game too but now I REALLY love it).
The thing about this series is that Cleveland actually plays very strong defense. They allow only 96.7 points against, and pull in 31.3 defensive boards as well. There’s no betting investor on the planet that is banking on the Celtics losing out on Pierce and Allen’s 35+ points per game again.
The key is, for the Cavs anyways, LeBron James pouring in his 30+ points as well. Cleveland averages a steady 96.4 points per game, but scoring in Boston – especially with an enraged Kevin Garnett – is virtually impossible. And with the Big Ticket roaming the lane, and Pierce doing a fine job of shoulder running LeBron, it’s going to be difficult for LeBron to drop those buckets.
The rest of Cleveland’s roster chipped in accordingly during Game 1, but counting on anyone other than Big Z is extremely difficult. Cleveland is 4-9 SU in their last 13 road games, while they are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in the “Garden” (I won’t take those quotations off of “Garden” for at least 5 years, and even then I’m not sure). That has to be favorable to those that love trends.
But I just don’t see Boston allowing this game to be close. LeBron is a one-man army, and unless Allen goes completely scoreless again, this line should be no problem for Boston. Again, take the UNDER as Boston sends this series to Cleveland with a two-game lead.
NBA Furious Free Pick: Boston -8.5 (OVER)
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