Posted on
2/20/2008 9:13:55 PM
NBA Hoops Betting - Boston at Golden State
By Charles Jay
WHO: Boston Celtics (41-10 SU, 31-18-1 ATS) at Golden State Warriors (32-21 SU, 22-31 ATS)
WHERE: Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA
WHEN: Tuesday, February 20 at 10:30 PM
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: BOSTON -3.5, Total 219
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* GS has covered 10 of the last 15 meetings
* Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total
* GS has covered seven of the last ten meetings as the home team
* GS has won nine of the last 11 meetings SU as the home team
Boston has shot 47.3% from the field and allows 42.4% shooting on the part of its opponents. The Celtics have chalked up 41.2 rebounds a game. Also:
* BOS is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine games
* BOS has won five of its last six games SU
* BOS has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* BOS has covered 11 of its last 16 road games
* BOS has won 14 of its last 18 road games SU
Golden State is tops in the league in overall scoring (109.9 ppg) and scoring at home (113.1 ppg). The Warriors have won 17 of their 26 home games. Also:
* GS has won five of its last seven games
* GS has lost its last five games ATS
* GS has played seven of its last eight games OVER the total
* GS has covered one of its last nine home games
* GS has won six of its last seven home games SU
* GS has played four of its last five home games OVER the total
This game comes down to a battle of tempo. The Warriors want to run up and down the court and get some easy shots in transition, while Boston would prefer a half-court game, because that gives them the advantage. Golden State has covered 10 of the last 15 encounters, but in the only meetings the "new and improved" Celtics have had with Don Nelson's club this season, they held Golden State to 33% shooting and just 82 points in the 23-point victory. That wasn't entirely accidental, as Boston is a solid first in the NBA in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.
And now the Celts are in bounce-back mode after taking it on the chin from Denver last night. Kevin Garnett had four points and eight rebounds as he returned from an abdominal strain. He should be sharper in this one. And he'll face minimal resistance from a "soft" Golden State front line.
This is the stretch of games - a Western road trip - that some people thought was a moment of truth for the Celtics as they wind their way toward home court advantage in the East. In this particular case, we see defense beating offense. Let's put it this way - if Boston allows Golden State to score points the way it allowed Denver, we'd have to start asking some serious questions about this team.
With no Marcus Camby or Carmelo Anthony to concern themselves with, we'll recommend the Celtics, the 3.5-point favorite in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: BOSTON
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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)