posted June 6, 2008 at 17:40 in NBA Free Picks

Maybe it’s me, NBA basketball betting community, but I just don’t understand how or why the Los Angeles Lakers can be favored to win the NBA Championship over the Boston Celtics despite not having home court advantage – while simultaneously going up against one of the best defensive teams the league has ever seen.

Even though they won a league-high 66 games during the 2007-08 regular season, led by the league’s best defense, the Celtics have been selected as clear underdogs in their championship matchup with the Lakers – a mistake of epic proportions that online sports gamblers who like to wager on NBA basketball need to jump all over in my estimation.

After calling each of the Celtics’ last two games absolutely dead-on in the BetUS Locker Room, I am back to give NBA betting fans what should be another winning sports betting wager on tonight’s Game 2 matchup.

While I will admit that the Lakers have looked like a true juggernaut throughout the Western Conference playoffs, while the Celtics struggled through their first two online betting series, going the full seven games each time, I have advised a multitude of NBA bettors, fans and friends that the Lakers are facing a different beast in the Celtics’ often-overwhelming defense.

While the Celtics have continued their defensive excellence throughout the postseason and used it to turn up the heat against the Lakers in the second half of Game 1, limiting Los Angeles to just 37 second-half points, while scoring 52 points themselves, the Lakers will need to enter Game 2 with a different game plan, whether they admit it or not.

The task sounds even tougher after listening to some of Kobe Bryant’s comments following Game 1. The Lakers, to a man, seem to think that Boston’s defense had nothing to do with all their missed shots in Game 1, but will likely find out in Game 2 that the Celtics, if nothing else – come to play hard-nosed defense every night.

Bryant, scored 24 points but was limited to just 9-for-26 shooting from the field by Boston’s defense. Bryant however, refused to acknowledge Boston’s outstanding defensive effort.

"I had some good looks, they just didn't go down for me," Bryant said. "I just missed some bunnies. I'll be thinking about those a little bit."

Here is a look at tonight’s Key online sports wagering trends followed by my analysis and NBA Wagering Free Picks:

The Lakers odds are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.

The Lakers are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games overall.

The Celtics odds are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.

The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.

The Under is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 overall.

The Under is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 games following a S.U. win.

The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.

The Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Analysis: While I have selected the Boston Celtics to win this series and the NBA title that goes along with it, I did advise the BetUS NBA betting community to take the Lakers to cover the spread more often than not in this series as they have been the better ATS, (against the spread) team than the Celtics by far this postseason, though Boston did lead the league in ATS wins during the regular season.

However, I can’t, in good conscious advise any basketball bettor to take the Lakers and the points in Game 2 as I see the outcome of this contest being very similar to the Game 1 result. While I think the outcome will be a bit closer than the ten-point margin in Game 1, I still like the Celtics to win this matchup and cover the small, two-point spread. Just like Game 1, I also urge BetUS online NBA bettors to go with the Under once again because of Boston’s terrific defense.

NBA Free Picks: Celtics -2 Points/Under 190 Total Points

09:05 PM EST NBA Odds

Los Angeles Lakers +2 -110

Boston Celtics -2 -110

Over 190 -110

Under 190 -110

You’ll find the latest 2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Especially when sports betting fans get on some NBA Finals betting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA, Celtics odds, Lakers odds and make online sports betting work for you!