posted April 14, 2008 at 14:32 in NBA Free Picks

WHO: Boston Celtics (64-16 SU, 50-28-2 ATS) at New York Knicks (23-57 SU, 37-42-1 ATS)

WHERE: Madison Square Garden in New York City

WHEN: Monday, April 14 at 7:30 PM ET

BetUS NBA betting odds: Boston -6.5, Total 198.5

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:

* BOS has covered four of the last five meetings

* BOS has covered eight of the last 11 meetings

* BOS has won 13 of the last 16 meetings SU

* Seven of the last 11 meetings have gone OVER the total

* BOS has won and covered the last five meetings as the road team

* Four of the last five meetings in New York have gone OVER the total

* BOS has had the shooting edge in each of the last five meetings

* BOS has had the rebounding edge in each of the last four meetings

* BOS has made more three-pointers in each of the last five meetings

Boston is the NBA's toughest team to shoot on, as it is surrendering only 41.9% field goals. The Celtics are operating at a +3 rebounding margin. Also:

* BOS has won nine of its last 10 games SU

* BOS has covered eight of its last ten games

* BOS has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

* BOS has won 12 of its last 14 road games SU

* BOS has covered 11 of its last 14 road games

New York ranks 22nd in the NBA, allowing 103.2 points per game. The Knicks are 26th in the league in scoring at home (97 ppg). Also:

* NY has won three of its last four games SU

* NY has lost 17 of its last 22 games SU

* NY has covered seven of its last nine games

* NY has played eight of its last ten games OVER the total

* NY has won three of its last four home games SU

* NY has covered two of its last eight home games

* NY has played eight of its last ten home games OVER the total

A question arises - will this be the final home game for Isiah Thomas as the New York Knicks' coach? Actually, that's a subject of relatively little controversy. Thomas is expected to be canned as soon as the season is over, even though he has a good relationship with new team president Donnie Walsh.

Boston played hard against Atlanta the other night. But in that one they didn’t want to give any confidence to the young team that might be facing them in the first playoff round. Keeping Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen rested and healthy is the priority right now for the Celtics, so expect that they will see limited playing time in a game like this. They have sat out the entire fourth quarter in recent games, leaving things up to the likes of Sam Cassell, James Posey, Leon Powe and Eddie House, who have actually formed the nucleus of a pretty good bench.

So it becomes a matchup between Boston backups and whatever the Knicks have left over. But there are several of those young New York players who have been carrying the torch and not giving up yet. One of them is Wilson Chandler, the rookie from DePaul who has averaged 18 points and 7.5 rebounds in his last four games, Nate Robinson, who has shot 46% with a 3-1 assist-turnover ratio since March 30, and David Lee, who has had double-digit rebounds in eight of his last 11 games.

These guys are playing well almost in spite of Isiah's presence. And Boston should be missing House and may also sit Powe, who has a foot problem.

We'll grab the number with the rested Knicks (two days off coming in), the 6.5-point underdog in the BetUS NBA betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: NEW YORK

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 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. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(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)