THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2010 – Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers – Game 7
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Team records:
Phoenix: 54-28 SU, 48-32-2 ATS
L.A.: 57-25 SU, 34-46-2 ATS
OK, everybody, let’s make it a best-of-one season.
The Lakers made it clear in Game 6 that Sasha Vujacic does not speak for them, and that if the Celtics want to make it about toughness, then hell, we can do that.
Matchup: CELTICS vs. LAKERS
Time: Thursday 9:00 ET
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles
Spread: Lakers -7
Over/Under: 187
It’s also clear that Los Angeles feels it has more eggs in its Easter basket than the Celtics do, and that Boston will need to dig real deep Thursday night to hang with the Lakers. The Celtics scored all of 67 points in Game 6, which a month ago would have a good half’s work for LA.
For the Celtics, a Game 6 shooting nightmare is unlikely to happen twice in a row. Boston shot 33 percent from the field, 21 percent from 3-point territory and made just 60 percent of the small number of free throws (10) they took. The Celtics have not looked this out of joint since they laid eggs against Washington and New Jersey late in the regular season.
And the Lakers will not get another 15-point performance from Ron Artest, who outplayed Paul Pierce (13) at both ends of the court.
Artest hounded Pierce into 5 turnovers, which made things even worse.
So what to expect in Game 7?
Laker fans would not doubt love it if LA could administer a beatdown similar to the Game 6 shellacking the Celtics Phil Jackson’s boys in the 2008 Finals, but another 131-92 ain’t happening this time.
Just a few days ago there was much aingst about the well-being of Andrew Bynum, whose presence on the court makes the Lakers uber-large and helps prevent the slashing that Pierce and Rajon Rondo use effectively against the league’s other 28 teams.
But now Bynum’s ailing right knee is so 20 minutes ago, and focus is now on the injured knee of Celtics thug Kendrick Perkins. Ironic that Perkins has been able to avoid the one additional technical foul that would trigger a one-game suspension and now he may sit with an injury. 
Perkins is no Baryshnikov, but he clogs the middle and his absence means more time for Rasheed Wallace (Game 6 line: 0-7 from field, 0-6 from 3-poijt territory, 3 rebounds and 4 fouls).
What will be interesting to watch is how Kobe Bryant comes out Thursday. In case anyone has missed it, Bryant doesn’t really trust his teammates all that much, and if he senses even a minor problem, he will probably take over the offense early than he does on most nights.
Boston, obviously on its last legs as the Big Three age and wear down and the coach ponders the comfort of a few years away from the sidelines, faces an uncertain future – especially if the Celts fall short tonight.
A win, and the 18th team championship that comes with it, buys the Celts time to ease into rebuilding mode as the Big Three’s contracts expire.
A loss makes rebuilding more complicated.
Celtics vs. Lakers Game 7 Free NBA Prediction
The line here opened at 6.5 but has been bet up to 7, resulting in a cascade of money on the Celtics, who at this writing are favored by the public, 3-2.
The under has carried four straight games and the teams have not come anywhere close to going over, but that has resulted only in a drop to 187.
Liking a small wager here on the UNDER continuing.
Celtics backers might want to hedge somewhat by buying a point or two.
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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel expert from Massachusetts.
