Knicks vs Celtics NBA Basketball Spread/Handicapping
So how many shots do you think Carmelo Anthony will hoist up against the Celtics tonight? Twenty-five? Thirty?
New York Knicks (25-14) at Boston Celtics (20-21)
Thursday, Jan. 24
TD Garden, Boston
8 p.m. EST
Spread – Knicks -1.5 at Bovada
O/U – 188
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This is the first Knicks-Celtics game since Melo and Kevin Garnett went at it on Jan. 7, KG comparing Anthony’s wife to Honey Nut Cheerios in one of the most unusual trash-talking episodes in NBA history. That led to Anthony stalking the Celtics bus after the game waiting for Garnett, though nothing came of it.
Boston won that game, as well as the next three, and seemed to have finally righted a ship that had been taking on water all season.
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But the Celtics have now lost four in a row and have hit the midway point of the season one game under .500 and with coach Doc Rivers threatening to give some of his veterans new mailing addresses unless they get things together.
The spotlight has been on the uninspired play of forwards Jeff Green and Brandon Bass, and guards Courtney Lee and Jason Terry – all of whom were brought in this season to make life easier for the Big Three of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Garnett.
But lately there has been concern about Pierce, who in the four-game losing streak shot 3 for 15 (Cleveland), 5 for 10 (Detroit), 5 for 17 (Chicago) and 5 for 16 (New Orleans), averaging under 12 points a game. The newcomers have hardly picked up the slack.[ad-6571516]
Rivers and President Danny Ainge have waited for half a season for the light to go on, but there are no signs of a sense of urgency. And the trade market is not exactly bubbling when all you have to offer are overpaid, under-performing, disinterested veterans.
All of which plays into the hands of the Knicks, who have been owned by the Celtics in recent years and haven’t won a division title since 1993-94. New York has lost four of six and more than eager to get its own act straightened out after a close loss at home to the Nets a few days ago. New York hasn’t won a game in Boston since 2006, losing 11 straight times.
But this time it’s personal.
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Despite Boston’s dominance over New York, most games over the last few years have been close. Five of the last six in Boston have been decided by four points or fewer. The Knicks are a little above water (20-18-1) ATS this season, but have been showing signs recently that they are a good road cover team.
Boston has covered at home only twice in its last six games. The Celtics have to get an over-the-top performance from Rondo at PG with NY’s Ray Felton still out, but the karma is just not good in Boston these days.
New York to cover on the road.
