EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF Predictions: Knicks vs Celtics Series Preview
Before nba betting fans turn their attention to NBA Playoff basketball betting events this week, we have some more good NBA first round series Previews on tap, and our man Lawrence weighs in with his picks for the series. It’s time for our weekly hoops picks for NBA gambling action.
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NEW YORK vs. BOSTON PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Game 1 – Sun April 17, New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m, TNT
Game 2 – Tue April 19, New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m, TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 22, Boston at New York, 7:00 p.m, ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 24, Boston at New York, 3:30 p.m, ABC
Game 5 * Tue April 26, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD
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Odds To Win Series
New York +300
Boston -400
Odds To Win Eastern Conference
New York 25/1
Boston 3/1
Odds To Win NBA Title
New York 40/1
Boston 7/1
Injuries of Note: Boston: Shaquille O’Neal – C – Day-to-Day (calf injury)
Delonte West – G – Day-to-Day (sprained ankle)
New York: Andy Rautins – G – Out For Season (knee injury)
Shelden Williams – F – Day-to-Day (sprained ankle)
Take your pick on this one. The Boston Celtics are:
A. Old, tired, injured and worn down. The 82-game regular season has taken a toll and the Celts are prime candidates for a one-and-done playoff bouncing.
B. Ready to make a second consecutive deep playoff run after keeping their powder dry in a meaningless regular season as they waited for the real games to begin.
One thing that is not in dispute is that these Celtics are a different breed than the Celtics who took the Lakers to 7 games last season and came within perhaps a Kendrick Perkins knee injury from their 18th world championship. Perkins, obviously, is absent, and he will be replaced (maybe) by Shaquille O’Neal when Game 1 against the Knicks tips off Sunday night.
The Celts think they have a legit shot if O’Neal is able to drag his bloated body and size 18 sneaks up and down the court for a playoff season that could stretch to two months and 28 games. Given that Shaqachusetts has played only 37 games and 20 minutes each game, getting a long playoff run out of him might be too much to ask.
The alternative, though, is not pretty. Nenad Krstic, who came over from Oklahoma City in the Perkins trade, is an Ilgauskas-like perimeter center who seemed to be shrink daily as the playoffs approached. And Jermaine O’Neal gets a little grumpy if he is asked to do anything besides sign his paycheck.
But the big problem for Boston might be None of the Above, aka Rajon Rondo. Supposedly still pouting over the trade of his BFF Perkins, Rondo has protested by walking the ball up the court on a regular basis, stalling an offense that is feeble in half-court sets.
Add in the fact that the Celtics are far from a good rebounding team, and the door seems open for at least the possibility of New York pulling a first-round upset. Carmelo Anthony will give Paul Pierce all he can handle on the perimeter (Jeff Green, who was supposed to bolter wing play at the 3 and 4 spots, looks lost, especially on the defensive end). And if Amare Stoudemire’s ankle is at near 100 percent and Chauncey Billups can pull it together for one more playoff roundup, this could get interesting.
The Knicks start out the game with 70 points on the board (Anthony 26.5, Stoudemire 25.5 and Billups 17.9). That’s a decent launching point, although the Celtics still can clamp down defensively, if only for a period or two a game.
This one is hardly money in Boston’s bank.
Free NBA Playoff Series Pick: Boston in 6.
But that assumes Shaq can give 20-25 minutes a game. This series will probably go longer than Miami/Philly, Chicago/Indiana or Orland/Atlanta.
Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling expert from Massachusetts.
