Celtics vs Clippers NBA Handicapping
In March 2008 the Houston Rockets were the NBA’s Blue Plate Special. The had won 22 games, the second-longest streak in NBA history, and there was talk that Tracy McGrady and the guys would challenge the league record of 33 set decades earlier by the Chamberlain/West Los Angeles Lakers.
Boston Celtics (14-13) at Los Angeles Clippers (22-6)
Thursday, Dec. 27
Staples Center, Los Angeles
10:30 p.m., EST
Sporead – Clippers -8.5 at TopBet.eu
O/U — 190
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Not to be. The Celtics, who would go on to win the title that season, went into Houston on March 18 and stuck it to the Rockets, 94-74 – Kevin Garnett dominating in the paint and Paul Pierce hitting a few dagger threes.
Tonight the Celtics get a chance to end another long streak when they take on the white-hot Clippers in Los Angeles. The Clips have won 14 straight and bolted to the top of many NBA power rankings (including the one on this site), and for the first time since the franchise relocated from San Diego in 1984 appear to have a legit shot at a long playoff run.
This is hardly a must-win for the Clippers, but beating the Celtics in the nightcap of the TNT doubleheader would be yet another feather in their caps and illustrate a changing of the guard among elite teams in the league.
Can the Celtics put an end to the Clippers’ run, the way they did to the Rockets four years ago?
Well, a few of the names are the same (Garnett, Pierce, Rondo). But two full months into the season, Boston coach Doc Rivers is still trying to figure out what he has on his hands.
Garnett has been consistent, Pierce is starting to score again and Rondo’s numbers are compaprable to ones he put up last season. But just about everyone else has struggled, which has led to spotty play at home and 8 loses in 13 road games.
Courtney Lee and Jason Terry were brought on board to replace Ray Allen, and Jeff Green is back fromn heart surgery. But the newcomers have sputtered.[ad-6571516]
What burns Rivers the most is his team’s inability to lock down defensively when it has to in the second halves of games. Without Kendrick Perkins and his willingness to knock players on their asses, the paint is available. The Celtics no longer play with an edge (despite Garnett’s scowl), and haven’t shown enough offensive cohesiveness to make up for that.
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The Clippers seem to be enjoying their status as the new Showtime team in Los Angeles. And they could be built to last – Blake Griffin and Chris Paul are playing only 32 minutes a game, and the bench has been solid. Plus, LA is a terrific cover team.
The Clippers have gone 10-4 ATS during their streak. It’s hard to envision the Celtics spending 7 hours on a plane, arriving in LA last night and less than 24 hours later knocking off the hottest team in the league.
Clippers to cover. Parlay players might consider Clippers and over.
