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Boston Celtics vs. N.Y. Knicks Game 5 NBA Preview & Free Pick

Celtics vs Knicks NBA Handicapping

They are home in a series that they have dominated. They are younger. They are more talented.

Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics (1-3) at New York Knicks (3-1)
Wednesday, May 1
Madison Square Garden, New York
7 p.m. EST
Spread – Knicks -8.5 at GTBets.eu
O/U – 180

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It’s time for the Knicks to put away the Celtics and see exactly where these playoffs will take them.

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New York aims to do just that tonight in the Big Apple, after missing one opportunity in Boston. And the Knicks are heavy favorites to put aside the gassed Celtics tonight in Game 5.

Every game of this series has played out pretty much the same way. The Celtics hang tough and control things into the third quarter before the Knicks turn up the heat defensively, Boston can’t get into its halfcourt offense and NY comes back and dominates.

New York even applied the same formula in Boston’s win last Sunday, but in the end the absence of J.R. Smith, poor shooting by Carmelo Anthony and a few big shots from absent-all-season Jason Terry enabled the Celtics to eke one out at home in overtime.

Anthony doesn’t seem to shoot well against the Celtics, but there’s no way on God’s Earth that he throws up another 10-for-35 stinker tonight. Smith, meanwhile, has been a reliable secondary scorer (more than 16 ppg) who has burned the Celtics with big hoop after big hoop. [ad-6571516]

In Boston, there is an air of resignation. Media are already speculating about what to do with the team this summer. Will Kevin Garnett return? And if he leaves, what’s the point of keeping Paul Pierce in the middle of another rebuilding effort? Will Rondo be back at full strength at the beginning of the year, or will he pull a Derrick Rose and keep everyone waiting?

In the short-term, though, the Celtics are desperate to find some late-game offense to hold off what now appears to be New York’s inevitable second-half surges.

Terry’s offense in the second half of Game 4 was a start, but an O that has not been all that great throughout the regular season needs to come together for 48 minutes.

The Celtics’ game plan goes like this: Steal one tonight, and New York will be in panic mode for Game 6 back in Boston. Not likely to happen.

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NY’s pressure, trapping defense – especially in the late going – has exposed Boston’s lack of athleticism. Without Rondo spreading the floor and beating his man, Boston resembles five Easter Island statues.

New York wins this one going away, covering the 8.5, as Mike Woodson finally gets some credit for convincing his team that the game doesn’t pause when the other team has the ball.

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!