SUNDAY MAY 16, 2010 – Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic
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Team records:
Boston: 50-32 SU, 33-48-1 ATS
Orlando: 59-23 SU, 45-33-4 ATS
In today’s NBA if you don’t move forward you’re moving backward, and the Magic deserve props for bringing in Vince Carter after getting to the NBA Finals without him last season.
For whatever reason the Magic felt that they didn’t have enough firepower and that Carter would be the missing piece if/when they got another late-spring crack at the Lakers.
Matchup: CELTICS vs. MAGIC
Time: Sunday 3:30 ET
Venue: Amway Arena, Orlando
Spread: Magic -6
Over/Under: 189.5
In the same way that Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce agreed to share the pie when Boston’s Big Three was assembled in 2007-08, Carter has been scoring less and winning more.
After being New Jersey’s go-to guy and a 24- to 25-point-a game guy for the Nets for half a decade, Carter has been Mr. Team Guy for the Magic.
His regular-season (16.6) and playoff (16.9) scoring averages are consistent.
Carter can still go off on occasion. His 20-point explosion in Orlando’s Game 2 victory over Atlanta basically showed the Hawks that they had no chance in the Eastern Conference semis, and the Hawks went quietly after that.
But for the most part Carter is content to take 12 to 14 shots a game, D it up a bit on the perimeter and be part of a team that figures to be better than even odds to get back to The Finals.
Not a bad gig if you can get it. 
Carter figures to duke it out on the perimeter with Boston gunslinger Ray Allen, and when the Celtics figure they need Allen’s offense, they will set as many picks as necessary to free him up.
On one key possession in Game 5 against the Cavaliers Allen was free up when Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Garnett all set back screens.
Allen got off a key 3-pointer that helped bury Cleveland. Carter needs to be ready for stuff like that.
This could be a perimeter series, and the Carter-Allen matchup could be more interesting than anything that happens in the paint.
Celtics vs. Magic Game 1 Free NBA Prediction
The Magic will have almost an entire week off by the time they take the court on Sunday afternoon, while the Celtics will barely have time to study tape before traveling to Central Florida for Game 1.
Hence the heavy (6) line which normally would be tighter, given Boston’s ability to win big games on the road.
When these teams played last season in the Eastern semis, the UNDER carried 5 of 7 times with oddsmakers offering totals in the 188 to 190 range.
Might be a good idea to take OVER early and then take a hard look at the under as the teams make defensive adjustments.
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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.
