SATURDAY APRIL 17, 2010 – Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics
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Team records:
Boston: 50-32 SU – (33-48-1 ATS)
Miami: 47-35 SU – (43-37-2 ATS)
Will the loser of this series be the real winner?
Assuming the unthinkable happens in Cleveland and Chicago over the next few weeks, either Boston or Miami will take on the Cavaliers in Round 2. Nice prize.
Matchup: HEAT vs. CELTICS
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston
Spread: Celtics -4.5
Over/Under: 185
But NBA protocol requires that this series be played, and as the Celts and Heat prepare for Saturday’s Game 1, the question on everyone’s mind is this: Are these the Celtics of old, or just the old Celtics?
Smart money is on the latter, but not many observers figure Boston will check out before winning 4 games in this matchup. If the Celtics coaches have shown anything, it’s that they are pretty good at beating one-man teams. They did it two years ago against the LeBron James Cavs and the Kobe Bryant Lakers, and it brought the 17th NBA title to Boston.
If there is still energy in their ancient legs, they should be able to keep Dwyane Wade from going off completely and taking over the series.
Make no mistake. This series is about the Celtics. The age of the Big Three (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) is fact, but what has been questioned even more this season is whether this team actually has enough desire to grind its way through four playoff series.
With its core players all teeing it up on the 16th or 17th hole, the Celts knew they had to beef up the bench. They thought they had it nailed, but leaks sprouted everywhere. Marquis Daniels figured to be the first guard off the bench at SG and PG, but a thumb injury kept him out of the lineup and he never got his game in gear.
Glen Davis broke a thumb the night before the regular season opener punching out his friend in a car. Tony Allen regularly trips over the halfcourt line. And Rasheed Wallace was recently named the winner of the Pervis Ellison Award for spending an entire season without giving a flying F about anything except payday.
Doc Rivers, a players’ coach, has been patient while the Celtics showed no interest at all in competing with the Clevelands and Orlandos, but there are reports (which he denies) that he’s fed up and might walk away before it gets real nasty next season.
The players, meanwhile, get a chance to wipe the slate clean and begin a playoff series against the one quality team in the East that they have had success against this season. Boston was 3-0 vs. Miami this season.
Heat vs. Celtics Game 1 Free PICK
The Heat have put things together since sending Rafer Alston on his merry way after the All-Star break and they come into this series with 18 wins in their last 22 games. A month ago Miami was 50-50 just to get into the playoffs, so the Heat are doing something right, and Boston was the best matchup they could have hoped for.
But Boston figures to nail this one, even laying 4.5. The Celtics are rested and have too many weapons. The Heat will have to extend their defense to deal with Allen, the one old Celtic who still has his game left, and that opens up the lanes for Paul Pierce.
Boston -4.5 is the play.
Parlay players can also jump on the over here. Games early in playoffs go high until coaches are given time to 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.
