Nets vs Celtics NBA Handicapping
Other than a pair of blips on the road (two-game losing streaks in Florida and out west), the Brooklyn Nets are starting to raise a few eyebrows in the Association.
Brooklyn Nets (9-4) at Boston Celtics (8-6)
Wednesday November 28
TD Garden, Boston Mass.
7:30PM
Spread: Boston -4.5 from Bovada.lv
O/U: 191
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Monday night’s 96-89 overtime victory over the Knicks allowed the Nets to plant their flag among the best teams in the league during the early part of the season and served notice that they feel they have the chops to make things uncomfortable for the other top teams in the conference – Miami and Boston.
Deron Williams is now settling in after concern that he would leave in free agency, Joe Johnson doesn’t feel he has to hoist up 25 shots a game to maintain street cred and the front line of Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and Andre Blatche hits the boards early and often – Brooklyn is the among the better rebounding teams in the conference.
The win over the Knicks was clearly Brooklyn’s signature victory of the year. In a playoff-like atmosphere at home, the Nets harassed Knicks PG Ray Felton into a 3-for-19 shooting nightmare and were able to survive a 35-point scoring burst by Carmelo Anthony. [ad-6571516]
Tyson Chandler had 28 for the Knicks, but that was balanced off by Lopez (22 and 11) and Williams (16 points, 14 assists) as the Nets stayed undefeated at home at 7-0.
In Boston, the Celtics are 14 games into what they seem to believe is an 82-game exhibition season. Boston coach Doc Rivers hasn’t been too hard on his veterans, knowing that nothing really matters until mid-April. That partially explains a few bad losses (by 20 at Detroit and by 11 at home to Milwaukee).
Just a month into the season and the depth that Danny Ainge spent accumulating hasn’t made much of a difference. Courtney Lee (23 percent from beyond the arc) has shot himself out of the starting lineup, with Jason Terry (who was supposed to be the bench spark) now getting big minutes as a starter. When Kevin Garnett sits, the Celtics still struggle defensively.
THE PICK
The Nets are 8-3-2 ATS this season, best in the league. But Boston has shown signs of life in the last few games – SU wins (and covers) over Oklahoma City and at Orlando. Boston lost to Brooklyn in New York a few weeks ago, but gets it done at home tonight. The Nets have held three straight opponents under 90 points, and an under play looks appetizing.
