NBA Handicapping Predictions – 76ers vs Celtics
The Celtics snapped the Pacers 4-game winning streak in their last game, but they still trail Indianapolis by 2.5 games for the 4th playoff seed in the East.
Venue/ Stadium: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Time/Date: 6 PM EST, April 8, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Celtics -4
Over/Under: 176.5
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Preview
The 76ers have lost 3 straight, but those losses were facing the solid teams of the Magic, Bulls, and Spurs. NBA lines have the Celtics as 4-point home favorites with a total of 176.5.
In their last games the Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 86-72 and the 76ers lost to the Orlando Magic 93-86.
This season the 76ers are 27-27-1 ATS with an O/U record of 22-33 and the Celtics are 27-26-2 ATS with an O/U record of 23-29-3.
No shock that odds makers have the total so low since the 76ers have the league’s best defense in terms of opponents’ points allowed while the Celtics rank 3rd. The reason the Celtics have won 7 of their last 10 games is their solid play on D, as in their last 8 games they have held their opponents under 80 points.
The 76ers have beaten the Celtics in their last 2 games, but after the 2nd win against Boston Philly has only gone 5-9.
After looking like the 76ers were a lock for the playoffs a couple weeks back they only lead 8th place New York by 1 game and 9th place Milwaukee by 1.5 games.
Ray Allen came back from his ankle injury to score 19 points including 5/11 from beyond the 3-point arc in the win over the Pacers.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
The 76ers must play good perimeter D against Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo and really make Rondo work and not allow him to score in the lane and dish the rock out.
It is pretty obvious that the 76ers need to play better than they did against the Magic when no starter scored more than 7 points. Philly does not have a high-scoring team, but they will still need the likes of Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, and Andre Iguodala to chime in on offense.
One key match up in this game will be down low between Celtics’ PF Elton Brand and Celtics PF Kevin Garnett.
In some betting trends for this Eastern Conference match up the 76ers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 road games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall, and they have an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Celtics are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 home games, 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall, and they have an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
Jason’s Pick: There is no doubt that this will be a low scoring game, but the Celtics have a better offense and their D will play well. Take Boston to win this game and cover the spread.
