NBA Handicapping Predictions – Heat vs Celtics
The Boston Celtics went to Miami and shocked the basketball world by winning Game Five. Now, the veteran Celtics have a chance to close it out at home in Game Six.
The Boston Celtics went to Miami and shocked the basketball world by winning Game Five. Now, the veteran Celtics have a chance to close it out at home in Game Six.
This series is all tied up at 2 games apiece since the Celtics won both games at home and the Heat are not only at home tonight, but they may get Chris Bosh back in the lineup.
The Heat are big favorites tonight and to win this series facing the Celtics, but this season Boston beat Miami in 3 of 4 games.
The Philadelphia 76ers evened up this series with a win Wednesday night. The eighth seeded 76ers have pushed this game to the brink.
NBA Basketball Matchup: #8 Philadelphia 76ers (3-3) vs. #4 Boston Celtics (3-3)
Date/Time: May 26, 8:00 PM EST on ABC
NBA Gambling Odds from BetDSI
NBA Betting Favorite: Celtics -5.5
Over/Under: 170.5
Can the young Sixers upend the heavily favored Celtics in Game Seven? The oddsmakers have the veteran Celtics favored by 5.5.
Let’s take a closer look at this critical Game Seven in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Doug Collins’ team has shown that they are extremely scrappy, but this will be a major test for them on the road in a deciding Game Seven. Boston knows how to win Game Seven’s, so the 76ers will have to play their best.
When Philadelphia has won in this series it has been largely due to their terrific defense. The 76ers were ranked in the top five in defense in the NBA all year, and most people don’t realize how solid this group is on the defensive end. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
They have controlled the boards in most of the games, and they are getting out and running whenever they have the opportunity. Philadelphia needs big games out of their point-forwards Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner.
Both of these guys have unique skill sets and they are tough matchups for the Celtics.
Boston led 36-33 at halftime in Game Six, but they looked terrible in the second half. The Celtics looked tired and slow against the young Sixers. The two days of rest before Game Seven will certainly help the Celtics, but they must come out focused and ready to go.
Boston shot a miserable 33.3% from the floor in Game Six. Brandon Bass was the hero in Game Five, but he was just 4 for 14 from the floor in Game Six. Rajon Rondo was 4 for 14, and he only had six assists. Only Kevin Garnett has consistently produced on the offensive end throughout this series.
Rondo must be fully engaged, and Paul Pierce needs to be aggressive getting to the rim if the Celtics are going to win this one.
The Celtics know this is one of their last chances to win with the current group, and I expect them to pull out a close win. Still, the best value is likely the under in what I expect to be a tight game.
Free NBA Pick: Under 170.5
Philadelphia has made this a tough series for the Celtics, but the 76ers are now on the brink of elimination.
The Philadelphia 76ers came from 17 points down in third quarter to top the Boston Celtics in Game Four.
The Boston Celtics may not have shown up ready to play in the first two games of the series, but they were at their best in Game Three.
The first two games of this series couldn’t have been any closer. The Celtics escaped Game One with a one-point win.
The Mariners dropped game one of the series without much of a fight.
The Philadelphia 76ers led almost the entire game in the series opener on Saturday, but the Celtics rallied to pick up a 92-91 victory.
Both Philadelphia and Boston closed out their opening series Thursday night in two hard fought wins.
The Atlanta Hawks staved off elimination earlier this week, but Boston returns home to try to finish off this series on Thursday night.
The Celtics are up 3-1 in this series after a laugher in Game 4 and history is not on the side of the Hawks, as Boston has never lost a playoff series after being up 3-1.
Well, the Hawks had all of the momentum in the world for a game. Plus another two and a half quarters. They had an 11-point lead with under three minutes to play in the third as they were looking to hold serve at home in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
After winning Game 1, the Hawks managed to take control of a series that not many gave them a chance in. Not only did the Atlanta win, but they flat out dominated the game. They never trailed, and the closest it got in the latter stages was just four points.
With just a couple of games left it is getting difficult to call some of these games – you just don’t know who is going to be on the court.