Free NBA Pick: Celtics vs. Nets NBA Odds
Looking for Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Celtics taking on the Nets on Saturday, May 22nd, 2021 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Celtics Nets matchup.
2021 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(0-0) Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets (0-0)
Date: Saturday, May 22nd, 2021
Time: 8:00 EST
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
NBA Moneyline Odds: Celtics +301 | Nets -330
NBA Betting Odds: Nets -8
NBA Betting Total: 229
Saturday, May 22nd the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets face each other in the first game of their opening-round playoff series.
Arguably, this series offers up the most compelling storylines between the clubs given how Kyrie Irving’s tenure ended with the Celtics.
The Celtics hold the all-time record having won 132 matches of the 203 played. This season, the teams played three times with Brooklyn sweeping.
The clubs have met two times prior in the playoffs with Brooklyn sweeping the 2003 semifinals and taking the 2002 conference finals 4 games to 2.
Boston Celtics
The loss of Jaylen Brown will undoubtedly make this an uphill battle for the Celtics. Brown is one of the better two-way players in the league and arguably the best defender on Boston.
That will put extra pressure on Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker who both delivered in the play-in win over the Wizards scoring 50 and 29 points respectively.
Although the Celtics struggled to find consistency all season and closed the season 5-9 they should be locked in defensively for this series.
While they’ll open in Brooklyn expect the boo-birds to be out en masse in Beantown for Kyrie so the goal has to be splitting the two games in Brooklyn.
Tatum should feast as the only one capable of defending him well is KD but I’m not sure Steve Nash will want to wear him out with that assignment.
I’m thinking Marcus Smart might get the assignment to guard Harden and my guess is he’ll play him uber physical.
Robert Williams III, (left foot – turf toe) is questionable while Jaylen Brown (left scapholunate ligament surgery) is out.
Brooklyn Nets
Everyone expects the Nets to be a powerhouse and while they have the most talent on paper there are some real questions to answer.
The Big 3 are all healthy but have only played eight games with each other due to injury. While there was ample conversation about the Nets improved defense the issue with that storyline was the players providing it won’t be playing or at least not as much.
KD can offer two-way play but again, I doubt Nash wants him solely locked in on Tatum for entire games. As much as Durant is the main star the biggest factor will be how healthy James Harden is because the Nets don’t play as well without him (12-11).
Aside from the defense, the question is how the support staff will handle having to deal with very few shots and how that affects their rhythm.
Landry Shamet (left ankle sprain) is probable while Spencer Dinwiddie (right knee – partially torn ACL) is out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Nets are 7-3 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Nets are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 head to head meetings
- Over/Under is 4-6 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The total has gone under in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games.
- The Celtics are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games.
- The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against Brooklyn.
Free Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA Prediction:
Although this should be an easy series for the Nets, anything can happen especially with three stars who’ve all had injury issues. Boston is shorthanded and has no pressure on them to win. The key will be to keep the game score low and play each of the big three physically.
As for the Nets who’ve done a lot of talking (looking at you Kyrie) on expectations of winning the title we’re all anxious to see how they respond in a close game or when they face adversity. As it is the Nets won’t have an easy path as they’ll have to play the Celtics, either the Bucks or Heat in round two and then the 76ers who has the easiest route to the Conference Finals.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Celtics +8
I’m going to pull for an upset in Game 1 — it’s a bit of a reach but it would make for a much more interesting start to the playoffs.
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