Free NBA Pick: Celtics vs. Hornets NBA Odds
Looking for Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Celtics taking on the Hornets on Wednesday, March 9th, 2022 at Spectrum Center. 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-Hornets matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(39-27) Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets (32-34)
Date: Wednesday, March 9th
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Spectrum Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Celtics -267 | Hornets +246 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Celtics -6.5
NBA Betting Total: 227
Wednesday, March 9th the Boston Celtics play the Charlotte Hornets for the fourth and final time this season. The Celtics are up 2-1 on the season series winning on October 25th (140-129 in overtime) and February 2nd (113-107) while the Hornets won on January 19th (111-102).
The Celtics last played on Sunday defeating the Nets 126-120 while the Hornets are playing a back-to-back set hosting the Nets in a critcal seeding game on Tuesday.
Last season, the squads played three times with Boston taking two of the three contests in the regular-season series. The Celtics hold the all-time record having bested the Hornets in 70 of their 115 matches.
Boston Celtics
Head coach Ime Udoka likely won’t win coach of the year but he should get some consideration after refocusing his team to the defensive side of the court partway into the season.
The Celtics who began the season struggling offensively without a defensive focus are a far cry from the team on the court now. It’s as if the coach completely overhauled the team’s strategies.
Gone are the iso plays Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown occupied each offensive set with and they’ve been replaced by ball and player movement. Another key is the Celtics are using their length to generate turnovers, crash the boards, and allow their defense to spark the offense.
The resulting effect is the best defensive team in the league since they made those changes. Pull up an early-season game and compare it to any of the 14 wins the Celtics have in their last 16 games and the difference is night and day.
So much so that now the Celtics have edged their way into the conversation as a team who could come out of the East to vie for the title. As they say ‘defense wins championships’ and Boston is the best defensive team right now so those accolades are warranted.
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday and with him being the only player listed on the injury report it must mean Jaylen Brown is good to go in this contest.
Charlotte Hornets
While this match is important the Hornets game on Tuesday versus the Nets was critical as they entered the night in a virtual tie with the Nets and Hawks but seeded ahead based on where they stood in the season series with those clubs.
Charlotte had won two games in a row prior to the Nets match beating the Cavaliers (119-98) and Spurs (123-117) last week.
Head coach James Borrego has an offensively-gifted roster but needs to get his team focused on the defensive side of the floor. Because LaMelo Ball is adept at setting up numerous offensive talents they don’t even need to be on a top-level defense.
Rather, the goal of the Hornets should be to utilize their athleticism, particularly in transition to force turnovers that they could turn into fast-break opportunities.
Most of their defense is zone focused and while that can work in small segments of games it won’t work for a full game because opponents will figure out how to adapt and score.
Jalen McDaniels (ankle) was questionable for Tuesday and James Bouknight (neck) was out so their presence on Wednesday will likely be questionable. Gordon Hayward (ankle) is out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against each other
- The Celtics are 6-4 ATS in the last 10 matches
- The over/under is 5-5 in the teams’ last 10 head to head matches
Free Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets NBA Prediction:
The Celtics have the rest advantage but will get a true test of their top-level defense with the offensively gifted Hornets club.
Not knowing the result of Tuesday I’m electing to look at the prior Boston game when they faced a similar squad whose focus is offense (Nets) a game they won by six (126-120), however the Hornets don’t have a superstar of Durant’s ilk so I’m taking the Celtics to win and cover.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Celtics ATS
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