Free NBA Pick: Celtics vs Cavaliers NBA Odds
Looking for Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Celtics taking on the Cavaliers on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions.
(19-13) Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-7)
Date: Thursday December 29
Time: 8:00PM EST
Venue: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
NBA Moneyline Odds: OFF
NBA Betting Odds: Cavs -7.5
NBA Betting Total: 215
Live NBA Odds
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Thursday night NBA sees a nationally televised matchup between one legitimate contender out East and another squad hoping to prove its legitimacy against top-tier competition.
*All statistics, rankings, standings and trends are current as of this writing at 5:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics enter this contest coming off a Christmas Day victory over the New York Knicks, 113-103. That was their second win in a row, and sixth in their last seven.
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On the year, the Celtics have found a way to balance their offensive and defensive approach. The defense isn’t as potent as many thought it would be, but it’s still good enough for 14th in the league in points per game allowed (103.3 per night).
Offensively, this group scores 105.4 points per game, which is good enough for 12th in the league.
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Against the Cavs, the strategy is…well, complicated. No team has truly found a way to shut down the defending champions — at least for an entire game when the roster is healthy.
Luckily for Boston (although we’d never wish for injuries and we don’t believe a pro ball club would either), J.R. Smith is sidelined and will be for quite some time.
That gives the Celtics a slight edge defensively…but Cleveland is still dangerous from behind the arc all across its roster.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are fourth in the NBA in points per game this season. They’re putting up 110.1 points per contest.
Defensively, this squad is still solid, but on more of a “middle of the pack” level.
The Cavs are giving up 103 points per game, which is good enough for 13th in the league, and they’re 14th in defensive efficiency.
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Playing the Celtics is complicated because you want to focus on stopping Isaiah Thomas, the undersized point guard who is known for torching opposing defenses. But as lethal as he is, there’s plenty to go around in terms of offensive opportunities.
Cleveland can’t focus on one player if it hopes to win.
Spreading the wealth defensively has to be the game plan, meaning the energy spent on that side of the court could potentially take away a small level of productivity on the other end of the floor.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Celtics are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Celtics are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Free Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies NBA Prediction:
Looking at the recent trends for both squads, this one could be a toss up.
The catch is that it’s too difficult to pick against the Cavaliers right now, even with Smith sidelined.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: UNDER
Give this one to the home team, which also happens to be the defending champions.
NBA Free Score Prediction: Cleveland 107 – Boston 99
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