Home court is everything to Cavs and Celtics

Last season when the Cleveland Cavaliers altered their roster to help change the look of the team, this became the first step to changing the mind-set of the franchise. Cleveland for some time had seen the writing on the wall, when LeBron James contract was up, he would be not only interested in getting a maximum deal, he wanted to win championships, not being satisfied to lead the NBA in scoring or other rudimentary details of being a top player.

With additional shuffling of the roster, the Cavaliers have eliminated the 21 game difference between them and Boston from last season and has a two game lead over the Celtics for the best record in the Eastern Conference and they will look to build on that differential with a trip to Bean-town.

Cleveland (48-12, 39-21 ATS) has always been a defense-first team under coach Mike Brown, but this year things changed. The Cavs learned a valuable lesson last season from the defending champions; you have to bring it every night. Cleveland leads the NBA in fewest points allowed at 90.3 per game and field goal percentage at 42.7 percent. Because of their ability to defend, they are 26-9 ATS versus good shooting teams making 46 percent of their shots. With Cleveland having chosen to play hard every game, that explains why they are tied with the best record against the spread and have the best point differential in the league at +9.3.

Like Boston (48-14, 33-29 ATS), the Cavs have made defense their calling card, nevertheless you still have put the ball in the basket. James is having MVP-caliber season and point guard Mo Williams has been a big part in being another offensive weapon, both scoring and distributing the ball. He’s helped cultivate the objective.

“We got one goal,” James said win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. “That’s to win an NBA championship.”

Cleveland is 10-1 SU and ATS against the Atlantic Division, with the lone straight up loss coming on the first night of the regular season at Boston 90-85, as six point underdogs. That night quickly drove home a point for James and his teammates in case they may have forgotten from last spring. Win the home court advantage for the playoffs.

The home team won all seven games between these teams in the postseason last year, which was the main reason Boston was able to advance. This series has been dominated by the home team, with a double bakers dozen total of 14 consecutive home triumphs (7-7 ATS).

The Celtics also know the importance and are struggling some, without their leader Kevin Garnett. Boston is only 4-3 in last seven outings, with two covers. The usual defensive intensity is not their, having surrendered 97.4 points per game, compared to 92.6 on the season.

Boston did light up New Jersey for 115 points in last contest and is 13-4 ATS after a game where they made 55 percent or more of their shots and 12-4 against the spread after scoring 110 or more points. Coach Doc Rivers is trying to find minutes that make sense for and Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore, their late season acquisitions.

Bookmaker.com has Boston as two-point favorites, with a total of 184. The C’s are 25-5 and 16-14 ATS at TD Banknorth Garden and are 9-0 OVER off a road no-cover where the team won straight up as a favorite. Cleveland is 21-11 and 18-14 ATS as visitors and 26-13 UNDER when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last two years.

ESPN will have the telecast of this anticipated matchup stating at 8 Eastern, with the Cavs 1-8 and 6-2-1 ATS in last nine visits to Boston.