Lakers vs Celtics - That say's it all

In the history of the NBA, two names stand above the rest, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. These two franchises have combined to win 32 NBA titles (the Lakers won five in Minneapolis). Boston has beaten the Lakers nine of 11 meetings in the NBA Finals which substantiates the point for many people of substance over style.

The Lakers like to make the argument that in spite of having a couple less titles than the Celtics, theirs is the better franchise having a bit of Jack Nicklaus in them (18 major’s titles, 17 second’s), finishing runner-up 16 times.

What makes this appointment television is history. For many of the players let alone those tuned in to watch, this matchup is about Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson and Jerry West. What made this important is they met one another over a short period of time. Boston defeated the Lakers seven times from 1959 to 1969 and they met three times in four years from 1984 to 1987.

That is what makes this renewal even better than two June’s ago. The last time basketball fans had a 21-year break between heated encounters; this time most of the combatants are the same that met two years prior. What is different this time compared to 2008 when the Celtics hung their first NBA championship banner since 1986?

Trust and Age

Though Ray Allen was having brutal postseason two years ago, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in particular were at the top of their respective games. Each was able to dominate for lengthy periods of any contest and did in those six games.

Today, neither KG nor Pierce has that same ability; both can make a series of outstanding plays to help Boston, just in a shorter time span. The Celtics are helped by Allen being a much stronger contributor, but the driving force of this Doc Rivers club is Rajon Rondo. The former Kentucky product has exploded onto the scene in the playoffs and been the catalyst behind the Celtics success. The C’s now feed off what Rondo delivers.

Two years ago, Kobe did not trust his teammates. He demanded total effort in the biggest games and they did not deliver to his liking. Last year’s title drive was all about finishing the deal and becoming champions again and thou Bryant has his doubts from time to time about the 2010 edition of the Lake Show, he knows what to expect from Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol and to a lesser degree Lamar Odom and Ron Artest.

It’s all about the matchups

How does Boston limit Kobe’s effectiveness? Doc Rivers coach’s by feel more than X’s and O’s during games. Rivers will go after Bryant with Baskin-Robbins approach, using a variety of methods. Guard Kobe tight to force him to drive into lane where the Celtics big men can create issues. Let him shoot from the outside to prevent him from getting fouled too often and adding up points. They will double Kobe on the wings or single him up in the middle of the floor and go with what works best.

Derek Fisher took it as personal mission to stay with Steve Nash in West finals, but he has nowhere near enough foot speed to stay with Rondo. That means Bryant will see Rondo aplenty and if Boston wants to slow the pace, L.A. will be cool with that process, since Bryant can use his size and wing span to stay in front of Rondo. Expect coach Rivers to dictate to Rondo to run at every opportunity to maximize his effectiveness.

Pierce and Artest is a potential swing matchup in the series. Pierce’s jab step jumper is more deadly when he sets up defender by driving to the bucket. If he can make Artest indecisive about his intentions, he could frustrate Ron-Ron into drawing silly fouls and taking him mentally out of the game.

Artest has to knock down enough shots to keep Pierce honest on defense and prevent him from clogging driving lanes. Artest’s job on the other end of the floor is to limit Pierce’s scoring ability and work him so that his legs don’t give him the leverage he needs late in the game to make jumpers.

In the frontcourt, Boston will try and manhandle the Lakers bigs with their imposing strength using Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace to roughhouse. Los Angeles should be accustomed to these tactics, expect Phil Jackson to try and manufacture matchups playing to the strengths of Gasol, Odom and Andrew Bynum in the triangle offense.

Coaching counts

In 2008, the Rivers vs. Jackson coaching matchup was thought to be akin to choosing between Snookie of “Jersey Shore” and Megan Fox. Rivers it turns out is the right coach for Boston, continually pushing his club to do better thru effort and precision and working game plans with mastermind assistant Tom Thibodeau.

Jackson was almost passive when his club lost to the Celtics in the finals two seasons ago, but has been much more involved the last two years, not sitting idly by wanting players to learn from adversity. He’s been more aggressive in substitution patterns and back to trying different bench players in various situations to find the spark when needed.

ATS nuts and bolts

Both teams were unreliable home teams wagers with the Lakers 42-7 and 21-27-2 ATS record and the Celtics 31-19 and 19-30-1 ATS. Given their ability and skill, each was a factor as visitors with Boston 31-18 (26-22-1 ATS) and L.A. 27-22 (22-26-1 ATS).

In the last three years the Celtics “Big Three” is 7-5 and 9-2 ATS against Los Angeles. The road team has won five games outright of the previous 13 meetings, however just one was in the finals in 2008.

You will read the home court is not a significant factor because of how the visitors have played lately, but if you are making series wager, the teams with home court advantage has won eight of last ten.

What happens?

Only once in the previous 25 years has seed other than No. 1-3 won the NBA championship and Boston was a four seed coming into the postseason. Eddie House and Leon Powe were significant players for the Celtics in the last finals meeting, both play elsewhere today.
Gasol and Bryant together are better players than previous finals confrontation and the Lakers are 44-0 in any series with Jackson as coach if they win Game 1.

This will be rugged, physical series, with the trophy staying in L.A.

3Daily Winners Pick- L.A. Lakers (-180) in seven over Boston (+150)

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NBA Western Conference Finals Preview

(1) L.A. Lakers vs. (3) Phoenix

Talking to a number of various wise guy bettors living in Las Vegas, one conclusion was evident before the playoffs started, yes the Los Angeles Lakers looked vulnerable but were still the safest bet to win another title and the Phoenix Suns were the best long shot among the top four seeds from either conference to become the upset champions of the NBA.

Both those assessments have proven correct, however one will be kicked to the curb with the West Finals at hand. Here is a look at what each team has to do to reach the The Finals.

One aspect that is often forgotten in the NBA playoffs is how very good teams can pick up momentum. The Lakers closed the regular season 4-7 SU and ATS and were like Whitney Houston’s recent concert tour, very unimpressive. More than one sports fan believed Oklahoma City had a fair shot to upset Los Angeles in the first round and after they suffered 21-point loss to the Thunder to tie the series at two, that belief no longer seemed so far-fetched.

However, since then, L.A. has gotten serious about basketball again and has won six straight, covering five times and now another championship ring is in sight.

I apologize in advance, but there is not getting around it (literally), the size of the Lakers’ changes how teams can attack them. With Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, it just doesn’t leave much room in the middle, which helps takes away the one inside player the Suns have in Amare Stoudemire.

L.A. guards and wing players can be super aggressive defensively, knowing what they have behind them. Ron Artest is not the defender he was a few years ago, but what he’s lost in quickness he makes up for in smarts and he will try to attach himself at the hip of Jason Richardson or Jared Dudley when he enters the game.

Phoenix has picked up a reputation as being good defensive team, while they are not as lame as when Mike D’Antoni was coach; they are far from good, mostly just average. With the talk of Grant Hill being a defensive demon, that’s all Kobe Bryant needs for a personal challenge.

Remember last year when Denver had all those high effort guys coming off the bench and they actually gave Phil Jackson’s team trouble at first, yet after Game 3 had little impact, that’s what the Lakers do as the series wears on, systematically they take away your strengths and even Derek Fisher becomes more useful knocking down shots. There is a reason why the Lake Show is 5-1 and 4-2 ATS against the Suns at Staples the past three years, they are bigger and better and hard to beat four times.

Since Steve Nash has arrived in the desert with his injury-plagued career in the balance, all he has done is transform Phoenix into the most entertaining team in the NBA and a outfit that has been among the better groups out West. Be that as it may, the window of opportunity is closing and the sense is the entire club and organization knows it.

That creates the first chance for the Suns, desperation, hardly something the Lakers ever feel and when they do, usually nothing good comes from it. (Game 6 Lakers at Boston two years ago comes to mind) Phoenix has to be able to leave all on the floor each night, no Game 1 or Game 4’s against Portland “we just weren’t focused” nights. You only get once chance to beat a champion and if you let it slip, look in the mirror.

Coach Alvin Gentry is credited for making Phoenix a more complete squad than past versions, with greater attention to detail on both ends of the floor. Steve Nash should be able to run circles around Derek Fisher, but his key is drawing the defense to him to make the assist and frustrate the Lakers big men.

Coach Jackson will try to prevent dibble penetration by Nash and make him more a shooter than facilitator, Nash has to defeat this defense by using the screen and role continually with Stoudemire. If successful, this forces other defenders to get involved and the NBA’s best outside shooting team will find itself with many more open looks.

Phoenix can’t let the Lakers play volleyball on the offensive glass; they have to at least be within five boards at all times once the second half starts.

Gentry’s bench has been a difference maker, which is why this desert squad is 22-4 and 19-6-1 ATS since Mar. 14. With how ineffective the L.A. bench is, they need to outscore them nightly by 15 or more points, which place the Suns in far more advantageous spot and could mean heavier minutes for Lakers regulars, this might matter later in the series.

It goes without saying Phoenix has to run, but as they proved against San Antonio, it’s not about running and dunking for layups, it is about beating the Lakers defense back and making the extra pass to find the three-point shooter who is open to bury the shot and wear down the big guys in gold and purple late in games.

Jackson pulled out his clichéd “zen master” card saying Nash carry’s the ball (and Michael Jordan did what in Chicago when Phil was there), but he picked the wrong guy in Nash.

"It's news to me. I'm fortunate. I don't know if I've been called for a carry yet,'' he said after the Suns practiced Saturday, then he added straight-faced: "I've never heard anyone accuse me of carrying it. I mean, the best coach in the league Greg Popovich (of San Antonio) didn't have a problem with it last week.''(Nice subtle rip on the Zen-ster)

As is said in boxing, “contrasting styles make fights”. That will be the case out West, with the Lakers trying to control tempo and have their size be a difference maker, while Phoenix wants to play fast, hit 3’s and make enough defensive stops to matter.

(In my best NBA analyst voice and following all spoken clichés) At the end of the day, the Lakers having a long break before the series, another lengthy break before heading to Arizona, (I'm surprised California government officials are letting the Lakers play in Zona, since Sherrif Joe will want to see Gasol's papers) gives them rest and ample time to make adjustments, which makes them awfully difficult to beat unless the opponent plays great defense.

3Daily Winners Pick- L.A. Lakers (-350) in seven over Phoenix (+290)

Denver Nuggets are better team

The title of this article won’t be real popular in L.A., but who cares, as Joe Friday of Dragnet used to say, “Just the facts”. After watching four games between Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers, the truth is in, the Nuggets are better team. That’s doesn’t mean they will win the NBA title, what the heck, it doesn’t even mean they will win this series against the Lake Show, it just means my adjusted 20-15 laser vision can see who the better team is after 16 quarters of professional basketball in the Western Conference Finals.

Denver has more players interested in playing hard than Los Angeles, which is fairly remarkable, since the supposed vision of the Lakers was to make up for losing in last year’s finals to Boston. All season, television talking heads spoke about the new Lakers toughness and the resolve they had, which is a whole lot easier to do against the Clippers, as opposed to mixing it up with Denver.

I’m wondering if the NBA should give up this all-access in game coverage, as NBA coaches are no longer coming off as wizards of the hardwood. It started last year really, when Doc Rivers didn’t so much coach his team, he more implored them to victory. This has followed up with George Karl, telling his team to “stay focused” or “keep playing hard”, not exactly how one pictures Red Auerbach in the huddle talking to his team. With this style of coaching, the only thing missing is pom-poms and “let’s go team”.

Maybe that is how coaches need to talk to their teams, since Phil Jackson has the greatest collection ever of unmotivated players expected to win a NBA title. In watching a portion of Spike Lee’s ESPN thing -John & Kate plus 8 - Kobe style, Bryant talked about the diversity of language spoken by the Lakers. This makes more sense than ever, since communication for motivation purposes is surely lacking for a team that has lost six postseason games by almost 10 points per game.

Maybe Jackson should lower himself to this primitive-method of coaching, since his players are too nonchalant, plus they are less athletic and less talented than their Denver counterparts.
L.A. has not lost two in a row in the playoffs, winning six times by 15 PPG, making bettors pleased with six matching covers.

We’ve all heard how complex the triangle offense is, but is it me or has Kobe given up on teammates, when Lakers need points? The number of assists Bryant has to have in the fourth quarter should be able to be counted on one hand. Besides if the triangle offense is so difficult to understand and execute properly, is Jackson really helping matters playing three different point guards, or does desperation force his hand?

If Derek Fisher didn’t have championship jewelry, retiring right now would be suitable option. Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar, no wonder Kobe is keeping the ball for a team that is 2-8 ATS after being burned for 100 or more points.

Denver’s frontcourt is SO much more active than the Lakers it’s ludicrous. Mark Cuban might have been right about Kenyon Martin being thug, but he’s outplayed Lamar Odom by a mile. Nene has played exceptional position defense on Pau Gasol, whose every touch has been as mechanical as Yao Ming, flustering the Spaniard. If the Denver does win NBA title, Chris “Birdman” Anderson, will be the most requested person on talk show circuit, with people wanting to hear his story of overcoming himself. Phil Jackson would love to look down the bench to find a high effort guy.

The Nuggets have covered like 49 of last 50 games, OK, 21 of last 26, including last six pressure-packed road tilts. Denver, despite playing so well is still volatile. J.R. Smith is loose cannon, as is Martin. Dahntay Jones is not above some chicanery and Denver shot selection can alter games towards the negative.

I checked DiamondSportsbook.com and they opened the Lakers as six-point favorites and Jackson coached teams on the left coast are 15-5 against the spread when series is tied up. Even with the Game 2 loss, L.A. has covered 11 of last 14 at Staples Center against the Nuggies, though I forget, this is different Denver team (wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that since playoffs began).

The Nuggets are 13-5 ATS after scoring 105 or more points and have covered the number is seven of last eight times with one day’s rest.

I’ll probably make a small wager on Denver, because they are the better team and if they really want to prove it, they win Game 5 setting up clincher at Pepsi Center Friday.

Penned by Red Wydley.

Seeking Tuesday Triumphs

Two more official winners in what was a crazy day in baseball wagering with unfathomable comebacks (I should know, had D-Backs). Uncovered an 87.8 percent system in the American League and a prefect reverse trend that is 11-0, depending how you look at it. Greg has a quality weekend and has NL Free Play to hopefully keep us going. Good Luck.

What I learned yesterday- The Denver Nuggets scored 43 points in the fourth quarter of their Game 4 win over the Lakers on Monday night. In Phil Jackson's 293 playoff games as an NBA head coach, his team had never before allowed that many points in any one quarter.

Free Baseball System-1) PLAY AGAINST all underdogs with a money line of +125 to +175, averaging 4.5 or less runs per game, against a good AL starting pitcher with ERA 4.20 or less, with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.500 to 1.600 on the season. This system is imposing 36-5, 87.8 percent and is going against the White Sox.

Free Baseball Trend -2) The Cleveland Indians are 0-11 against the money line after scoring eight runs or more this season.

Free Baseball Selection -3) Greg of the LCC had an 8-2 holiday weekend and is backing Roy Oswalt over Reds this evening.

Note- If you prefer to have this sent to you daily instead of having to visit the site, sign up for our FREE mailing list on the right. You will also receive all my personal plays for Free and your name will NEVER be given to anyone.

L.A. seeks answers in hostile environment

If the Los Angeles Lakers would go on to win the NBA championship, the comparisons would be similar to the last title Michael Jordan had in Chicago, where every series and every game for the most part ended up being a severe challenge. Right now, that is probably the furthest thing from Kobe Bryant’s and his teammates mind, as they are waste deep in torment, dealing with Denver team that has strong desire to show they are the new kids on the block.

To this juncture, the difference between the Lakers and Denver is thinner than the Rocky Mountain air and that was in smog-filled L.A. The first two games were mirror images of one another, just from opposite ends.

Denver started Game 1 fast, missed a boatload of free throws and didn’t execute at the end and lost. In Game 2 it was Los Angeles who powered to early lead, only to see the Nuggets come back by halftime. In the second half, Denver made nearly everything from the charity stripe and it was the Lakers who didn’t execute in halfcourt at crunch time.

The perception that the Lakers have better personnel is being backtracked quickly. Derek Fisher should be coming off the bench, since he is defensive liability and doesn’t offer much when his shot is not falling. Though generally effective, how many teams would forward Trevor Ariza start for in the NBA?

Another noted difference is intangible and subjective, but Denver has two mentally strong players in Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, who do the Lakers have beyond Kobe? Pau Gasol is a very good player, but does he play in elite category when the game is on the line, sometimes.

The Lakers are 3-7 ATS in last 10 conference final conflicts and are in third different circumstance in this year’s postseason embarking on first road playoff game of the series. They were up 2-0 heading to Utah and lost by two. They were tied with Houston getting ready to play Game 3 of that series and gave convincing winning effort; however that was coming off a win.

Even the great Zen Master is being dragged through the mud in these NBA Playoffs. Hardcore Lakers fans and backers were shocked Phil Jackson didn’t out-coach Doc Rivers in the Finals last season and many agreed Rivers got the better of Jackson, from motivational perspective in getting his players to play harder.

Jackson is under the microscope again with his team giving more than one sorry effort in the postseason and his substitution patterns coming into question. In Thursday’s contest, he gave Kobe a "mental break" in the fourth quarter and in less then 100 seconds, Denver turned a one point deficit into a five point lead. It should be noted, Jackson has always made discussion generating substitutions, they just always used to work.

Even lame brains like Andrew Bynum are calling Jackson out, saying, "Honestly, I think we need to rethink how we are doing the defense. … They are just attacking it and swinging [the ball] to the other side. It is an easy three-on-two every time that they swing it to the other side."
This zero-sum insight from starting center who was going to be the difference-maker for L.A., yet has logged 34 total minutes and 15 points in two games, not earning the trust of his coach, based on actions, not words.

Denver has covered a confounding dozen straight playoff games and returns home to the Pepsi Center energized and confident. George Karl’s club has won 15 in a row at its mile high place of work (11-4 ATS) and is 20-5 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog this season. Comparisons to other Denver teams are useless, as this group is completely different.

I think we got a lot tougher in the last two minutes of the game," Billups said. "We had guys diving for loose balls. ... We just got tougher, where we should have done that in Game 1. We learned from that and did it in Game 2."

Sports bettors are paying attention also and believing what they are seeing in Denver. DiamondSportsbook.com opened the Nuggets as three-point favorite and it was hit hard the Denver money, moving line to four points, before settling back to 3.5. The total is relatively stationary at 211.5, with the Lakers 15-6 UNDER after one or more losses this season. Melo and the guys will want to come out flying and are 12-3 OVER at home after scoring 100 points or more three straight games.

The Lakers are 22-11 ATS as a road underdog and they are 4-3 SU and ATS in last seven visits to Colorado. Denver is 28-10 ATS after playing consecutive road games and on 22-5 ATS run against teams with winning records.

ESPN moves its cameras East for Game 3 and 8:35 Eastern start, with the last five meetings in Denver between these teams having played UNDER.

Bettors studying money line on Nuggets for Game 2

If you played the Nuggets in the opener of the Western Conference playoffs, you have to be feeling mighty good taking home a relatively comfortable winner. Denver led throughout the game, taking the action to the Lakers, out-hustling them throughout many points of the contest. It was clear from the opening tip what team was coming off seven game series and what team was rested. In the end, Kobe Bryant proved comments made by former Los Angeles Hall-of Famer and previous architect Jerry West, suggesting LeBron James might be the best player in the game, could be premature at least for another month or so.

Bryant in the fourth quarter surveyed his teammate’s body language and later said, "Once I sensed we didn't have the energy," said Bryant. "I had to take it upon myself." And did he ever, scoring 18 points, despite grappling with Carmelo Anthony, showing elusive moves that WWE promoter Vince McMahon would be proud of, as the Lakers escaped 105-103 as 6.5-point favorites.

Most NBA teams would be kicking themselves for not taking advantage of opportunity like Denver missed. While statistical analysis is often hard to make concrete judgments from for one game, no such issue here. Denver shoot a much greater percentage than the Lakers (48.6 vs 41.1), were more effective, especially in the first half in getting to the free throw line (35 vs 24 attempts) and scored five more points off of turnovers (17 vs 12) than L.A. did.

But these Nuggets were not panicked or crestfallen, they believe they are the Lakers equal and know the 12 missed free throws were the difference.

“Win or lose, good or bad, you've got to have a short memory," Chauncey Billups insisted. “Game 1 is always a feel-out game, see what teams are doing, what is going on. You make your adjustments for Game 2."

Denver is now 11-0 ATS in the postseason and as Billups said, “I'm disappointed, but I'm not mad,"

The Nuggets have to make adjustments and be like top notch salesmen, always be closing. They are 19-5 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog this season and even received a compliment, though backhanded from Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "I think they outplayed us and we won the game."-said the Zen Master, playing his usual mental games.

DiamondSportsbook.com has lowered the number for Game 2 to the Lakers favored by 5.5-points, with total also shrinking to 210.5. Denver is a +200 money line play to win the game outright and we asked Mr. East of Playbook.com about what he thinks about next game and wagering opportunities.

“I think Denver played about the way they have played for the past two months, solid effort, came up short. They didn't get outplayed by the Lakers, they lost the game by missing 12 free throws, uncharacteristic, especially watching Billups, who misses once in a solar eclipse, miss three straight.” said Mr. East.

He went add key points and opinions, “They are every bit as good a team as the Lakers, and game two will be equally close. One wise man told me, the team in need is the team indeed, so I look for even a more intense effort from Denver in game 2. Home teams winning game 1 in the conference finals are a horrid 11-20-3 ATS in game 2 since 1991. When they get a win and no cover, they are 1-4-2 ATS, so when the visitor shows they can play, they have come back to go 11-4-2 ATS in game 2 off an ATS or outright loss.

Looking for Denver to get the cover, and 50-50 for the outright win.”

The Nuggets are 40-21 ATS when the total is greater than or equal to 200 and 21-10 ATS revenging a loss vs opponent this season. Denver is 14-6 UNDER as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points this NBA campaign.

Watch the total, as the Lakers continue to be poor wager when the number is 210 or higher with 13-22 ATS mark. The team in gold uniforms is 27-14 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points and 13-4 UNDER when leading in a playoff series over the last two years.

The action will again commence at the Staples Center at 9:05 Eastern on ESPN, with bettors pondering the points and money line on the Nuggets, who are 17-3 against the ML after allowing 100 points or more three straight games.

Lakers Playing Respect Card in Beantown

Revenge can be such an ugly word and today’s athlete doesn’t always find it to be a compelling argument to go out and give it everything you have. Choose a different say, “embarrassment” or even worse “disrespect” those are fightin’ words in this era. Players of today make a lot of money, which leads to bigger egos and when their friends and hangers on tell them they were essentially Punk’d, that’s not going to sit well. For the Los Angeles Lakers, they return to Boston for the first time since Game Six of the NBA finals, where they embarrassed 131-92.

“We had our most disappointing moments on that Boston Celtic court in Game 6,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson stated. “To be not only beaten, but humiliated, in a game like that to end the series, and have them celebrating and throwing (stuff) all over the court, disrupting the game with 2 1/2 minutes left to go. It was in your face and everybody remembers that. There’s a certain element of, you know, we have some serious work to do.”

The Lakers (39-9, 24-23-1 ATS) relieved some of that embarrassment on Christmas Day, with their 92-83 win as two-point home favorites. Back then Boston was in the midst of playing their worst basketball of the season, winning twice in nine games. The competitive nature of elite athletes, they want to beat others who are also at their best, which is exactly where the Celtics are at present, having won 12 in a row (9-3 ATS).

For L.A., this almost becomes a crusade of sorts with so many factors working against them.

Just like in last year’s finals, the purple-clad Lakers will be without center Andrew Bynum, who will miss eight to 12 weeks after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. This will be game five of a six-game road trip (4-0 SU and ATS) and doesn’t go unnoticed in the Lakers locker room; this will be their fifth game in seven days, having to play last night in Toronto, while Boston had the night off. Bryant and the Lakers will try and build on recent success which has them 12-3 ATS playing back to back road games.

Pau Gasol tried to sum up the team’s feelings. “Last time we played there it was a pretty bad game for us,” he said. “I’m looking forward to bounce back there and prove a point.”

Boston (28-22 ATS) will be hell-bent on defending their own turf, where they are 24-2 and 16-10 ATS. The Celtics have followed up winning the championship, with quite an encore thus far with 41-9 record, best in the NBA. They will welcome back Kevin Garnett who has missed the last two games due to illness and look to sustain winning ways. Boston is 11-3 ATS in home games after having won eight or more of their last 10 games this season.

Bookmaker.com has Boston as six-point pick with total of 204.5. The Celtics could have the edge being 12-2 ATS in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 200. The Lakers will attempt to counter posting 17-6 ATS record in road games after successfully covering the spread in two or more consecutive outings.

With contrasting styles of play, tempo will be important. L.A. is 17-4 OVER after three or more consecutive wins this season, winning by almost seven points a game. On the other hand, Paul Pierce and his gang (possibly poor choice of words) is 10-1 UNDER after scoring 100 points or more two straight contests, with average margin of victory 13 points.

The excitement starts at 8:05 Eastern on TNT with the C’s 4-1SU and ATS in last five meetings in Beantown.