What Bettors Need to Know: 76ers at Celtics
By Covers.com
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (-5, 170.5)
SERIES ODDS TO WIN: 76ers +175, Celtics -250
THE STORY: The Philadelphia 76ers are participating in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time in nine years as they open play against the division-rival Celtics in Boston on Saturday. Eighth-seeded Philadelphia defeated the injury-depleted Chicago Bulls in six games in the opening round while fifth-seeded Boston ousted the Atlanta Hawks in six games. The Celtics are in the second round for the fifth straight season. The 76ers won two of three regular-season meetings.
ABOUT THE 76ERS: Philadelphia had lost five consecutive playoff series before toppling the Bulls. Guard Andre Iguodala hit two free throws with 2.2 seconds left in Thursday’s series-clinching 79-78 victory. The 76ers won the finale despite being outrebounded 56-33 and will need to perform better in that area to upset the Celtics. Center Spencer Hawes averaged 15.5 points and 10.3 rebounds over the last four games of the Chicago series while point guard Jure Holiday averaged a team-best 18.2 points against the Bulls. Top reserve Lou Williams finished second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year alloting announced Thursday.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Forwards Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and point guard Rajon Rondo took turns being stars in the series against Atlanta. Pierce was strong early in the series before injuring his left knee, Rondo had a triple-double in Game 3 and Garnett hit the go-ahead basket in the clinching game to cap off a performance in which he had 28 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. Guard Ray Allen has been inconsistent while battling an ankle injury and fellow backcourt mate Avery Bradley (shoulder) also is laboring. Rondo averaged 13.3 points in the three regular-season meetings against Philadelphia.
TRENDS:
- 76ers are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games as an underdog.
- Celtics are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 home games.
- 76ers are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Boston and Philadelphia last met in the postseason in 2002 when the Celtics won the best-of-five first-round series 3-2.
2. Celtics coach Doc Rivers recorded his 50th postseason win on Thursday, third-most in franchise history behind Red Auerbach (90) and K.C. Jones (65).
3. Iguodala had 11 steals and just four turnovers in the six-game series with Chicago.
What Bettors Need to Know: Nuggets at Lakers
By Covers.com
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers (-6, 196.5)
THE STORY: It was hard to tell what bothered Kobe Bryant more – his stomach bug or the nauseating performance put forth by his teammates in the Los Angeles Lakers' lopsided Game 6 loss at Denver on Thursday night. The Lakers will hope to avoid becoming the ninth team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead when they host the resurgent Nuggets in Game 7 Saturday night. Starting forward Metta World Peace returns for Los Angeles after serving a seven-game suspension.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS: A different player seems to step up for Denver in each game, and speedy point guard Ty Lawson did the honors Thursday. Although he had back-to-back 25-point games earlier in the series, Lawson has struggled with his shot – particularly from long range. Getting desperate after going 2 of 16 from behind the arc in the first five games of the series, Lawson flew in his personal shooting coach before Game 6. The result was a playoff career-high 32 points that included making five of six 3-pointers in Denver's wire-to-wire rout. Rookie Kenneth Faried had his third double-double and is averaging 10 rebounds in the series against the Lakers’ towering front line.
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Los Angeles figured to have an enormous advantage inside with 7-footers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Bynum had two huge games to help the Lakers to a 2-0 series lead, but the team's twin towers experienced a remarkable disappearing act in the thin air of Denver. Bynum's stat line (11 points, 16 rebounds) suggests a decent performance, but he and Gasol combined for a mere five points in the first half Thursday. Gasol scored a season-low three points in Game 6 and has seen his point production drop in four straight games. Bryant didn't mince words when asked if his teammates matched his heart in Game 6. ''No, of course they didn't,'' he said.
TRENDS:
- Nuggets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
- Lakers are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 home games.
- Under is 22-8 in the last 30 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Lakers are 42-1 all-time when taking a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series – the only loss coming in 1969 vs. Boston. Los Angeles is the last team to blow a 3-1 lead, falling to Phoenix in 2006.
2. The Nuggets, losers in the first round of the playoffs in seven of the past eight seasons, have advanced to a Game 7 for the first time since 1994.
3. World Peace, who hasn't played since April 22, had 14 points and eight rebounds in a 103-97 win over Denver on April 13.
NBA Preview
76ers @ Celtics -- Teams met three times in 32 days in March/April, and home side won all three games, with none of three decided by less than 13 points. Both teams just won a series in six games, despite not having home court advantage; Celtics' last two games were decided by total of 4 points. In Philly's last four games, neither team scored 90 points. Sixers are only fifth #8 seed to advance in playoffs- they took advantage of crippled Chicago team. Philly lost 103-79 in only visit here this year.
Nuggets @ Lakers (3-3) -- Denver wants to run, eliminating an advantage Lakers have with Bynum underneath; Bynum was 4-11 in Game 6, Pau Gasol 1-10 and both were called out by both Laker coaches (Brown and Kobe). Farther the ball is shot from the basket, the better for Nuggets. In three series wins, Lakers took 17-15-17 treys; in two losses, 25-24-14. Weird thing about this series is road team took more foul shots in all six games. Denver scored 99-102-113 in its three wins, 88-100-88 in losses. Saturday is George Karl's 61st birthday.
Armadillosports.com
PHILADELPHIA (39 - 33) at BOSTON (43 - 29)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 13-25 ATS (-14.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 86-72 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 82-103 ATS (-31.3 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 43-71 ATS (-35.1 Units) in home games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=91 points/game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 7-4 against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 7-4 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DENVER (41 - 31) at LA LAKERS (44 - 28)
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) when tied in a playoff series since 1996.
DENVER is 40-32 ATS (+4.8 Units) in all games this season.
DENVER is 40-23 ATS (+14.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points this season.
DENVER is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) in road games this season.
DENVER is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) in road games after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
DENVER is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 29-42 ATS (-17.2 Units) in all games this season.
LA LAKERS are 17-28 ATS (-13.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
LA LAKERS are 33-49 ATS (-20.9 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 195 and 199.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 24-36 ATS (-15.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 7-21 ATS (-16.1 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 27-41 ATS (-18.1 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 11-6 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 9-8 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
12 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA vs. BOSTON
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
DENVER vs. LA LAKERS
Denver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Denver is 8-14-1 ATS in their last 23 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of the LA Lakers last 9 games
LA Lakers are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games at home
Philadelphia at Boston
Philadelphia: 10-2 Over away after winning 2 of their last 3 games
Boston: 8-19 ATS off 4+ games allowing 90 points or less
Denver at LA Lakers
Denver: 10-2 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points
LA Lakers: 7-22 ATS with a total of 190 to 199.5 points