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(NBA) Cleveland vs. Boston,
Total: 218.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 218.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers have rolled to nine straight wins this postseason, averaging 114.8 PPG. After failing to cover their first two games against the Pacers, the Cavs are 6-0-1 or 7-0 ATS their last seven. In fact, Cleveland has now won 12 straight playoff games since being down 3-1 against the Warriors in last year's Finals, going 9-2-1 or 10-2 ATS. LBJ (38-9-7) and Kevin Love (32 & 12) led the way in Game 1's rout and Boston now has had just one day to regroup, as the Cavs will try to match the 1988-89 Lakers for the longest winning streak in NBA playoff history (13) in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Cleveland: LBJ is averaging 34.8 points, nine rebounds and 7.1 assists in the postseason and has scored 30 or more points in each of the last seven games. "He's playing at a high level, and that's the reason why we're riding him so much," Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. "When LeBron's playing at that level other guys just have to be solid and we have a good chance to win." Plenty of "solid play" in Game 1 came from PF Kevin Love,who added a career playoff-high 32 points to go with 12 rebounds plus center Tristan Thompson, who chipped in a career playoff-best 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting.
Boston: The Celtics just survived a tough seven-game series against the Wizards to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2012 and can't be happy with their Game 1 effort. However, PG Isaiah Thomas maintains his team isn't intimidated. "They lace up their shoes just like us," Thomas told reporters on Thursday. "They just happened to play better than us in Game 1. We just gotta protect home court in Game 2 and get the win." That may be a little optimistic or Thomas may just be "whistling past the graveyard." After all, Thomas scored just 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting in the opener, marking the fourth time in the past six games he scored fewer than 20 points. Backup center Kelly Olynyk scored just two points in the opener, after scoring a playoff career-high 26 in the final game of the series against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
The pick: Boston can't control or even slow down, LBJ. The Celtics need more offense from Isaiah Thomas, who nawas med All-NBA second team Thursday. He did have 10 assists to go along with 17 points in Game 1 and became the first Celtic since Rajon Rondo in 2012 with back-to-back playoff double-doubles. However, it wasn't nearly enough. Can Boston beat Cleveland? It doesn't look like it but the Celtics have averaged 110.0 PPG at home this season (including the playoffs) and I expect them to be MUCH better offensively in Game 2. Make the Over a 10* play.
Cleveland: LBJ is averaging 34.8 points, nine rebounds and 7.1 assists in the postseason and has scored 30 or more points in each of the last seven games. "He's playing at a high level, and that's the reason why we're riding him so much," Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. "When LeBron's playing at that level other guys just have to be solid and we have a good chance to win." Plenty of "solid play" in Game 1 came from PF Kevin Love,who added a career playoff-high 32 points to go with 12 rebounds plus center Tristan Thompson, who chipped in a career playoff-best 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting.
Boston: The Celtics just survived a tough seven-game series against the Wizards to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2012 and can't be happy with their Game 1 effort. However, PG Isaiah Thomas maintains his team isn't intimidated. "They lace up their shoes just like us," Thomas told reporters on Thursday. "They just happened to play better than us in Game 1. We just gotta protect home court in Game 2 and get the win." That may be a little optimistic or Thomas may just be "whistling past the graveyard." After all, Thomas scored just 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting in the opener, marking the fourth time in the past six games he scored fewer than 20 points. Backup center Kelly Olynyk scored just two points in the opener, after scoring a playoff career-high 26 in the final game of the series against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
The pick: Boston can't control or even slow down, LBJ. The Celtics need more offense from Isaiah Thomas, who nawas med All-NBA second team Thursday. He did have 10 assists to go along with 17 points in Game 1 and became the first Celtic since Rajon Rondo in 2012 with back-to-back playoff double-doubles. However, it wasn't nearly enough. Can Boston beat Cleveland? It doesn't look like it but the Celtics have averaged 110.0 PPG at home this season (including the playoffs) and I expect them to be MUCH better offensively in Game 2. Make the Over a 10* play.