Cavs Collide With Boston Tonight!
The Cleveland Cavaliers invade the Boston Celtics tonight with home court advantage in the East potentially on the line.
Sportsbook.com has Boston as two-point favorites, with a Total of 184. Check out all the live odds for Friday’s NBA games here. ESPN will have the telecast of this anticipated matchup stating at 8 pm ET.
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%. Because of their ability to defend, they are 29-6 ATS versus good shooting teams making 46% of their shots.
With Cleveland having chosen to play hard every game, that explains why they are tied with the best record ATS 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 to put the ball in the basket. James is having an MVP-caliber season and point guard Mo Williams has been a big part in being another offensive weapon, both scoring and distributing the ball.
“We got one goal,” James said after a win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. “That’s to win an NBA championship.”
Cleveland is 10-1 straight-up 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, 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 advanced. This series has been dominated by the home team, with 13 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 their last seven outings, with two covers. The usual defensive intensity is not there, having surrendered 97.4 PPG, compared to 92.6 on the season.
Boston did light up New Jersey for 115 points in their last contest and is 13-4 ATS after a game where they made 55% or more of their shots and are 12-4 ATS after scoring 110 or more points. Coach Doc Rivers is trying to find minutes that make sense for Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore, their late season acquisitions.
The C’s are 25-5 straight-up 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 straight-up 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.
The Cavs are 1-8 straight-up but 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine visits to Boston.
One reply on “Friday Cavs vs. Celtics NBA Hoops Previews (Mar. 6th)”
Boston was impressive in beating the Cavs on Friday as they continue to get my vote for the best team in the NBA East. That being said do not count out Orlando as a solid number three team who, as having shown on Sunday can not only play with Celtics, but beat them as well.