Portland vs Boston NBA Betting Odds
The Boston Celtics may have begun the year 0-4, but they’ve since gone 4-1, proving that they’re not the doormats they were once presumed to be. The Portland Trail Blazers have also been exceeding expectations, as they’ve gone 6-2 through their first eight contests. [ad-4468020]
Portland (6-2) @ Boston (4-5)
Friday, Nov. 15 7:30 PM ET @ TD Garden
Spread: Boston -2.5
O/U: 194
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
NBA ATS Stats | NBA Betting Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NBA Picks!
Portland
As well as the Portland Trail Blazers have played, they’re about to face their first real test. No, that’s not necessarily the Boston Celtics—it’s the East Coast road trip that could force them to stumble.
The Trail Blazers are a team that struggled mightily away from the Rose Garden last season. This year, five of their first eight games have taken place at the newly named Moda Center, meaning we’ve yet to see if an improved bench can handle itself any better away from home.
The Best NBA Predictions on the PLANET!!! CLICK TO CHECK OUT OUR EXPERTS NBA PLAYS TODAY!
What we do know about Portland is that it has some serious scoring weapons in the starting lineup. LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard are leading the way with 21.3 points per game and 19.9 points per game respectively, and both are as dangerous as it comes when they catch fire.
Against Boston, the Blazers should expect a lower-scoring output than they’re used to. The Celtics are the seventh-best team in the league when it comes to points allowed, as they’re giving up just 95.6 points.
[ad-6571516]
A low-scoring game favors Boston, which is why Portland will look to push the tempo early and often.
Boston
The defensive strategy for Boston comes down to one major concept: defend the three-pointer. Portland may lack an identity on the national level, but if it has become known for one thing, it’s head coach
Terry Stotts’ willingness to let this team launch from downtown. Lillard, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum can all score from deep, and Mo Williams and Dorell Wright will do damage of their own off the bench.
Offensively, look for Jeff Green and crew to attack the rim. Portland is last in points scored in the paint, but more importantly for the Celtics, it is last in points allowed in the paint.
Boston is No. 8 in the NBA in points scored in that category, which gives it a huge advantage.
Where the Celtics have excelled defensively this season is in transition. They’re allowing just 10.9 fast-break points per game, which is good enough for fifth in the NBA. The Blazers will look to control the pace of the offense, but a solid defense should help dispel hopes of quick points from Portland.
Boston is a team in flux, as evidenced by its massive trade this past summer that sent Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets.
Nobody quite knows what to make of its chances this year, but what we do know is that the players on the floor haven’t been told the organization is tanking for the 2014 draft.
Until Portland proves it can get it done on the road, it’s too tough to trust it at this point in the season. Boston earns the edge in this one, pulling away late in an otherwise close contest.
Prediction: Boston 99 – Portland 90
