After a hard-fought seven-game sequence with the Knicks, the Pacers will meet up with the juggernaut Celtics within the Japanese Convention finals.
Boston performs host for Sport 1 on Tuesday night time as 10-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook, with Indiana simply 48 hours faraway from eliminating the Knicks.
The Celtics get pleasure from six days relaxation forward of Sport 1.
Maybe the Pacers can carry their scorching capturing into Boston, however this Celtics group is a completely totally different animal than the shell-of-themselves Knicks that they simply ousted.
For starters, don’t count on Indiana’s scorching 3-point capturing from poor shooters to proceed.
Andrew Nembhard shot 52.6 % from 3-point vary towards the Knicks after hitting simply 35.7 % from deep through the common season.
The identical goes for Myles Turner, who shot an insane 48.3 % versus his 35.8 share through the common season, and even Tyrese Haliburton shot a considerably larger share from 3-point vary within the semifinals (43.9 % on 9.4 makes an attempt per sport vs. 36.4 % on 7.8 makes an attempt).
These three guys’ scorching capturing was the distinction in a sequence the place the Knicks additionally misplaced most of their roster to damage.
In the meantime, the Celtics, who wrestle in shut video games, determine to construct huge leads off of dry spells from the Pacers.
As I broke down within the sequence Celtics-Pacers sequence preview, this isn’t more likely to be a drawn-out sequence.
Boston had the second-best defensive effectivity within the NBA (110.6), simply behind the league-leading Minnesota Timberwolves.
Pacers vs. Celtics prediction and wager for Sport 1
As for betting on Tuesday’s sport, the Celtics have a definite benefit that you simply don’t see usually.
Their photographs by no means get blocked they usually not often flip the ball over.
Boston allowed simply 3.5 blocks per sport, a considerably decrease fee than some other group, with the Mavericks coming in second at 4.2.
Additionally they allowed simply six steals per sport, the bottom quantity within the NBA as properly.
Prop totals seemingly aren’t monitoring this as a possible shift for the Pacers, as Turners block complete has stayed regular at 1.5 blocks for Sport 1, the identical quantity it was all through the Knicks-Pacers sequence in keeping with scoresandodds.com.
The identical goes for Haliburton’s blocks+steals prop, which has stayed regular at 1.5, in keeping with the outlet, regardless of the change in opponent.
The Knicks have been blocked 5.3 occasions per sport within the common season and an insane 6.3 occasions per sport within the postseason, in comparison with simply 3.7 for the Celtics through the season and a couple of.0 occasions within the playoffs.
That postseason common for the Knicks was greater than thrice Celtics’ determine, and nobody will argue that Turner is an elite rim protector at any stage.
In the meantime, Boston has been allowed the fewest steals within the NBA (4.7) through the season and the second-fewest within the playoffs (4.6).
The Knicks struggled to cease steals with their injured backcourt, permitting 5.9 steals per sport within the playoffs – about center of the pack – in comparison with simply 6.7 within the common season, a top-10 quantity.
Betting on the NBA?
Add all of that up and you’ve got an edge.
This can be a development I count on to wager every sport of this sequence, and is actually price betting on Tuesday with a number of gamers.
Benefit from the development earlier than the books catch up.
Pacers vs. Celtics Sport 1 picks
- Myles Turner beneath 2.5 blocks + steals (-135, Bet365) | Below 1.5 blocks (+104, BetRivers)
- Tyrese Haliburton beneath 1.5 steals + blocks (+105, BetMGM)
- Obi Toppin beneath 0.5 steals + blocks (+130, Bet365)
- Pascal Siakam beneath 1.5 steals + blocks (-185, Caesars)
