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The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday at the TD Garden in Boston. It’s a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals but when you take a look at this year’s standings, it’s just a battle between the East favorites and the worst team in the league.
Worst Record in The League
The Cleveland Cavaliers have seen their fortunes change drastically after LeBron James left the team for the second time last summer. With King James gone and Kevin Love injured, the Cavs have the worst record in the NBA right now at 9-39 including a woeful 4-21 away from home. The Cavs have lost nine of their last 10 and four in a row entering this matchup.
The Cavs have the third lowest scoring average in the NBA at 102.5 points per game. They are also next to last in passing with 20.0 assists per game. Cleveland is at #26 in rebounding with 41.8 boards per contest. The Cavs rank 23rd in scoring defense at 113.7 points per game allowed.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics 1/23/19
Moneyline Odds: Cavaliers +1400, Celtics -2400
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 1/23/19
East Favorites Again
After their masterful 117-108 win over the Toronto Raptors a week ago, the Boston Celtics have established themselves as East favorites again (Sorry, Giannis). Including that win, the Celtics now have won four games in a row to improve to 26-18 on the season. Boston now has won 8 out of their last 11 games to move to 5th place in the East after a slow start.
The Celtics rank 12th in scoring at 112.0 points per game scored and they are also 6th in passing at 26.9 assists per game. Boston is the 17th best rebounding team at 45.0 boards per contest and they own the league’s 4th best scoring defense at 105.8 points per game scored.
Who Wins?
The Cavs are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played and Cleveland is 1-5 SU in their last six road games played. The Celtics are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played and Boston is 6-0 at the TD Garden over that period. Head to head, these teams have split their last 10 meetings SU but the Celtics are 4-1 SU in their last five meetings in Boston.
There’s nothing much to talk about these Cleveland Cavaliers team really. Without Kevin Love and with Tristan Thompson missing a total of 13 games this season including their last three due to injuries, not only are the Cavs short up front but short in production and leadership as well. Young guys like Clarkson, Nance and Sexton have shown some fight but that has not been enough to compete.
The Celtics have been streaky as of late. They won four in a row then lost three in a row and now have won four straight again. But you can see the team starting to come together at this stage of the season. Kyrie Irving has been weaving his magic lately and the other guys have followed his lead. Al Horford is resting this game and Gordon Hayward may not be playing due to personal reasons but really, Boston has more than enough to beat a handicapped Cleveland team. I think this is an easy win for the C’s.
I’m picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on 1/23/19.
Other Bets To Make
Cleveland is 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games played, including 1-4-1 ATS in six road games during that stretch. Meanwhile, Boston is an even 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Celtics are 4-2 SU in six home games during this period. Head to head, these teams have split their last 10 meetings ATS but Boston 3-1-1 ATS in their last five encounters at the TD Garden.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics 1/23/19
Spread Odds: Cavaliers +16.5 (-109), Celtics -16.5 (-109)
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 1/23/19
We know how awful Cleveland has been on offense this season without Kevin Love and Boston has prevailed 4-2 ATS in their last six meetings at the TD Garden. But the Celtics have not won by double digits during their current four game winning streak with their largest margin of victory at 9 versus the Raptors. However, these teams did meet last November 30th and Boston whipped Cleveland by 33 points in Boston and the Cavs have lost by at least 16 points in their last four losses. This one’s a tough call because while Boston can easily repeat that win, they are cautious after suffering so many injuries so early in the season. I’ll take the plus points and the Cavs here.
Prediction: Cavaliers +16.5
The over is 7-3 in Cleveland’s last 10 games played. The total has gone over in four out of the last six road games played by the Cavaliers. On the other hand, the under is 6-4 in Boston’s last 10 games played. The Celtics have seen the over and under hit three times each in their last six home games played
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics 1/23/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 216 -109, Under 216 -109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 1/23/19
Over has been the play in Cleveland’s last 10 games but that’s mostly because of their opponents’ scoring big on them. In their last five games, the Cavs are averaging just 100.4 points per game and have scored just 102 or fewer in four of those games. On the other hand, Boston is averaging 112.2 points per game in their last five games and while I think that the Celtics can score in the 120 to 130 range if they want to, defense has been the calling card of this year’s team with Boston 4th in scoring defense. I think Boston shuts down the Cavs and wins easily.
Prediction: Under 216
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