Last Updated on April 17, 2010 12:00 pm by drew
Celtics-Heat Pick
Perhaps the most intriguing series in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs is between Boston and Miami, which begins Saturday night at 8PM ET.
Bet the 2010 NBA Playoffs
The Celtics are the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference while the Heat are the No. 5 seed.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL have made Boston the slight favorites to win the series with a money line of -225 while the Heat have a line of +175.
In three season meetings, Boston won all three, winning by at least five points in each game. Boston had at least 50 rebounds in each game and shot 48 percent or better.
Boston is 50-32 this season, as the Celtics won the Atlantic Division. Boston was 24-17 at home and 26-15 on the road, which ties for the best road record in the East. Against the conference, the Celtics are 33-19. Boston scores 99.2 points per-game on offense and allow just 95.6 points per-game. Paul Pierce is leading Boston with 18.3 points per-game while Ray Allen adds 16.3 points and Kevin Garnett scores 14.4 points per-game. Rajon Rondo averages 13.7 points and 9.8 assists per-game.
Miami finished the year 47-35 in a competitive Southeast Division, which had four playoff teams. The Heat were 24-17 at home and 23-18 on the road. The Heat were also 32-20 against the Eastern Conference. Miami scores just 96.5 points per-game on offense but the Heat allow the second fewest points in the league at 94.2 points per-game. Dwayne Wade is the leader in Miami as he averages 26.6 points and 6.5 assists per-game. Wade shoots 47.6 percent from the field. Michael Beasley adds 14.8 points per-game while Jermaine O’Neal averages 13.6 points per-game. Udonis Haslem adds 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per-game.
This series should be very competitive but it seems that Miami will have the best player on the court in the series, which can make a big difference. Boston has looked old and sluggish in the second half of the season as they have blown large leads. The Celtics also have concerns about coach Doc Rivers leaving after the season, and with those issues, we like the younger Heat to pull off the mild upset.
Our NBA Playoff Series Free Pick for this matchup is: MIAMI HEAT +175
(Note: This free pick is for the entire seven game series and is not to be confused with our daily NBA picks, which are for individual games.)
NBA Playoffs Betting Trends
BOSTON is 33-47 ATS (-18.7 Units) in all games this season.
BOSTON is 24-38 ATS (-17.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
BOSTON is 12-28 ATS (-18.8 Units) in home games this season.
BOSTON is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
BOSTON is 66-97 ATS (-40.7 Units) in home games after allowing 105 points or more since 1996.
BOSTON is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 67-94 ATS (-36.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record – 2nd half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 7-4 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 10-1 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA Playoffs Injury Report
MIAMI
[G] 03/07/2010 – Rafer Alston out for season ( Suspension )
[C] 04/15/2010 – Jermaine O’Neal missed last few games, probable Saturday vs. Boston ( Ankle )
BOSTON
No significant injuries.
NBA Playoffs Series Odds
Boston Celtics -225
Miami Heat +175
Celtics vs. Heat Series Schedule:
Saturday, April 17 at Boston, 8 p.m. on ESPN
Tuesday, April 20 at Boston, 8 p.m. on TNT
Friday, April 23 at Miami, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday, April 25 at Miami, 1 p.m. on ABC
*TBA at Boston
*TBA at Miami
*TBA at Boston
*If Necessary
Bet the 2010 NBA Playoffs
Posted: 4/17/10 12:00PM ET