NBA Playoff Betting Preview Game 6 Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic

Published on May 14, 2009 by admin · No Comments

The Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic will lock up on Thursday in game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff series with the Celtics up 3-2. Boston got the win in game 5 98-88 with a strong finish to the game. The game is scheduled for 7PM Eastern Time in Orlando with ESPN providing the television coverage. LVSC has opened the Orlando Magic as 5 1/2 point favorites with the over under coming in at 190 ½. The early money has come in on the home team Magic, as Orlando is currently a 7-point favorite in game 6. The total has seen slight action downward as the over under is currently lined at 190. Money Line bettors should note that LVSC opened Orlando as –220 favorites with Boston the underdogs at +180 in game 6. Orlando has gotten the early money as they are currently a –340 favorite to win straight up in game 6 with the Boston Celtics returning a hefty +280 to beat Orlando in game 6 without the aid of getting points.

The attention after game 5 is on Magic center Dwight Howard. Howard finished with only 12 points and failed to take a shot in the games finale 6 ½ minutes. In the post game comments after the game Howard took shots at his coach Van Gundy’s strategy down the stretch of game 5 where the Magic fully collapsed. Howard felt he didn’t touch the ball enough down the stretch. When a team is sporting a sizable lead down the stretch and your center hits on only 59% of his free throws one can understand why his teammates don’t want the ball in Howard’s hands late in the game. It’s been a habit of teams to deliberately foul when behind in games to increase possessions and to target a poor free throw shooter and put them on the line late in the 4th quarter. The Magic has failed down the stretches of game 4 and game 5 with a lack of clutch shooting. It appeared that Magic forward Hedo Turkglu has lost confidence as he was passing up open looks from three down the stretch.

Trend: The Under is 6-2 in their past 8 meetings in Orlando

The Wagerline consensus has 63.7% of the bettors on Boston +7

The Wagerline consensus has 58.9% of the bettors playing over 190

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