Boston Celtics versus LA Lakers Thursday 6-3-2010 ABC TV NBA Playoffs Finals Game 1 Pro Basketball Sports Betting Odds Pick Preview

Published on June 2, 2010 by admin · No Comments

It will be a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals when the Boston Celtics take the court to face the LA Lakers in game 1 of their best of 7 series on Thursday night.

Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals is scheduled to tip off in Staples Center in Los Angeles at 9PM Eastern Time and you can watch it on ABC TV.

The LVSC NBA odds makers have set the point spread in game 1 and it was the home team LA Lakers opening up as 6 point betting favorites with the over under lined at 192 ½.

The early money from the NBA bettors has come on the road underdog Boston Celtics as the LA Lakers is currently a 5 ½ point favorite. The total has been bet upward in the early wagering to a current over under of 193.

NBA money line gamblers on the side of the favored LA Lakers will lay -260 odds with the Boston Celtics returning +220 to steal game 1 with a victory without the need for taking the points.

The LA Lakers have been set at -200 favorites to win the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics the underdog at +175 to win this best of 7 series.

The teams met twice this regular season with each team winning on their opponents home court.

They first met on January 31st in Boston and it was the LA Lakers with the 90-89 victory as a 1 point road favorite. The Lakers had a good shooting game hitting on 47.9% of their shots in victory. It took a Kobe Bryant game winner in the closing seconds to notch the victory for the Lakers at TD Waterhouse. The Lakers won the game on the glass by winning the rebounding battle by a 59-51 margin. The Celtics were extremely sloppy with 18 turnovers.

They met for the second time this regular season on February 18th at Staples Center in Los Angeles and it was the Celtics posting the 87-86 victory as 2 ½ point road underdogs. The Lakers were held to only 40.2% shooting in defeat and made only 4 of 16 from the three point line. The Lakers played the game without Kobe Bryant who was held out of the game due to injury.

The Lakers journey to the NBA finals began as the team defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 games. They won every game at home and lost 2 of 3 in Oklahoma City. LA then swept the Utah Jazz in four straight games. They disposed of Phoenix in the Western Conference Finals in 6 games. They too won every home playoff game in that series but dropped 2 of 3 games at Phoenix. The Lakers are 2-0 though in road game 6 playoff games.

Boston’s trip to the finals began as the team disposed of the Miami Heat in 5 games. They won all 3 home games in the opening round went 1-1 at Miami. The team then eliminated Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games. The Celtics went 2-1 at home and 2-1 on the road in that series. Boston then eliminated the defending Eastern Conference finalists Orlando Magic in 6 games. Boston went 2-1 at home and 2-1 on the road in the Eastern Conference finals.

Kobe Bryant has led the Lakers in the post season with a 29.4 points per game average and he made 48.3% of his shots. Since averaging 23.5 points a game against Oklahoma City Kobe’s production offensively soared as the All Star averaged 32 points per game in the Utah series and 33.7 points per game against the Suns.

Kobe played in only 1 game against Boston this season and he scored 19 points on 8 of 20 shooting in the teams road victory.

Pau Gasol has been second in scoring for the Lakers as he brings a 20 point per game average during the post season in game 1. The Lakers big man has shot 56.5% from the field in the playoffs.

In 2 games against the Celtics Gasol has averaged 16.5 points per game, 9 rebounds and hit on 52.4% of his shots.

The Lakers will face their toughest challenge in the playoffs as Boston is an outstanding defensive club. LA has allowed an average of 101.7 points per game to their post season opponents and have allowed an average of 43.7% shooting.

Paul Pierce has led the Celtics in the post season with a 19.1 points per game average on 43.7% shooting from the field.

Pierce in 2 games versus the Lakers this season has averaged 13 points per game on 40% shooting from the field.

Point guard Rajon Rondo will be a difficult defensive match up for the Lakers. Derrick Fisher is a very poor defensive point guard and the Lakers have been exploited on numerous times with their liability on the court. The Lakers paid a dear price sticking with Derrick Fisher in 2008 as he could not defend Rondo and it cost the team a World Championship. The slow footed Fisher often gets beaten off the dribble by speedier point guards and that will open up good looks for the Celtics perimeter shooters. The Lakers have not addressed this huge weakness on the court and it could very well cost them a championship in 2010.

Much like it was in the Oklahoma City series it’s the Lakers 4 trying to guard the Celtics 5 as Derrick Fisher is a non factor on the court.

Rondo has averaged 16.7 points per game in the post season hitting on 46.7% of his shots and dishing 10 assists per game.

In 2 meetings against the Lakers it has been Rondo averaging 17.5 points per game on 45.5% shooting with 11 ½ assists.

Trend: Boston Celtics is 9-2 ATS in their past 11 games with LA Lakers

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