The Boston Celtics put their perfect record on the line when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at BroburySports.com.
Boston, 4-0 straight-up (SU) and 3-1 ATS this season, is a seven-point road favorite at BroburySports.com. The Over/Under is 191 points.
This used to be one of the best rivalries in the NBA and all of sports. Lately though, Boston has been dominating at 12-4-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings and an incredible 12-3-2 ATS in Philly.
Boston is trying to prove it’s the favorite for the NBA title and not the defending champion Lakers. The Celtics have a great starting five led by the ‘Big 3’ of Kevin Garnett (now healthy with his knee), Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. They are joined by defensive-minded center Kendrick Perkins and point guard Rajon Rondo, who just signed an extension.
The big difference with the team this year is a newly constructed bench that added Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels. Wallace can play the 4 and 5 positions, while Daniels can play the 2 and 3. Both are savvy veterans who understand and embrace their roles on a championship caliber team.
Any team with Garnett on it will play hard every night. The C’s have proved it this year with an opening win at Cleveland and home wins over Charlotte, Chicago and New Orleans. The New Orleans game last Sunday night is the only one they didn’t cover, winning by 10 points as 11-point chalk.
Philadelphia is 2-1 SU and ATS. They just hung 141 points on the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Scoring will not be a problem with shoot-first Lou Williams running the point with Andre Miller gone. Elton Brand is also back in the lineup after missing most of the last two years.
This is not a very deep team, but Marreese Speights has been very impressive as a big man off the bench. Jason Kapono adds much-needed outside shooting off the pine as well.
The athletic 76ers match up well with the older Celtics on paper. Thaddeus Young, Andre Iguodola and Williams can all get up-and-down the floor quickly and create some easy fast break points.
This an important game for Philly to prove they’re a playoff team, while making a statement against the hated Celtics at home.
Can the 76ers put forth a great effort and snap the Celtics’ streak tonight?
Bet on it at BroburySports.com!