NBA Betting Preview – May 21, 2012
Carrie Stroup here with your NBA betting preview for May 21, 2012. All Playoffs odds are available at Sportsbook here, offering qualified customers up to $250 in FREE CASH when they join today.
No. 8 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS at No. 4 BOSTON CELTICS (Series Tied 2-2)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Boston -5 & 173.5
Opening Line & Total: Celtics -5.5 & 174
The 76ers pulled off a stunning comeback over the Celtics on Friday to even the series at two games apiece, but now the East semifinals shift to Boston for Monday’s Game 5.
Philadelphia erased an 18-point deficit in the second half and beat the Celtics handily, 92-83. The 76ers bench outscored Boston’s bench 44 to 12, as the reserve trio of PG Lou Williams (15 points, 8 assists, +28 rating), SF Thaddeus Young (12 points, 9 rebounds) and PF Lavoy Allen (8 points, 10 rebounds) all had huge performances. Philly controlled the glass with a 52-38 rebounding advantage and outscored Boston in the paint 34-26. The Celtics have been a strong home team this season (28-10, 19-19 ATS), and are also 7-2 SU in the past nine home meetings with Philly. But the Sixers (18-20, 20-18 ATS on road this year) won Game 2 at TD Garden and are 5-2 ATS in the past seven visits there. However, the Celtics are 9-1 ATS off a defeat to an Atlantic Division rival in the past two seasons, and they’ll be well-rested to finish what they started for Game 5.
Despite the two off-days, neither team has been great with a long layoff, as both clubs are 5-6 this season with 2+ days of rest. Philly is a mediocre 20-20 (SU and ATS) coming off an SU win, but Boston is just 17-13 (14-16 ATS) after an SU loss. Both teams have played incredible defense in the 2012 playoffs, as the Celtics are giving up 84.9 PPG on 40% FG, and the 76ers aren’t far behind at 86.9 PPG on 43% FG.
As expected, both teams shot poorly from the floor in Game 4 with the Celtics making just 42.3% FG (7-of-23 threes) and the Sixers shooting even worse at 37.8% FG, but hitting 5-of-11 threes. SF Andre Iguodala and SG Evan Turner each led the team with 16 points, but Turner made just 5-of-22 shots. However, he did pull down nine rebounds and was the only starter not to post a negative rating. Iguodala had seven rebounds (three offensive) with four assists, and is now averaging 14.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 4.8 APG in the series. PG Jrue Holiday scored in double figures for the third straight game, but followed up his nine-assist performance in Game 3 with just one assist in Game 4. Holiday did have seven rebounds though, which were more than starters C Spencer Hawes and PF Elton Brand who combined for just five rebounds in 30 minutes of play.
Boston PF Kevin Garnett was arguably the MVP of the series in Games 1-3 with 23.7 PPG (63.3% FG) and 12.0 RPG, but he had a dreadful Game 4 with just nine points (3-of-12 FG) and seven turnovers to negate his 11 boards. PG Rajon Rondo dished out another 15 assists on Friday, giving him 14.8 APG for the series. And since scoring a mere 10.5 PPG on 10-for-27 shooting in the first two games, he’s got 19.0 PPG on 16-of-30 FG in the past two games. SF Paul Pierce has also been much better in his past two games (24.0 PPG on 14-of-30 FG) than in Games 1-2 (10.5 PPG on 5-of-20 FG). Unlike his two teammates, SG Ray Allen shot well at home in the first two games (14.5 PPG on 11-of-24 FG), but hasn’t been able to free himself in the past two contests on the road (4.0 PPG on 3-of-7 FG). SG Avery Bradley has been an inspiration to his team, playing through a separated shoulder that has popped out of place four times this season. Although he’s scoring just 6.0 PPG on 36% FG, Bradley has a +35 rating for the series.
No. 3 LOS ANGELES LAKERS at No. 2 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (OKC leads series 3-1)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Oklahoma City -7.5 & 191.5
Opening Line & Total: Thunder -8 & 192
After blowing a golden opportunity to tie up the series on Saturday, the Lakers are now trying to simply prolong their season when they visit Oklahoma City in Monday’s Game 5.
The Thunder rallied back from 13 points down in the final eight minutes to stun L.A. on its home floor. Russell Westbrook led Oklahoma City with 37 points, while Kevin Durant added 31, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 13.7 seconds remaining. The Lakers’ road woes have been well-documented this season, as they are just 16-22 (13-24-1 ATS) in away games. Meanwhile, the Thunder are a sparkling 30-7 SU, but a subpar 18-19 ATS in home games this season. But in terms of minimal rest, Oklahoma City has the edge, going 29-12 (20-20-1 ATS) with just one day off, compared to the Lakers’ 30-16 mark (16-28-2 ATS) in the same scenario of just one off-day. Also, L.A. is just 12-26 ATS (32%) when playing 6+ games in 10 days this season.
The Lakers continued their poor shooting this series by making just 43.0% FG (5-of-18 threes) on Saturday, giving them series marks of 41.0% FG and 30.0% threes. Oklahoma City connected on 49.4% FG (6-of-16 threes) in Game 4 to improve to 46.2% FG (34.3% threes) for the series. Los Angeles hasn’t been good on the road or with just one day’s rest, but it is 21-9 (14-14-2 ATS) coming off an SU loss. However, Oklahoma City is 36-17 (24-28-1 ATS) following an SU win.
Despite his 25.3 PPG in the series, Lakers SG Kobe Bryant is still not shooting very well at 38.5% FG (1-of-12 threes). But he does have 5.3 RPG, 4.3 APG and is 39-for-44 from the foul line (89%). C Andrew Bynum bounced back from a rough 2-of-13 shooting night in Game 3, and made 9-of-15 FG in Game 4, finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds. But he wasn’t aggressive enough on offense, attempting only two free throws, a huge drop-off from the night before when he was 11-for-12 from the free-thrown line. PF Pau Gasol was criticized by Bryant and others that he wasn’t assertive enough in Game 4, as he did not attempt a single shot in the fourth quarter. Gasol finished with a pedestrian 10 points and five rebounds in 37 minutes of action. SF Metta World Peace had his most productive game with 14 points and six rebounds on Friday, but has made just 13-of-40 shots (32.5%) for the series. PG Ramon Sessions has had two straight solid outings (11.0 PPG, 4.5 APG), but he was terrible in the first two games at Oklahoma City, scoring a total of four points on 2-of-10 shooting. Backup PG Steve Blake scored 12 points in Game 3, but he hasn’t done much in his team’s three losses, combining for 10 points on 3-of-12 FG.
Durant and Westbrook continue to put on a show with 27.3 PPG and 25.0 PPG, respectively, in the series so far. Durant is shooting 54.2% FG and also has 8.3 RPG. Westbrook has made 49% of his shots and also has 6.0 RPG and 4.8 APG. SF James Harden connected on just 6-of-24 shots over his past two games, but has still managed to score 16.5 PPG thanks to 18-of-20 free throws. SF Serge Ibaka and C Kendrick Perkins continue their prowess down low. Ibaka has 9.0 PPG, 4.3 BPG and a +21 rating in the series while Perkins grabbed nine rebounds in Game 4 and has seven blocks in his past two games.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
