PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* Celtics/Cavs Game 3 CLINIC >> SICK 46-21-2 Run! +$23,360 in May!
(NBA) Boston vs. Cleveland,
Point Spread: 17.00 | -115.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 17.00 | -115.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Cleveland Cavaliers have had their way with the Celtics in both games in Boston, winning 117-104 (wasn't as close as the final) and 130-86 (it was as bad as the score indicates). They now return home and look (expect?) to take a 3-0 series lead when they host the Celtics in Sunday's Eastern Conference finals' matchup. Things have gone from bad to worse for Boston since that Game 2 blowout, as PG Isaiah Thomas (hip) has been ruled out for the rest of the postseason.
Boston: The Celtics trailed 72-31 at halftime on Friday and narrowly avoided suffering the worst playoff defeat in franchise history, by three points. "It's hard to take," center Al Horford told reporters. "We've worked really hard and put ourselves in this position to be here. It's been tough for our group. (Game 2) was real rough, there's no other way to put it. It's definitely a low point for our group." Thomas aggravated a hip injury in the first half and had just two points on 0-of-6 shooting before sitting out the second half. Thomas' play has dropped over the past week (Thomas has averaged 17.9 PPG on 37.1% shooting since his 53-point game) and it turns out the hip was examined after Game 6 of the second-round series against the Washington Wizards, and doctors shut him down to reduce the chances of long-term damage.
Cleveland: The Cavs have dominated play in the opening two games and by opening the 2017 playoffs 10-0, they have tied (Cavs won three straight to cap last year's Finals!) the NBA record of 13 straight playoff wins (set by the 1988-89 LA Lakers). LBJ has been unstoppable in the playoffs with averages of 34.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists. Love has been great against Boston (26.5 & 12.0) with Kyrie having a solid Game 2 (23 points) after a poor effort in Game 1 (11 points on 4 of 11 shooting). That 'Big 3" is more than enough to be able to close out the Celtics with two wins here in Cleveland.
The pick: That said, Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue asserts that top-seeded Boston is still in the series. "It's one game. I don't care if you win by 200 points,"he said in the press conference after Game 2. "We're going back home, we're not going to get comfortable. We understand that this is a good team. They're not No. 1 in the East for no reason." That may be just "coach speak" but it's has more than a little truth in it. Hard to imagine Cleveland not winning here but it's also hard to imagine Boston not playing MUCH better. Take the points and make Boston a 10*.
Boston: The Celtics trailed 72-31 at halftime on Friday and narrowly avoided suffering the worst playoff defeat in franchise history, by three points. "It's hard to take," center Al Horford told reporters. "We've worked really hard and put ourselves in this position to be here. It's been tough for our group. (Game 2) was real rough, there's no other way to put it. It's definitely a low point for our group." Thomas aggravated a hip injury in the first half and had just two points on 0-of-6 shooting before sitting out the second half. Thomas' play has dropped over the past week (Thomas has averaged 17.9 PPG on 37.1% shooting since his 53-point game) and it turns out the hip was examined after Game 6 of the second-round series against the Washington Wizards, and doctors shut him down to reduce the chances of long-term damage.
Cleveland: The Cavs have dominated play in the opening two games and by opening the 2017 playoffs 10-0, they have tied (Cavs won three straight to cap last year's Finals!) the NBA record of 13 straight playoff wins (set by the 1988-89 LA Lakers). LBJ has been unstoppable in the playoffs with averages of 34.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists. Love has been great against Boston (26.5 & 12.0) with Kyrie having a solid Game 2 (23 points) after a poor effort in Game 1 (11 points on 4 of 11 shooting). That 'Big 3" is more than enough to be able to close out the Celtics with two wins here in Cleveland.
The pick: That said, Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue asserts that top-seeded Boston is still in the series. "It's one game. I don't care if you win by 200 points,"he said in the press conference after Game 2. "We're going back home, we're not going to get comfortable. We understand that this is a good team. They're not No. 1 in the East for no reason." That may be just "coach speak" but it's has more than a little truth in it. Hard to imagine Cleveland not winning here but it's also hard to imagine Boston not playing MUCH better. Take the points and make Boston a 10*.
