PREMIUM
3-Game NBA SWEEPER PASS
(NBA) Boston vs. Milwaukee,
Total: 204.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 204.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The Milwaukee Bucks took the Boston Celtics to overtime in Game 1, before falling 113-107. However, Milwaukee fell behind by 11 points after the first quarter of Game 2 and went on to lose120-106. Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe ws quoted as saying he didn't know who Terry Rozier was. He sure knows now, as the unsung Rozier (in the staring lineup due to Kyrie Irving's season-ending knee injury) has torched the Bucks for 23 points in each of the first two games and has yet to commit a turnover. Meanwhile, Bledsoe is averaging just 10.5 PPG on 9-of-25 shooting while making six turnovers. Milwaukee has lost in the first round in its past seven postseason appearances, having last prevailed in 2001, when it reached the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers (remember Allen Iverson?).
Boston: The Celtics came into this series not only missing Irving (24.4 & 5.1 APG) but also Marcus Smart (10.2-3.5-4.8), one of their best defenders. While Rozier has been the biggest surprise, second-year swingman Brown leads the team in scoring at 25.0 PPG. Five players are averaging in double digits, with Brown and Rozier being followed by Horford (20.8-8.5-4.0), Morris (19.5 & 6.0) and Tatum (11.5 & 8.5). Brown has been terrific and said after his Game 2 effort, "Ultimately, we just want to win games, so that's the only thing that we are concerned with. We are confident as ever. Teams have been writing us off all year and we just keep proving people wrong, so that's what we're going to do." Power forwards Al Horford and Marcus Morris are also off to strong starts with Morris coming off the bench to do so.
The pick: Forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.5-11.0-7.5) and Khris Middleton (28.0 & 6.0) have been superb in the series but haven't received much help from the supporting cast. "We got to play better," Antetokounmpo said. "We got to play with more effort. I think as a team we didn't show up (Tuesday). Hopefully we can go back home and protect our home and play better and get those two wins." A huge problem has been turnovers, with the Bucks committing 35 in the first two games. The Celtics have made them pay for those miscues, as 20 percent of Boston's scoring in the series has come off a Milwaukee turnover.
The pick: Milwaukee's playoff history is surely 'ugly' (see above for a reminder) but this is ostensibly a "must win" game, as the Bucks would surely not be able to overcome n 0-3 deficit. The way the first two games have gone, I only see Milwaukee competing in a high-scoring affair. That's the bet. Make the Over an 8* play.
Boston: The Celtics came into this series not only missing Irving (24.4 & 5.1 APG) but also Marcus Smart (10.2-3.5-4.8), one of their best defenders. While Rozier has been the biggest surprise, second-year swingman Brown leads the team in scoring at 25.0 PPG. Five players are averaging in double digits, with Brown and Rozier being followed by Horford (20.8-8.5-4.0), Morris (19.5 & 6.0) and Tatum (11.5 & 8.5). Brown has been terrific and said after his Game 2 effort, "Ultimately, we just want to win games, so that's the only thing that we are concerned with. We are confident as ever. Teams have been writing us off all year and we just keep proving people wrong, so that's what we're going to do." Power forwards Al Horford and Marcus Morris are also off to strong starts with Morris coming off the bench to do so.
The pick: Forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.5-11.0-7.5) and Khris Middleton (28.0 & 6.0) have been superb in the series but haven't received much help from the supporting cast. "We got to play better," Antetokounmpo said. "We got to play with more effort. I think as a team we didn't show up (Tuesday). Hopefully we can go back home and protect our home and play better and get those two wins." A huge problem has been turnovers, with the Bucks committing 35 in the first two games. The Celtics have made them pay for those miscues, as 20 percent of Boston's scoring in the series has come off a Milwaukee turnover.
The pick: Milwaukee's playoff history is surely 'ugly' (see above for a reminder) but this is ostensibly a "must win" game, as the Bucks would surely not be able to overcome n 0-3 deficit. The way the first two games have gone, I only see Milwaukee competing in a high-scoring affair. That's the bet. Make the Over an 8* play.
