It’s Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals tonight. Game 2 saw the Celtics hand the Cavs a 107-94 loss.
The original lines for these NBA Playoff picks are taken a couple of hours prior to the tip-off, so adjust your picks accordingly should a line change.
Eastern Conference Finals – Game 2
Boston @ Cleveland
- Eastern Conference Final – Game 3
- Boston Lead Series 2-0
H2H Trends
Boston are 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
Boston are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings
Season Series
| GAME 2 | Boston | Cleveland | 107 : 94 |
| GAME 1 | Boston | Cleveland | 108 : 83 |
| 12.02.18 | Boston | Cleveland | 99 : 121 |
| 04.01.18 | Boston | Cleveland | 102 : 88 |
| 18.10.17 | Cleveland | Boston | 102 : 99 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Cleveland | 50 | 32 | 29-12 | 21-20 |
| Boston | 55 | 27 | 27-14 | 28-13 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Cleveland | 110.9 | 109.9 | +0.9 |
| Boston | 104.0 | 100.4 | +3.6 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Boston | Over | Boston |
| +6.5 | 205.0 | 108-83 |
A Boston +37 points differential after Game 1 and 2 hasn’t swayed the bookmakers, bringing the Cavs into Game 3 as -6.5 favorites.
The Boston defense has been phenomenal, holding the Cavs to an average of 88.5 ppg over the first two, but it isn’t that hard to work out a defensive plan when only 1 of your opposition players is contributing.
Coach Lue has been found out in the coaching stakes, outshone by Brad Stevens, particularly late down the stretch. “Coach” Lue is a little bit of a stretch at this point though, with Lebron clearly running the decisions on and off the court.
If the Cavs are to pull it back to 2-1 tonight, they will need K-Love to turn back the clock with 25 and 17, Tristan Thompson to pluck rebounds like he’s plucking women and JR Smith to do, well anything…
Boston are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 on a 3+ day break, while the Cavs are 0-6 following 3+ days break. The Cavs are also 13-27 ATS when givin a -5.0 or more spread.
Take Boston at the +6.5 line, not game for the Moneyline with only 1 win away in these Playoffs.
Overs best.
BEST BET = Boston +6.5
