NBA Eastern Conference Finals – Cleveland @ Boston – Game 1

It’s night 27 of the 2017/18 NBA Playoffs, here are our NBA picks for tonight’s games.

*Original betting lines and lineups taken game morning, adjust accordingly.

Eastern Conference Finals – Game 1

Cleveland @ Boston

• Eastern Conference Final – Game 1

H2H Trends

Cleveland are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Boston.
Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Boston.

Season Series

Win/Loss 

Season Points +/- 

Picks against the spread

Toronto shot better than 50% from the field against the Cavs, 40% from three, and 90% from the charity line (50/40/90) – only to get swept.

The Pacers ended their 1st Round Series against the Cavs with a net score of +40, a record by a team in a losing series.

So the question is – How are the Cavs still alive?

Lebron.

The influence of the Lebron is strong the the 2017/18 Playoffs –

• Averaging 34.3 ppg, with four 40+ games.
• Created 80% of his own baskets.
• Only 28 assisted field goals.
• Assisted on 45.6% of team-mates field goals.
• Increased all output from the regular season including points, rebounds, blocks, steals, FG% and FT%.

For Boston, the outcome of this Series sits on the shoulders of Brad Stevens, who’s coaching has been elite through the Playoffs, finding a way to stop the key figures in both Series so far in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ben Simmons.

Boston are a perfect 7-0 at home in the Playoffs and 13-3 ATS in their last 16 at the TD Garden. As dominant as The King has been, he’ll need his supporting cast to do a lot more to get through this time around.

Boston will be able to throw more defensive options at LeBron than the Raptors, with Brown taking the bulk and Horford staying with him in pick and rolls, with Smart and Tatum available to fill time.

This is a tough one to pick, but we’ll take the Celtics to take Game 1 at home.

Best Bet  = Boston +1.5 and Under 204.0