Thursday Night NBA

By Divol

Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics



18th June 02:05 GMT
ESPN (01:30-05:00)

In such game to be honest, I'm not sure that I want to make a bet. Simply a game that is best to sit and enjoy while rooting each for his team (for me it's Lakers of course). I think that both teams, if they win, will be deserving champions.

Boston if they win, will eliminate three main contenders, Cleveland, Orlando and the Lakers, all three without HCA and their advantage over Cleveland and Orlando was really clear (could have easily won 4 - 1 against Cleveland and swept the Magic). If they pull it off, than Ainge and Doc both geniuses, with Ainge constructing the deals three years ago to bring the trio together. It will put Allen as one of the best shooters in history (he is there already, but it will make it official). Pierce will surely deserve to be mentioned with Celtics all time greatest. As for Garnett, I think that Garnett of Minnesota deserves to get two titles, but I really didn't like his attitude in Boston.

If Lakers win it, it's amazing. Boston have been their black ship and they will come one title closer to them. To make a repeat is an amazing achievement even if you had a bit easy road there. It's not Lakers fault that Dallas, Spurs and Denver got eliminated too early and didn't have the chance to get kicked by the Lakers. Lakers made an amazing season with the first season (if I remember correctly) that Kobe was really hurt and still managed to close the season, come to post season and get Kobe close to his prime. How hard is it to make a repeat? Well, just looking at this series and seeing how hard it is for teams to make two wins in a row and bring the same energy for two nights in a row, should answer the question. Many talked about all the problems that Kobe has, how Gasol is soft, how Fisher is past his prime and how the bench is not existing, so if they win Game 7, I think that Phil should get tons of credit and Kobe and Pau as well. They covered for each other, each stepping in to help the other when needed.

As for the game itself here my thoughts. Been reading that this is the stage for Kobe/ Pau/ KG/ Pierce/ Allen and not the little players and I disagree. MJ, Kobe, Shaq, Duncan - where would they have been without Kerr, Paxon, Fisher and Horry? I think they would have had 1 - 2 rings less. I think that stars need to show up, but that's not enough. My key players are Sheed from Boston and Farmar/ Brown/ Sasha from Lakers. When Sheed was brought on the team, many questioned the move. He could have destroyed the team's chemistry and balance. But while he blended in well with the team, his production so far been mediocre at best. With Perkins absent from Game 7, it will be up for Sheed to show up on both ends of the floor and be careful both staying out of trouble and make good shot selection. If Sheed will fail to show up, Boston will have hard time and it will be almost impossible to win the game.

For the Lakers it's much easier. Kobe and Pau are capable of winning the game no matter what, but if the bench will give what they gave in Game 6, Lakers will win it. It will allow Pau and Kobe to get rest, it will reduce the dependence on Bynum and while Odom always an x-factor, the backcourt from the bench will have to be productive. It means the right shot selection and ability to handle to ball. It means to provide the same type of hustle they made in Game 6 and to hit open looks they will get due to Lakers’ ball movement or with Boston double/ triple teaming Kobe.

I will take only three bets for today and that is Boston Under 90 points and two combo plays - Allen to score the most three pointers between Bryant, Pierce, Artest and Allen and Sheed to score at least one three pointer and Odom to score Over 10.5 points and Nate to score at least one three pointer.

Allen should score at least 2 three pointers and it can be enough to win or at least to get a tie and get half of the win and he is capable to go for 3 and higher as well. Sheed should get enough minutes to shoot at least 3 - 4 shots and he should be able to hit at least one. Nate is a bit of a gamble, but he made a three pointer in 4 of the 6 games in this series and in the two games he didn't make any, he still tried twice. Odom is an x-factor and he didn't give any big game in this series so far and he should give at least one solid game I hope and believe. Boston Under is simple - Perkins almost didn't play any minutes in Game 6 and still Boston scored only 67 points. Yeah, they missed few impossible to miss shots, but first of all, even if they would have made them, they still would have came short of 80 points even and second, pressure only continues to rise and those easy shots are not that easy all of a sudden in Game 7. Boston failed to reach 90 points in 3 of the 4 games played this season in Stapes Center and failed to score 90 points in all four games they lost to LA this season.

Picks:

Boston Under 90 points, 1.90 odds - 2.5 units -

Allen top three point scorer + Sheed Over 0.5 three pointers - 4.05 odds - 0.75 units - Bwin

Odom Over 10.5 points + Robinson Over 0.5 three pointers - 3.23 odds - 0.75 units - Bwin

And most important, GO LAKERS!!!

Divol