Can the Celtcs Extend the NBA Finals to Game 7
By Charles Jay
The Boston Celtics would like to think there was something to feel good about, even in losing Game 5 of the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors.
Sure, the final was 104-94, but hey – at least they were able to outscore the Warriors in the third quarter (35-24). And they got 27 points from Jayson Tatum, who made 10 of 20 shots from the field.
Of course, the flip side of THAT one is that in the fourth quarter, which made all the difference for Golden State, Tatum had only one field goal in five tries. He and his Boston teammates have to put the ball in the basket more often, and when they really need to.
And there’s no other choice, because if they don’t, the season is over.
With a 3-2 lead in games, G-State can win the NBA title with a victory at the TD Garden on Thursday night (9 PM ET).
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NBA FInals Picks — Here are the numbers…..
In the odds that have been posted on Game 6 by the people at BetAnySports, the Celtics are the favorites:
Boston Celtics -4
Golden State Warriors +4
Over 210 Points -110
Under 210 Points -110
And hey – don’t forget that you can place wagers while the game is in progress, using Premier Lines, Ultimate Lines or Super Lines!
NBA FInals Picks — The call is out – Celtics need to score
Here is an interesting quote from Udoka:
“We want to focus on the offensive end,” Udoka said. “Because I think we’ve guarded enough to win.”
He says that because the Celts’ offensive rating in these NBA Finals has been 107.3 points per 100 possessions. And that isn’t even good enough to be so-so. And for a team that was perceived to have a size advantage, they have only exploited that in the paint in one game.
Yes, clearly the Celtics want to gear themselves up to basically outscore the Warriors; to put themselves in a position where they can force Golden State to trade points with THEM. Of course, to win they are going to have to shut somebody down. They can’t, and shouldn’t, expect that Curry is going to come up cold again. There are other people they are going to have to concern themselves with.
One of them is Gary Payton II, whose role has gained in importance as the series has progressed. While Jordan Poole might be a guy to deliver instant offense, Payton does that on the defensive end. He seems to have a knack for causing turnovers, and those turnovers have led to Golden State points. The team was +16 with him on the floor, and that was the best figure in Game 5. You really do want guys who can make a difference, and when he and Curry team up in the backcourt, the Warriors have outscored their opponents by 16.9 points per 100 possessions this season.
NBA Finals Picks — A case for Boston?
There would appear to be a number of reasons to like the Celtics in Thursday night’s game. One is that on adjustments alone – the kind that characterize playoff series, they should make a better showing. There is also the idea that they aren’t going to lose three in a row to this opponent, or that they are simply going to be extra-intensified with this elimination game at home. And let’s be honest – if you want to be cynical about it, the NBA would like to have a seventh game, and maybe the officials will act accordingly.
We can zero in on some more factors.
Boston has been pretty good after a loss this season. Despite the failure in Game 5, they are currently 25-14 ATS following a defeat. And it’s not a stretch to think they can exploit some potential edges.
NBA FInals Picks — Our conclusion
When you hear the clarion call from a coach like Udoka has given, in demanding that his team become more offensive-minded, you know that they’re going to come out determined to achieve that end. They may even pick up the tempo. And they could well execute the offensive game plan they’ve been concocting the last couple of days.
And we have a sneaking suspicion (with tongue inside of cheek) that Curry, who missed all nine three-point attempts and shot 7-of-22 overall, will have an intensity level that is off the charts as he comes out of the locker room. Some of all this planning, particularly on the part of Boston, may wear off, and we could see ourselves settling into a defensive battle. But we’re willing to pay a little extra (-115, in this case) to go OVER 54 in the first quarter.
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