It’s tempting to give the Cleveland-Boston series the classic Vince Carter “It’s over” treatment before it even begins.
When it comes to talent, ability and execution, the Cavaliers aren’t even in the same hemisphere as the Celtics. A disparity like that makes betting difficult, so let’s grab our magnifying glass and zoom in on a hyper-specific bet for Game 1 on Tuesday.
The pick — Celtics first-half team total OVER 57.5 points (-102, DraftKings)
DraftKings offer:
Boston’s first-half team totals simply haven’t missed. The Celtics were by far the best first-half team this season, leading the NBA in scoring (62.9 points), offensive rating (1.258 points per possession) and three-pointers (8.8).
They’re a team that loves to start games strong. They even won 67 of 82 first halves in the regular season. They’re just a powerhouse. They should continue their dominant scoring in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Aside from its own first-half mastery, Boston has a good opponent to help it hit the over.
While Cleveland’s defensive numbers are strong, its pace of play — which ranks fourth fastest in the playoffs — will give the Celtics tons of chances to score. Add in the Cavs’ average of yielding 55.3 points per first half, and we have plenty of positive data to expect a winning bet.
NBA postseason record: 4-1 +2.61 units