Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
Sunday, April 8, 2012, 6:05 pm Eastern, TV: NBA TV
Opening Line: Boston -4 1/2
Current Line: Boston -3 1/2
Opening Total: 176 1/2
Current Total: 175 1/2
Opening Money Line: Celtics -175 / 76ers +155
Current Money Line: Celtics -170 / 76ers +150
The 31-24 Boston Celtics, coached by Doc Rivers lead the Atlantic Division by 2 games over the 29-26 Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Doug Collins. The two long time rivals meet Easter Sunday in Boston in a crucial match-up. The Celtics are 2 1/2 games behind Indiana for the third seed in the East. Boston won at Indiana Saturday 86-72, to snap a two game losing streak.
The 76ers have lost 3 games in a row, including yesterday at home 88-82 to the Orlando Magic. This was despite some public clashes earlier in the week between Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and All-Star Center Dwight Howard. The Magic had lost 5 games in a row before that. Philadelphia is a game ahead of New York for the #7 seed in the East.
This is the third and last meeting scheduled this season between Boston and Philadelphia. The 76ers beat the Celtics twice last month in Philly by double digits, 103-71 March 7 and 99-86 March 23. Both teams have gone in opposite directions since that March 23rd game. The 76ers have gone 2-5 since then, while the Celtics have gone 6-2 since that game.
The 76ers are outscoring opponents 93-88 this season. Philadelphia is #1 in points allowed in the league. The 76ers are shooting 44.7% from the field and 36.6% from 3 point range. The Sixers are #7 in 3 point percentage. The 76ers make 73.8% of their free throws. Philadelphia is #9 in rebounding averaging 43 a game with a rebounding margin of -1.1. The 76ers average 21.8 assists, 11 turnovers, 8.2 steals, and 5 steals a game. Sixer opponents shoot 42.2% from the field and 31.7% from 3 point range. Philadelphia is #2 in both categories. The 76ers force 14.1 turnovers a game.
Sixer point guard Lou Williams averages 15.3 points to lead the team, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Jrue Holiday averages 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Forward Thaddeus Young averages 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Forward Andre Iguodala averages 12 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.7 steals a game to lead the team in the latter two categories. Forward Elton Brand averages 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks a game to lead the team. Center Spencer Hawes, shooting guard Evan Turner, and guard Jodie Meeks also contribute significantly to the scoring. Hawes averages 7.7 rebounds a game to lead the team.
Boston is outscoring opponents 91-90 this season. The Celtics are #3 in points allowed in the NBA. Boston is shooting 45.6% from the field and 36.4% from 3 point range. The Celtics make 78% from the free throw line. Boston is in the top 8 in the league in all three shooting categories. Boston is last in the league in rebounding averaging just 38.6 a game with a rebounding margin of -5. The Celtics average 23.6 assists, 14.8 turnovers, 7.4 steals, and 5.5 blocks a game. Boston is second in the league in assists. Celtic opponents are shooting 41.9% from the field and 29.9% from 3 point range. The Celtics lead the lead in both categories. Boston forces 15.6 turnovers a game.
Paul Pierce averages 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Kevin Garnett averages 15.5 points, 8.3 rebounds to lead the team, 3 assists, and 1.1 blocks a game. Ray Allen averages 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Rajon Rondo averages 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 11.1 assists, and 1.8 steals a game. He is second in the league in assists, and leads the Celtics in steals. Forward Brandon Bass averages 12.3 points, and 6 rebounds a game. Small forward Mickael Pietrus is out indefinitely with a concussion. Center Jermaine O’Neal leads the Celtics in blocks with 1.7 a game, but he is out indefinitely with a wrist injury.
Boston is 27-26-2 ATS and the total is 23-29-3 this season. Philadelphia is 27-27-1 ATS and the total is 22-33 this season. Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 against Boston, and four of the last five have gone under the total. The 76ers are 4-10 ATS in road games, 7-20 against teams with winning records, 2-6 in road games against teams with winning home records, 2-7 as an underdog, 1-4 overall, against Eastern Conference teams, as a road underdog of 4.5 points or less, 1-7 as an underdog of 4.5 points or less, and 0-6 in back to backs. The Celtics are 7-0-1 ATS in home games, 6-0 as a home favorite, and in home games against teams with losing road records, 4-0-1 after both a straight up win and a cover, and against Eastern Conference teams, 4-0 as a favorite, and as a home favorite of 4.5 points or less, 23-8 in Sunday games, 5-2 as a favorite of 4.5 points or less, 24-49-2 after a straight up win of 10 points or more, 7-20-1 in back to backs, and 2-7-1 after allowing 75 points or less.
Philadelphia has struggled recently and Boston seems to be rounding into playoff form. Boston has been bringing Ray Allen off the bench to provide an offensive spark. It seems to have worked as Boston has won 6 of their last 8 games. If they can play the kind of stifling defense they did last night against Indiana then they will be tough to beat.
