The Game 1 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics is scheduled tonight and the top-rated sportsbooks have already released their NBA odds.
For your best bet in this matchup, I will recommend investing in the Celtics.
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NBA Pick: Celtics -11 (-115) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Tuesday, May 07, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at TD Garden
The Guards’ Defense
This matchup will favor Boston because of its guards’ defense.
Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are both known as excellent defenders. Both have been selected to the All-NBA Defensive squads.
Their counterparts, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, are both extremely important for Cleveland’s offense, especially with center Jarrett Allen still injured and fellow big Evan Mobley becoming less dangerous in Allen’s absence.
Mitchell is especially central to the Cavaliers’ offense.
Boston’s ability to lock down Cleveland’s guards will be decisive, as I don’t see the Cavaliers finding another potent source of offense.
Cleveland has done a horrid job shooting away from home, with their road three-point percentage now sitting at 34.8 percent, which is 2.8 points lower than their home three-point percentage.
Max Strus is an example of an important Cavaliers shooter who excelled at home but was non-existent on the road.
Boston’s Offense
Orlando dominated the Cavaliers in Games 3 and 4 in Orlando with immense scoring outputs driven by good guard play and solid play from its forwards.
Boston has the personnel to be much more dangerous than the Magic offensively, with stronger forward play from Jaylen Brown and of course Jayson Tatum.
Mitchell, who will devote his energy to trying to score, and especially Garland are vulnerable defensively. They allowed Orlando’s backcourt to be dangerous and efficient in Orlando, and now they face a tougher test from Boston.
Cleveland On The Road
In general, the Cavaliers are still worth fading on the road. Under their current head coach, they have yet to win on the road.
In the first round, Cleveland lost by 38, 33, and seven in its three respective games in Orlando, failing to cover the spread each time.
Boston had close games against Miami in the regular season but was locked in come playoff time, blowing out the Heat in Games 1, 3, 4, and 5.
The Pick
The Celtics have no problem blowing out teams. Cleveland with its road woes will pose a softer challenge.
NBA Pick: Celtics -11 (-115) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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