Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Betting Preview

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Betting Preview

 

The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics are primed to tip-off what will undoubtedly be one of the NBA Playoffs first round’s most exciting Eastern Conference matchups with Game 1 on Monday. While most people are already writing off the 76ers, we’re here to tell you that Philadelphia has a lot more life than meets the eye.

 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AMERICA’S BOOKIE EXPANDED BETTING BOARD

 

With Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum on one side and the Ben Simmons-less Sixers on the other, a lot of people are ready to say the series is over before it starts. While some people would venture to say that the Sixers are done, don’t think that auto-betting the favorite is a lock. It’s important to understand that when you’re trying to make money betting sports, you’re going to have to be a contrarian.

 

With the Celtics as 5.5-point chalk and a total set at 218 for Game 1, the oddsmakers expect the Celtics to win comfortably in a relatively high-scoring contest. This is a popular game to bet for those looking to buy picks.

 

Here’s how so you can cash out big time Monday night.

Pace on Pace on Pace

One of the most notable aspects of this matchup is that both teams are extremely fast-paced. Boston is a top-five team in pace, and the Sixers are a top 15 team. While all of the teams in the bubble have been playing well, having no crowd is definitely going to change the dynamic of this series.

 

Rather than betting on the slower, wounded team, you might want to bet on the Celtics right off the bat, but hold your horses, don’t go so quickly there.

 

The Sixers, despite not having an ultra-fast pace on paper, are more than capable of stepping up to the plate and meeting the Celtics’ fire-starting scorers.

 

On paper, sure, Walker, Tatum, and Jaylen Brown are quite the formidable trio. And with a deep bench that features long-range scorers and scrappy-motor guys like Enes Kanter, you’re going to find out immediately that it certainly hurts to bet against the Celtics.

 

Be sure to check the latest NBA odds before making any bet.

 

That said, the Sixers have an X-factor in Tobias Harris, who is going to have to step up to the plate and deliver a great performance. Without Simmons, the next man up mentality will come into play. This will ensure that you’ll be able to get a bigger floor if you bet on the 76ers.

 

By bigger floor, we mean more shooters, forcing the Celtics to play a tiger defense, allowing for more quick cuts and for Joel Embiid to tear them up inside. Look for the 76ers to control the pace and try and prevent the Celtics from running and gunning, and when they do, they’re going to have trouble shutting down the only true center on both rosters in Embiid.

 

Did you see our last pick? We predicted a large margin of victory when the Pelicans and Wizards played on August 7th. Click here to see it.

In Grinding Series, Take the Points

In a series such as this, which will be much slower paced than people think, take the 76ers and the under. The Sixers, especially in Game 1, will play a lot of action through Embiid to compensate for the scoring.

 

Without Simmons on the floor, they’ll play one of their backcourt standouts like Alec Burks or Josh Richardson, which will allow for more shots.

 

Sure, they lose the dynamism of Simmons, but they’ll still be capable of hitting from deep and killing the Celtics every time they double team. Expect a very close first game that ends with the Celtics edging past the 76ers, requiring a readjustment for Game 2.

 

The Celtics win in a close one, 102-98. Take the points and the under.