After taking the NBA Playoff series 4-3 in Game 7 on Sunday against Cleveland, the Celtics will play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night.  It's the NBA championship match-up Boston fans have been anticipating all season.  So ladies and gentlemen this is it. What we have been waiting for since the season started, the best two teams in the East, Detroit and Boston.  I think its going to be a damn good series.   The oddsmakers at SportsBook.com currently have the Boston Celtics -4.5 favorites to Detroit heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup.

Pierce suffered through some tough years with the Celtics, it was obvious Sunday how much he wanted the win Game 7 for his team, city and the always present Red Auerbach's memory.  If they are going to win this series against Detroit. Boston's Ray Allen must get going offensively.  Allen is in a slump but when he comes out of it, watch out!  Ray Allen performing like he has been playing in the playoffs thus far, Detroit could take this series in 5 or 6 games.  He should be around 15 points a game in order to take some pressure off Garnett and Paul Pierce especially.  Everyone knows Pierce can't do what he did against Cleveland in Game 7 every game.  Allen, making eight figures, must do a little better than 4 points in an elimination game.  It seems like the only time he scores lately is when he gets to the line where he's been the best free throw shooter in the postseason (32-33).

Sunday, Boston's Eddie House gave 100% and really showed heart.  The Celtics lead the entire game, they never let up.  The "Truth" could not be stopped.  The Celtics bench spanked Detroit in all three games they played this year so the Celtics bench is better, also experience off the bench is actually way in favor of Boston.  The Pistons will be easier to defend than Cleveland because they don't have anyone as good as LeBron that they'll have to load up on.  The Celtics are built to beat the Pistons and will do just that.  Not to mention that Billups is not 100%, regardless of what he says (did you think he'd say he was hurt?).  The question is will the Pistons win the first game on the road and send Boston in panic mode because they have yet to win on the road this postseason?

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff Picks Matchup When BOSTON team played as a -3.5 to -6.0 Home Favorite - with 1 day off - Scored between 96 - 100 POINTS FOR in their last game 8-2 ATS in this spot. When BOSTON team played as a -3.5 to -6.0 Home Favorite - After a conference game - During the month of May 2-8 O/U in this spot

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The two best teams in the Eastern Conference will meet for the right to play in the NBA Finals.  The Boston Celtics took the long way to get here as they defeated the Atlanta Hawks in seven games and the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.  The Detroit Pistons were more efficient, dispatching the 76ers in six games and the Magic in five. While the Western Conference gets all the publicity, the Eastern Conference actually had the two best teams in the NBA as the Celtics finished with 66 wins and the Pistons finished with 59 wins. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Celtics at Home.

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (Game One)
Tuesday, 8:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Celtics  - 4 , Total  174

The Pistons are in the Conference Finals for the sixth straight season while it is been quite a while for Boston.  The teams are very evenly matched and it promises to be a very good series.  The Celtics are led by the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen although lately it has only been the big two as Allen has been invisible in the playoffs.  The Pistons have Chauncey Billiups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace.   “We’re mirror images,” Detroit head coach Flip Saunders said, “Defensive-oriented teams; both teams are good offensively when they move the ball; both teams have inside guys who like to play outside at times; two guards (Allen and Hamilton), both (from) Connecticut … you can go right on down the list. Right now Pierce is their best player in the playoffs; Tay might be our best player, both at the three spot. And when their point guard plays well, they win; when our point guard plays well, we win.”

The difference might be the play of Ray Allen. He has been awful in the playoffs and actually sat on the bench in the fourth quarter of Game 7 against Cleveland. “Ray’s a great shooter,” said Hamilton, “You can’t sleep on him at any point in time of the game.” The question for Boston is whether or not Allen will turn around his poor shooting.  Another key in the series will be how well Rasheed Wallace handles Kevin Garnett. “Both have great respect for each other,” Saunders said. “The difference is that Rasheed has more of a perimeter, 3-point type of game where KG is more mid-range. Both have the ability to get down on the block and score, but they’re both reluctant to get down there. Both are great defensive players. Both can run the floor. They’re kind of clones of each other. Most of the time when we played Portland, when Sheed got the best of KG, they’d win. When KG got the best of Sheed, Minnesota would win. That’s a key matchup. If one of them can get on the other one, you have an opportunity for success for your team.” One matchup edge the Pistons hold is at the point where Chauncey Billups is a three-time All-Star and Rajon Rondo is a second-year player.  It could also be that Sam Cassell gets a lot of playing time for Boston in this series.

SBG Global Current Line: Celtics  - 4.5, Total  174 

The home team has dominated in the playoffs but the Pistons know they can win in Boston.  They won in December 87-85 at Boston. “That’s a big plus for us, that we have won there … in a season that they pretty much won most of their home games, probably 30-something of them, but (Dec. 19) was one of their losses and we draw confidence from that,” Billups said. “Not only that, but we know we’re a great road team.” The Pistons rarely go into a series without the home court edge. “This will be a great, great challenge for us,” Billups said. “Starting out the series on the road, it’s been a long time since we’ve done that. So it will be a lot of great matchups out there. It’s going to be some great basketball. I’m excited for that.” 

Here are the NBA betting stats for Tuesday’s game.  The Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Atlantic. The Pistons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Pistons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog. The Pistons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Tuesday games. The Pistons are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog. The Pistons are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 Conference Finals games. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings between the two teams and the road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings. 

The Celtics are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games as a home favorite. The Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Conference Finals games. The Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Central. 

The Under is 10-2 in the Pistons last 12 road games. The Under is 17-5-1 in the Pistons last 23 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 12-4 in the Pistons last 16 Tuesday games. The Under is 5-2 in the Pistons last 7 vs. the Atlantic. The Under is 20-8-1 in the Pistons last 29 Conference Finals games. The Under is 42-18-1 in the Pistons last 61 games as a road underdog. 

The Under is 4-1 in the Celtics last 5 Conference Finals games. The Under is 16-7 in the Celtics last 23 vs. the Central. The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between the two teams and the Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.

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In Game 7, Paul Pierce had the defining performance of his career thus far.  He shot 56% from the floor and 91% from the line.  He scored 41 points, on top of that he had 5 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals.  Some pundits I heard this week talked about Paul's best days being behind him, but he showed them tonight.  He was dialed in and even called the final three minutes the toughest three minutes of his life.  Pierce beat them inside and he beat them outside.  He got to the line and he hit shots right in LeBron's grill.  The oddsmakers at SportsBook.com currently have the Boston Celtics -4.5 favorites to Detroit heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup Game 1 Tuesday night.  

How about Eddie House making all the right moves?  Eddie House had 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal and a turnover in just under 15 minutes of time.  They need to use this guy more like they did all season or they won't win a road game.  How about Doc making all the right moves tonight?!  Sure, LeBron finally had the kind of game that we all knew he would eventually, but it wasn't enough.   

Home court matters.  So it's all over and Celtics win this series 4-3.  I'm really going to miss LeBron flopping and writhing around until he gets the flagrant call.   I still don't know which one I like better, the head whip face grab (when nobody touched his head) or the one minute throat grab (when he was barely grazed after running into an arm).  Oh well, congrats to the Cav's on a hard fought series.  Just remember, you have witnessed the Truth (Paul Pierce). 

C's will play Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals starting on Tuesday night.  Detroit's Chauncey Billups should be feeling a little better.  The Pistons can win one or two on the road, they finished off Orlando without dragging it on and on and on like they usually do.  They should be focused and playing to the top level of competition for this series. 

For the second straight playoff season, Robert Horry finds himself in the middle of a dirty play controversy.  Horry took a shot at David West's hurting back.  There's much debate as to whether or not Horry's hit was a fair, clean play or a cheap shot.  I would question the sanity of any human who believes Horry wasn't well aware that he was about to hurt someone.  Why else lean into a screen while someone is in mid-air?   He did the same thing last year to Steve Nash where there were suspensions handed out for Game 7, Phoenix/Spurs series.  That's why the Spurs won that Game 7 last season against Phoenix because there stars were out and Horry was the cause of it.  The oddsmakers at sportsbetting.com currently have the New Orleans Hornets -4 favorites to San Antonio heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup.

 The Spurs crowd was cheering that Horry cheap shot West and was injured.  Will they try to cheap shot Horry in Game 7 Monday night?   What Horry did was expected of him.  Everyone knows about West's injury on his back before the game.  It was intentional to gain an edge for game 7 in New Orleans.  The Hornets expect David West to play in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series against San Antonio on Monday night, but how effective the All-Star forward will be remains unclear.  

You have to watch out in Game 7 tonight as the Spurs like to flop around the whole game and cry about the officials calls.  In previous years they have gotten all the calls when they are flopping in a big game like this.  It was a walk in the park the first round of the playoffs for Hornets, but can they close out an elite team?  Will David West of the Hornets have the last laugh on the Spurs Monday night?  I think the Hornets can pull it out.  From what I've seen all year and especially the post-season they have matured into an elite Western conference team.  All they need to do is play at their best capacity and they can do it.  They have the talent to win.  Now all they need is the belief.  

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff Picks Matchup When ANY NBA Team Played as Home team as a Favorite - with 3 day off - Total is between 180 to 185 NEW ORLEANS 81-20 SU in this spot. When NEW ORLEANS team played as a Home team - After a conference game - Total is between 180 to 185 13-5 ATS in this spot.