NBA Picks: Celtics vs Cavaliers NBA Odds – March 14, 2010: With LeBron James ready for his second game back from ankle injury, the (51-15) Cleveland Cavaliers [-6½] will host the sports betting odds underdog (41-23) Boston Celtics [+6½] today. This potential Eastern Conference Finals preview is scheduled to tipoff at 3:30 PM ET (2:30 PM CT) from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH, live on ABC Sports. According to NBA Odds makers at SPORTSBOOK.com, the Celtics and Cavaliers have been projected to score a grand total of 194½ points in the OVER/UNDER.
For the visiting Celtics, they come in leading the Atlantic Division by a comfortable margin over the closest team, the Toronto Raptors (9 games behind). If the playoffs started today, Boston would be the fourth seed in the East behind the Cavs, (2) Orlando and (3) Atlanta.
Going into this game, the C’s currently trail the Hawks by a mere ½ game. Bean Town would open the postseason by taking on the 5th seeded Milwaukee Bucks. “We really had a heart-to-heart,” said Paul Pierce about a team-meetings that took place at Friday’s practice. “We just hope it carries into the rest of the season.”
For the Cavaliers, they are still ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers by three games in the race for the best overall record in the regular season and thus, home-court advantage all the way to the NBA Finals. After missing two games with a sore ankle, the reigning MVP returned to the lineup Friday night against Philly.
Despite being a bit rusty, the Cavaliers prevailed against the Sixers, 100-95. James finished with 23 points and 10 assists, but only shot 7-for-18 from the field. “I felt a little off rhythm,” he said. “My wind was a little off, but it felt great to get back on the court with the guys.”
