NBA first round odds pick: Knicks and Celtics rivalry renewed
Sunday, April 17, 2011
by BetUS.com
Every true NBA Betting fan knows the game of basketball finds its true home on the east coast, and the region's two preeminent franchises are the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks when it comes to the pro game.
While the Knicks aren't quite there yet as a contender after the trade for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, they at least have a chance at a first round upset over Boston, and NBA first rounds fans are buzzing from New York to Boston and across the country for the series to begin.
The Celtics are the strong favorite in this one but they haven't played like it down the stretch.
Do Knicks fans have a real reason to believe heading into the 2010-2011 playoffs?
#6 New York Knicks at #3 Boston Celtics
Game 1: 7:05 pm ET Sunday
Series line: Celtics favored at -375 to +275 for the Knicks
The Boston Celtics stumbled down the stretch heading into the NBA playoffs which has caused great concern among the hometown fans.
Instead of flipping the proverbial switch, Boston stumbled and fell trying to reach for it as they went 6-7 in their past 13 games.
Meanwhile, the upstart Knicks went 7-2 down the stretch as the team settled into its new roles and Chauncey Billips and Carmelo Anthony became acclimated to the city and their teammates.
The Big 3 of Amar'e Stoudemire, Billups and Anthony has bumped the chemistry up a notch and the Knicks are operating efficiently going into the playoffs despite a patchwork group around them.
The Celtics of course have their own Big 4 with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo capable of propelling them to the top even with minimal help.
The NBA first round odds favorites have second-guessed themselves both on the court and off of it after losing their glue guy in center Kendrick Perkins.
Luckily for the Celtics, the Knicks' frontcourt beyond Stoudemire is even more questionable with the likes of Ronny Turiaf, Shelden Williams and other career backups taking a turn down the stretch.
The New York Knicks were winless in four tries against the Celtics including an April 13 loss to them by 10 points, but the rest of the sample size is essentially meaningless as they are an entirely different team.
Still, it's hard to see this cobbled-together Knicks bunch winning more than a couple games against such talented, cohesive Celtics group, even with the disconcerting loss of Perkins.
BetUS Sportsbook NBA first round odds pick:
Boston Celtics (-375) in six games, "Series Correct Score" odds are +375 for six games.
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boston celtics - carmelo anthony - chauncey billups - kendrick perkins - kevin garnett - nba betting - nba playoffs - new york knicks - paul pierce - rajon rondo
