The 2017 NBA season tips off Tuesday night with a terrific matchup between the Celtics and Cavaliers in Cleveland. Those two faced off in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals – won by Cleveland — and also made a shocking blockbuster trade this offseason. The NBA odds favor the Cavaliers for this one, with Cleveland as a -3.5 odds favorite.
Will the Cavs have LeBron for this game? Obviously that will affect the spread. He suffered a sprained ankle on Sept. 27 and sat out the Cavaliers’ first three exhibition games before making his debut last week against Chicago. He played 30 minutes but may have aggravated his ankle while making a spin move in the loss. Coach Tyronn Lue thinks James will play and I’m sure he wants to so he can stick it to Irving.
In 2016-17, the Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals for the third straight year and fourth time in franchise history (2007, 2015, 2016, 2017). Cleveland finished the 2016-17 season tied for the 2nd -best record in the Eastern Conference at 51-31, which includes a 31-10 mark at Quicken Loans Arena (2nd -best home mark in NBA).
Offensively, the Cavaliers put up a franchise-playoff record 116.2 points per game in the 2017 Playoffs, as well as made an NBA Playoff-record 14.4 three-pointers per game (prev. record was 12.8 by HOU and GSW). During the 2016-17 regular season, the Cavs led the East with 110.3 points per game (4th-best in NBA), which was the first time Cleveland has ever led the conference in scoring.
Boston at Cleveland NBA Odds, Expert Preview & Betting Pick
When: Tuesday, 8 PM ET Where: Quicken Loans Arena TV: TNT Stream: Watch NBA Radio: WBZ-FM 98.5 (Boston) / WMMS 100.7 FM (Cleveland) NBA Odds: Cavs -3.5Listen as the Celtics discuss their goals for this season before Tuesday’s tip-off. pic.twitter.com/A6IormPwqy
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 15, 2017
Return Of Irving
These teams shocked the NBA world in August when Cleveland traded All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving – who had demanded a trade as he was tired of playing in LeBron James’ shadow – to Boston for All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic, Brooklyn’s 2018 unprotected first-round pick and future second-rounder from Boston. Irving had said that he wanted to play in a situation in which he could be more of a focal point and that he no longer wanted to play alongside LeBron. Irving has three years and $60 million left on his contract, but he can opt out of the final year before the 2019-20 season. He will wear No. 11, as his familiar No. 2 is retired in Boston for Red Auerbach. Thomas, 28, led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists over 33.8 minutes per game during the regular season. However, he had a right hip injury that kept him out of the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals. He opted not to have surgery and won’t debut for the Cavs until likely January.Updated NBA Championship Odds – October 11th
Why Bet On Boston?
The Celtics were a very good team last year yet return only four players from that team with all the wheeling and dealing that GM Danny Ainge did. In addition to sending those players to Cleveland for Irving, Ainge was able to sign one of the top free agents on the market in former Jazz All-Star forward Gordon Hayward. Last year, Hayward logged career highs with 21.9 points (47.1% FG, 39.8% 3-PT, 84.4% FT) and 5.4 rebounds, while also adding 3.5 assists, 1.00 steal and 34.5 minutes in 73 games (all starts) with the Jazz. His 21.9 points per game scoring mark represented Utah’s highest single season scorer since Karl Malone averaged 22.4 points in 2001-02. Hayward was also one of 10 NBA players to produce at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while also shooting 47.0% or better from the field last season. The Celtics also shipped guard Avery Bradley to Boston for forward Marcus Morris. However, Morris is experiencing right knee soreness, and he’s expected to miss the first three games of the season. Brad Stevens said that Morris’ knee is “structurally sound,” but his conditioning still isn’t quite where it needs to be after his training camp got delayed due to some legal issues, and he’d rather wait for Morris to get to 100 percent before throwing him out there. Rookie Jayson Tatum likely will open the year as the Celtics’ starting power forward. Morris will be re-evaluated in 10 days to two weeks.Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 107.51
- Field Goals: 45.46%
- Three Points: 36.10%
- Free Throws: 80.17%
- Rebounds: 41.22
- Average Score Against: 105.87
- Field Goals: 45.45%
- Three Points: 33.63%
- Free Throws: 77.38%
- Rebounds: 44.54
Why Bet On Cleveland?
This will be the Cavs debut of both Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose. Of course, Wade won two titles in Miami when LeBron was there. The future Hall of Famer appeared in 60 games (59 starts) with the Chicago Bulls in 2016-17, averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.43 steals in 29.9 minutes. He scored at least 20 points on 26 occasions, including 30 points or more five times, and was one of only six players in the Eastern Conference to average at least 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals last season. The Bulls released Wade as they are rebuilding. Rose of course is also a former member of the Bulls and once was the league’s youngest-ever MVP. Last year, he played in 64 games (all starts) for the New York Knicks in 2016-17 and averaged 18.0 points on .471 shooting from the field, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 32.5 minutes. Rose scored in double figures on 61 occasions, including 24 contests with 20 points or more, and registered two double-doubles. The 6-3 guard also shot .874 (221-253) from the free throw line, which ranked 16th in the NBA, and was one of just six players in the league to average at least 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting .870 or better from the charity stripe.
Will the Cavs have LeBron for this game? Obviously that will affect the spread. He suffered a sprained ankle on Sept. 27 and sat out the Cavaliers’ first three exhibition games before making his debut last week against Chicago. He played 30 minutes but may have aggravated his ankle while making a spin move in the loss. Coach Tyronn Lue thinks James will play and I’m sure he wants to so he can stick it to Irving.
In 2016-17, the Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals for the third straight year and fourth time in franchise history (2007, 2015, 2016, 2017). Cleveland finished the 2016-17 season tied for the 2nd -best record in the Eastern Conference at 51-31, which includes a 31-10 mark at Quicken Loans Arena (2nd -best home mark in NBA).
Offensively, the Cavaliers put up a franchise-playoff record 116.2 points per game in the 2017 Playoffs, as well as made an NBA Playoff-record 14.4 three-pointers per game (prev. record was 12.8 by HOU and GSW). During the 2016-17 regular season, the Cavs led the East with 110.3 points per game (4th-best in NBA), which was the first time Cleveland has ever led the conference in scoring.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 111.40
- Field Goals: 47.43%
- Three Points: 39.04%
- Free Throws: 75.18%
- Rebounds: 43.51
- Average Score Against: 107.36
- Field Goals: 45.76%
- Three Points: 36.16%
- Free Throws: 77.84%
- Rebounds: 43.54
Latest NBA Odds Trends
- Celtics are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 games
- Celtics are 1-4 SU in the last 5 games
- The total went OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games
- Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 games
- Cavaliers are 13-5 SU in the last 18 games
- The total went OVER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 6 games
