Boston at Golden State
Time: 9:30 PM CT (ESPN)
Spread: GSW -8.5
Total: 221.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The Boston Celtics have dropped its past two games and travel to the NBA’s toughest venue to face the Golden State Warriors at Oracle. The Warriors are without starting forward Kevin Durant for at least another three weeks, but Golden State has still won its past two contests and is 26-3 at home. That is enough for NBA oddsmakers to set the line 8.5 points in favor of the Dubs, with an over/under set at 221.5 points. The game will air as the second-half of a double-header on ESPN Wednesday night at 9:30 PM (CT).
Golden State, to be honest, and clear, is a contending team even without Kevin Durant in its lineup. The Warriors still have three All-Stars to man the ship even with one of its two league MVPs out of the lineup, and Golden State has no problems scoring the ball. That is not to over-minimize the loss because Durant has had a fantastic season on both ends of the court, but Golden State should be able to hold things together without Durant.
As to whether it can hold on to the West’s number one seed, that is less clear, but Golden State does maintain a 2.5 game lead over No. 2 San Antonio. It is just that the Spurs have been red hot in their own right, as winners of its past eight games. Golden State probably does not need the homecourt advantage quite as much as pundits project, though, given that the Warriors are 26-8 on the road this season and the team is as talented as it is.
Getting bullish on the Warriors will require more than a slight setback. Of course, if Durant’s re-evaluation is not favorable, that would throw a major wrench into things, and how the Warriors choose to handle his return will be a matter of intense debate.
Live NBA odds available here at Maddux Sports!
There seems to be no reason to endanger Durant’s career in any way for one run of what could still be more to come in future seasons. It is not as though this is Durant’s final chance at a ring, and taking caution still is the best route to go with a Hall of Fame-caliber talent whose body needs rest before the Warriors need homecourt advantage. And besides that, the Warriors should have few problems disposing with whichever team draws the No. 8 seed anyway. Denver and Dallas are both quality teams, but Golden State is head and shoulders above both clubs, with or without Durant.
Boston has started this West Coast road trip 0-2 after losing to both the L.A. Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Al Horford and Avery Bradley rested the Lakers contest, and then Horford was held out of the Suns game as well. Boston is not fully healthy, and it has shown in the team going just 5-5 over its past 10 games SU. The loss to Phoenix came on a late-game meltdown which saw the Celtics turn the ball over on the game’s final possession, which led to Tyler Ulis hitting the game winning three as the buzzer sounded.
With Boston in such a tight race to either get the No. 1 seed in the East, or hold off Washington for the No. 2, losses like these could eventually come back to sting Brad Stevens and company by the playoffs. Boston has lost 4 of its past 7, and getting back on track against Golden State is a tough pill for the C’s to swallow. Even as advantageous as Isaiah Thomas is on the offensive end, the Warriors are the league’s toughest backcourt to cover (a little arguably given Washington and Portland’s backcourt-heavy approaches now), and Thomas is sure to have plenty of problems with Stephen Curry.
That said, there is so much switching and screening, that the role of stopping and slowing Curry will fall equally to Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley and Terry Rozier. It will not be Thomas’ fault entirely if Boston fails in this task, but his diminutive stature creates a number of defensive problems that it takes Stevens’ full exercise of brilliance to overcome nightly. And then there is the fact that Thomas said the Celtics should absolutely draft Markelle Fultz should it have the No. 1 pick.
So perhaps even Thomas is aware that his days as a team’s No. 1 option are numbered. Boston is in a luxurious position with Brooklyn’s picks in upcoming seasons, and Thomas’ talents are clear, but equally clear are his troubling shortcomings. And the fact that Boston will eventually have to pay up to keep him, and that might not be the smartest move given the limitations he imposes on a team’s defense.
Check out our season pick plans to get in on the NBA and NCAA hoops winning in 2016-17!
