2017 NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals Game #6
#1 Boston Celtics at #4 Washington Wizards
Celtics lead Best of Seven Series 3-2
Friday, May 12, 2017, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Verizon Center – Washington, DC
Opening Line: Washington -5
Current Line: Washington -5
Opening Total: 217
Current Total: 216
Opening Money Line: Wizards -220 / Celtics +180
Current Money Line: Wizards -220 / Celtics +180
Ten of the eleven playoff series so far have ended with the clinching team winning on the road. The Boston Celtics look to continue that trend as they lead the Washington Wizards 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Celtics can close out the series Friday night in Washington. The home team has won every game in the series by ten points or more.
Boston is coached by Brad Stevens. The Celtics won the Atlantic Division with a 53-29 record and are the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite losing the first two games at home, Boston beat the #8 seed Chicago Bulls in six games in the first round. The Celtics are 47-44-2 ATS and the total is 46-43-4 this season.
Washington is coached by Scott Brooks. The Wizards won the Southeast Division with a 49-33 record and are the #4 seed in the East. Washington beat the #5 seed Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round. The Wizards are 47-45-1 ATS and the total is 59-34 this season.
The Celtics won game one 123-111 and game two 129-119 in overtime, both in Boston. The Wizards tied the series with a 116-89 win in game three and a 121-102 win in game four, both in Washington. Boston won game five at home Wednesday night 123-101. The Celtics were four point favorites and the total was 217.
In game five, Washington took an early 4-0 lead, but Boston went on a 16-0 run and were never threatened again. The Celtics led 33-21 after the first, and 67-51 at halftime. Boston led 93-76 at the end of the third, and could cruise to a 22 point win to put the Wizards on the brink of elimination. Wednesday night was not a great night for Washington sports as the Capitals lost at home in game seven against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Washington shot 35/91 from the field including 7/29 from three point range. The Wizards made 24/29 of free throws. Washington had 55 rebounds, 21 rebounds, 13 turnovers, 5 steals and 5 blocks. The Wizards had 14 fast break points and 46 points in the paint. Boston shot 46/87 from the field including 16/33 from the field. The Celtics made 15/21 free throws. Boston had 53 rebounds, 33 assists, 12 turnovers, 7 steals and 8 blocks. The Celtics had 19 fast break points and 46 points in the paint.
Avery Bradley had 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Celtics. Al Horford had 19 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Isaiah Thomas had 18 points, 9 assists and 3 rebounds. Jae Crowder had 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. John Wall had 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks for the Celtics. Bradley Beal had 16 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds. Otto Porter, Jr. and Kelly Oubre, Jr. each had 13 points.
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Boston is outscoring teams 108-105 this season. The Celtics are #7 in scoring. Boston is shooting 45.4% from the field and 35.9% from 3 point range. Boston make 80.7% of their free throws and are #3 in that category. Opponents are shooting 45% from the field and 33.2% from 3 point range. The Celtics are #2 in 3 point defense and #9 in field goal defense. Boston averages 42 rebounds per game and opponents average 44.5 per game. The Celtics are #25 or worse in both categories. Boston averages 24.4 assists, 13.2 turnovers, 8.2 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Isaiah Thomas averages 28.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. The MVP candidate is still grieving after the loss of his sister in a car accident the day before the Bulls series started. Avery Bradley averages 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He is probable with a hip injury. Al Horford averages 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Jae Crowder averages 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Marcus Smart averages 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Kelly Olynyk averages 9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Jaylen Brown, Amir Johnson, Gerald Green, Terry Rozier, Jonas Jerebko, and Tyler Zeller will also get minutes in the rotation.
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Washington is outscoring teams 109-107 this season. The Wizards are #5 in scoring but #21 in points allowed in the NBA. Washington is shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.2% from 3 point range. The Wizards are in the top ten in both categories. Washington makes 78.4% from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 46.6% from the field and 36.4% from 3 point range. Washington is #20 or worse in both categories. The Wizards average 42.8 rebounds per game and opponents average 43 per game. The Wizards average 23.9 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 8.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
John Wall averages 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2 blocks per game. Bradley Beal averages 23.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Markieff Morris averages 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is probable with a sprained ankle suffered in game one. Otto Porter, Jr. averages 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He is probable with an elbow injury. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 12.7 points and 3.1 assists per game. Marcin Gortat averages 10.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Marcus Thornton, Kelly Oubre, Jr., Jason Smith, Ian Mahinmi. Trey Burke and Brandon Jennings will also get time in the rotation. Mahinmi is out indefinitely with a calf injury.
Boston is 4-0 ATS after a double digit win, 6-1 after scoring 100 points or more, 5-1 after a straight up win and a cover, 4-1 on one day rest, 7-2 overall, and against Eastern Conference teams, 5-2 against teams with winning records, and 6-13 in Friday games. The over is 4-1 ATS in this series. The Celtics are 9-4 ATS in this series recently.
Washington is 4-1 ATS at home, 5-11 after a cover, 4-10 after a straight up loss, 2-5-1 in Friday games, 7-20-1 on one day rest, and 1-5 after allowing 100 points or more. The favorite is 12-2 ATS in this series recently, and the home team is 13-3 ATS. The Wizards are 4-0 ATS at home against the Celtics.
While the home team has won every game, I think the Celtics wrap up this series on the road, and move on to face the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
