New York Knicks at Boston Celtics
Time: 6 PM CT (NBA LP)
Spread: BOS -7.5
Total: 201.5
Betting odds c/o Pincle
The Boston Celtics won 45 games a year ago and are currently 17-13 as it hosts the 14-17 New York Knicks. The Celtics are 8-7 at home this season and will be 7.5 point favorites in the game which will air at 6 PM Central on NBA League Pass.
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The Celtics have won three straight with wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets. The most recent win came in a 99-93 defeat of Detroit, as the Celtics placed all five starters in double-figures, led by Avery Bradley’s 18 points. Bradley has developed into a legitimate offensive threat after having been mostly a defensive specialist the first few seasons of his NBA career. The 6’2” combo guard is averaging 11.6 points on just 37.9 percent shooting over his last five games, however.
Even so, in the C’s last two games he has hit 13 of 28 from the field including 5 of 15 from three-point range. Given point guard Isaiah Thomas’ offensive brilliance, the Celtics are fortunate to have a backcourt so versatile and strong, with second year guard Marcus Smart rounding out a tough three-guard rotation. Smart is rehabbing a knee injury and is not expected back until January, and he will strengthen Boston immensely when he does return.
Thomas has blossomed into a star since joining the Celtics mid-season last year. Brad Stevens really likes his young gunner, and the 5’9” guard averages 20.7 points and 6.9 assists per game while posting a team-high PER of 21.7.
The Celtics’ identity still lies mostly on the defensive end, with Jae Crowder having established himself as one of the top defensive wingmen in the league. Crowder is averaging 1.73 steals and 0.57 blocks per game while averaging 13 points on the offensive end. Where the Celtics are weak is at the 4/5-spots.
Jared Sullinger is a solid NBA pro, but he does not hit a very good percentage for an NBA power forward, having connected on just 42.9 percent of his shots this season. His court stretching is mostly a myth, given that “Sully” hits just 27 percent from behind the arc. The same applies, but perhaps less so, to Kelly Olynyk who is now more known for his dirty play against Kevin Love in last year’s playoffs than any legitimate talents he may possess. The former BYU Cougar is averaging 9.5 points per game as one of eight Celtics averaging nine points or better on the season.
The Celtics’ best form of depth comes in a versatile Evan Turner, who though inefficient, is a good playmaker and keys the offensive attack of the second unit. Turner averages 8.9 points and four assists per game, though he is not a good shooter either—good for just 41 percent from the floor and 14 percent from three-point range (though he attempts precious few).
The Knicks come in riding a three-game skid that has seen it drop games to the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks. All three of those clubs are currently situated within the playoff picture, but that does not help New York’s chances as it has fallen three games below .500 to fall out of a tough Eastern Conference chase this season.
Latvian rookie Kristaps Porzingis has taken the league by storm and it is looking as though New York possibly got the best talent out of the 2015 draft class (howsoever early it is to make those statements and projections). Kristaps is averaging 13.2 points, eight rebounds and 2.00 blocks per game while posting a PER of 18.1. He is battling a finger injury but is expected to play.
Kristaps has kept New York’s chances alive, but for all the good he does, it is hard to undo the team cancer that Carmelo Anthony is.
Anthony loves to dribble the ball, and that does little more than take his Knicks teammates’ out of their games. The Knicks are 2-8 when Lance Thomas sees under 18 minutes in a game, and given that he plays behind Melo, that chance to shoot itself in the foot is constantly there for the Knicks.
Melo is averaging 21.6 points per game but shooting a woeful 42.5 percent from the floor. His 3.6 assists are mostly an illusion and only give rise to the myth that he is anything resembling a team player. Thomas is shooting 49 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three, posting nine points per game in 21 minutes a night.
No doubt Knicks fans clamor to see Melo, but the fact remains that the Knicks are a far better team, playing with an actual team concept, when Anthony is not on the floor. Perhaps the biggest lacking on the Knicks part is a sheer lack of depth, with mostly mediocre talents like Derrick Williams, Kyle O’Quinn and Kevin Seraphin coming off the bench.
Having a slow footed Jose Calderon at the point hardly helps its defensive outlook either. The Celtics are not a particularly loaded team offensively, but there is enough there to derail the Knicks. NBA oddsmakers fully agree giving Boston a healthy 7.5 point edge in the NBA odds.
