Utah Jazz AT Boston Celtics
Jan 21, 2011 at 7:30 PM EST
Opening Line: Boston -6.5
Current Line: Boston -5.5
Opening total: 196
Current Total: 194
Opening Moneyline: Bos -245 / Uta +205
Current Moneyline: Bos -240 / Uta +200
Utah is coming off back to back road loss to two bad teams in New Jersey and Washington, and things aren’t going to get any easier tonight against the Celtics who are an outstanding 20-3 at home in the TD Garden. NBA Oddsmakers set the line closer than one might expect given Utah’s recent struggles, and coach Jerry Sloan is anything but happy with the team’s effort over the last two games. “We look like we were lacking effort and our energy doesn’t look good to me, even more so in the last couple of games,” Sloan said. “Just doesn’t seem like great enthusiasm to play.”
Portland has not beaten a team with a winning record on the road since they defeated Portland two months ago on November 20th. They still have a winning road record at 12-8 but have dropped four of their last five on the road. With Kevin Garnett back and nearly at full strength, Utah will have to find a way to play better defense and not allow so many role players to score in double figures as they did against the Nets last game.
Some betting trends:
Utah is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games and the total has gone OVER in 7 of their last 8 games. The total has gone OVER in 6 of their last 7 on the road and they are 1-4 SU in their last 5 road games. They are also 1-4 ATS in those games and the total has gone OVER in 15 of their last 21 games against Boston. The total has gone OVER in 7 of their last 10 road games at the TD Garden and they are 3-7 SU in their last 10 road games against the Celtics.
Boston is 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games and the total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 games. They are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games and 15-2 SU in their last 17 home games and 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. The total has gone OVER in 6 of their last 7 home games. Boston is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against the Jazz and 7-3 SU in their last 10 home games against the Jazz.
Key Matchups:
Deron Williams vs. Rajon Rondo
This matchup pits two of the best point guards in the league against one another. Rondo is leading the league in assists with 13.2 per game. He is also shooting over 50% from the floor at 52.2% FG. His speed will give Deron Williams problems who is a bit more methodical and less speedy, but offensively crafty enough with his hestiation dribble and crossovers to get past even quick defenders like Rondo. Deron Williams is having the best year of his six year NBA career, posting a career high in points by 2.7 more than his previous high in 08-09. He also manages 9.5 assists a game which means he has a hand in 40% of Utah’s points between the assists and points, and even higher if you were to include passes to players that get fouled. He’s the engine behind Utah’s attack.
Paul Millsap vs. Kevin Garnett
Millsap has quietly emerged as one of the top power forwards in the league but is still a few notches away from being an all-star and he’ll be facing perennial all-star Kevin Garnett tonight, whose defense should slow down Millsap. Millsap is averaging 17.2 points per game and shoots an exceptional 53% from the floor. He’s also an effective defender, averaging nearly a block a game and 1.4 steals. Garnett isn’t quite the offensive player he once was, but he’s still capable of big games and it will be up to Millsap to prevent that from happening. This matchup, along with the point guard matchup, will be crucial in determining the outcome of tonight’s game.
