Tonight is set up perfectly for a classic Covers bloodbath.
The justifications that one can use to back the Cs tonight are plentiful: no Rondo for the Bulls, motivation due to do or die game, Brad Stevens is a great young coach, lineup adjustments will be made for Cs, TV networks want a longer series for these 2 teams, etc.
However, none of those points really address the 2 major issues the Celtics face in this matchup: the inability of the Celtics to keep up with the Bulls and the fact that the 2 best players on the court are both on the Bulls (Butler and Wade)
The Bulls rebounding edge is actually even stronger at home and the line has moved 4.5 points due to the Rondo news which is an absurd over adjustment.
Ask yourself this: Are you comfortable backing a team that is pegged as a 2.5 point favorite ON THE ROAD that has less top end talent, a severe rebounding disadvantage and a star player who will arrive to play from a funeral right before tipoff?
Listen, the read do or die game for the Celtics was Game 2 and they proved they weren't capable. Stevens knows this team has no answer for Butler and Wade.
MAX PLAY (2 Units): Bulls+2.5
MAX PLAY (2 Units): Total Under 206
SMALL PLAY (1 Unit): Bulls ML
The total should go Under as well with the Bulls controlling the boards and letting Butler/Grant/MCW handle the ball to instead of Rondo who likes to push the pace and tempo.
Tonight is set up perfectly for a classic Covers bloodbath.
The justifications that one can use to back the Cs tonight are plentiful: no Rondo for the Bulls, motivation due to do or die game, Brad Stevens is a great young coach, lineup adjustments will be made for Cs, TV networks want a longer series for these 2 teams, etc.
However, none of those points really address the 2 major issues the Celtics face in this matchup: the inability of the Celtics to keep up with the Bulls and the fact that the 2 best players on the court are both on the Bulls (Butler and Wade)
The Bulls rebounding edge is actually even stronger at home and the line has moved 4.5 points due to the Rondo news which is an absurd over adjustment.
Ask yourself this: Are you comfortable backing a team that is pegged as a 2.5 point favorite ON THE ROAD that has less top end talent, a severe rebounding disadvantage and a star player who will arrive to play from a funeral right before tipoff?
Listen, the read do or die game for the Celtics was Game 2 and they proved they weren't capable. Stevens knows this team has no answer for Butler and Wade.
MAX PLAY (2 Units): Bulls+2.5
MAX PLAY (2 Units): Total Under 206
SMALL PLAY (1 Unit): Bulls ML
The total should go Under as well with the Bulls controlling the boards and letting Butler/Grant/MCW handle the ball to instead of Rondo who likes to push the pace and tempo.
but.. but the NBA is the WWE of professional sports
clearly they are in it for the ratings
Even if you believe the NBA is rigged which I don't believe it is, the Bulls vs. the Cavs in the ECF would be a much better ratings draw than the hapless Celtics.
The general public would be excited to see Butler and Wade go up against James and Irving.
The oddsmakers, TV execs and the betting sharps all know that the Celtics have no chance here vs. the Bulls so they don't need to meaninglessly prolong a 1st Round series for the excitement.
Don't overthink this DK, your initial Bulls -1 bet is still good and you know it.
but.. but the NBA is the WWE of professional sports
clearly they are in it for the ratings
Even if you believe the NBA is rigged which I don't believe it is, the Bulls vs. the Cavs in the ECF would be a much better ratings draw than the hapless Celtics.
The general public would be excited to see Butler and Wade go up against James and Irving.
The oddsmakers, TV execs and the betting sharps all know that the Celtics have no chance here vs. the Bulls so they don't need to meaninglessly prolong a 1st Round series for the excitement.
Don't overthink this DK, your initial Bulls -1 bet is still good and you know it.
Even if you believe the NBA is rigged which I don't believe it is, the Bulls vs. the Cavs in the ECF would be a much better ratings draw than the hapless Celtics.
The general public would be excited to see Butler and Wade go up against James and Irving.
The oddsmakers, TV execs and the betting sharps all know that the Celtics have no chance here vs. the Bulls so they don't need to meaninglessly prolong a 1st Round series for the excitement.
Don't overthink this DK, your initial Bulls -1 bet is still good and you know it.
hoping that will be the matchup for the ECF, just as i was hoping it would be Heat vs Cavs in the ECF last year. it would be fun to see DWade vs Lebron, truth be told.
sorry for overthinking, just been a little bit perturbed the last few days. first the Hawks, then Thunder.. and now the Pacers. if the Bulls lose today so be it, but the Thunder better show up today can't handle another meltdown.
Even if you believe the NBA is rigged which I don't believe it is, the Bulls vs. the Cavs in the ECF would be a much better ratings draw than the hapless Celtics.
The general public would be excited to see Butler and Wade go up against James and Irving.
The oddsmakers, TV execs and the betting sharps all know that the Celtics have no chance here vs. the Bulls so they don't need to meaninglessly prolong a 1st Round series for the excitement.
Don't overthink this DK, your initial Bulls -1 bet is still good and you know it.
hoping that will be the matchup for the ECF, just as i was hoping it would be Heat vs Cavs in the ECF last year. it would be fun to see DWade vs Lebron, truth be told.
sorry for overthinking, just been a little bit perturbed the last few days. first the Hawks, then Thunder.. and now the Pacers. if the Bulls lose today so be it, but the Thunder better show up today can't handle another meltdown.
I think the Bulls can beat up the Celtics tonight. Therefore, I am taking Boston -2 1/2. They will show up ready to play, and Butler and Wade won't be enough by themselves to stop Boston.
I think the Bulls can beat up the Celtics tonight. Therefore, I am taking Boston -2 1/2. They will show up ready to play, and Butler and Wade won't be enough by themselves to stop Boston.
All these story lines don't mean a thing if It doesn't get some help. Al Horford scoring 7 pts for example is not going to get them a W. Jordan could probably still do better than at 54. Bulls atmosphere will probably be great, because they haven't exactly been a playoff juggernaut in recent years. If Chicago can get the series over early, more time for Rondo to heal up for round two. Bulls beat Celtics in Chicago the last time they played there with no Wade. Rondo played but had zero pts.
All these story lines don't mean a thing if It doesn't get some help. Al Horford scoring 7 pts for example is not going to get them a W. Jordan could probably still do better than at 54. Bulls atmosphere will probably be great, because they haven't exactly been a playoff juggernaut in recent years. If Chicago can get the series over early, more time for Rondo to heal up for round two. Bulls beat Celtics in Chicago the last time they played there with no Wade. Rondo played but had zero pts.
Game 2 is not do or die either that's false. His sister was driving a garbage box 98 car I think it's safe to say the weren't close.
If IT was emotionally impacted in the first 2 games, then he will be just as distraught in Game 3 since he just witnessed his sister being buried today.
Game 2 is not do or die either that's false. His sister was driving a garbage box 98 car I think it's safe to say the weren't close.
If IT was emotionally impacted in the first 2 games, then he will be just as distraught in Game 3 since he just witnessed his sister being buried today.
I think the Bulls can beat up the Celtics tonight. Therefore, I am taking Boston -2 1/2. They will show up ready to play, and Butler and Wade won't be enough by themselves to stop Boston.
I think the Bulls can beat up the Celtics tonight. Therefore, I am taking Boston -2 1/2. They will show up ready to play, and Butler and Wade won't be enough by themselves to stop Boston.
Spurs played on the road and Conley is a massive upgrade for the Grizzlies over Tony Parker so no the Spurs shouldn't have won Game 3.
You do realize that Game 3 is being played in Chicago and not Boston right? Backing underdogs at home in a "do or die" situation makes more sense than backing a favorite on the road in a "do or die situation".
Spurs played on the road and Conley is a massive upgrade for the Grizzlies over Tony Parker so no the Spurs shouldn't have won Game 3.
You do realize that Game 3 is being played in Chicago and not Boston right? Backing underdogs at home in a "do or die" situation makes more sense than backing a favorite on the road in a "do or die situation".
People saying the line moved 4 points over Rondo aren't actually correct. The line was already moving towards Boston from +1.5 to +1 before the news broke. A lot of people, myself included, were going to pound Boston in this spot before the injury news. That was just icing on the cake really.
The Celtics beat the Bulls by 20 in their last game during the season and the teams split their 4 matchups. The Bulls, while fighting for a playoff spot, lost to the Sixers and the Knicks in the last month of the season. They only got in because they got help. They're a .500 team who just beat the top seed twice in a row, statistically they're not likely to beat ANY team 3 times in a row let alone one as good as the Celtics.
And yes, the league will want a long series. And basically Chicago is going to come back down to earth and look very ordinary again tonight.
People saying the line moved 4 points over Rondo aren't actually correct. The line was already moving towards Boston from +1.5 to +1 before the news broke. A lot of people, myself included, were going to pound Boston in this spot before the injury news. That was just icing on the cake really.
The Celtics beat the Bulls by 20 in their last game during the season and the teams split their 4 matchups. The Bulls, while fighting for a playoff spot, lost to the Sixers and the Knicks in the last month of the season. They only got in because they got help. They're a .500 team who just beat the top seed twice in a row, statistically they're not likely to beat ANY team 3 times in a row let alone one as good as the Celtics.
And yes, the league will want a long series. And basically Chicago is going to come back down to earth and look very ordinary again tonight.
I think the game would have went off at something like pick or -1 Chicago if Rondo was playing. This isn't a massive difference but it IS significant that Boston is now favored on the road after looking so bad the last 2 games.
Because the PUBLIC is all over Chicago. It's all sharp money on the C's
I think the game would have went off at something like pick or -1 Chicago if Rondo was playing. This isn't a massive difference but it IS significant that Boston is now favored on the road after looking so bad the last 2 games.
Because the PUBLIC is all over Chicago. It's all sharp money on the C's
If I'm not mistaken, Rondo's D has bothered Thomas, so I think it's a double-edge sword losing Rondo. They lose a guy averaging a near triple double, plus Thomas may "free up". It's a very hard game to cap, but I think Bulls have played above their expected level, while Celtics have been very disappointing. I think if Celtics can get on too early they'll ride it out for a victory. If it was neutral territory I'd be very confident in that. As it's Bulls home, I'm on the fence but lean Celtics due to circumstances (Rondo out, must win etc.)
If I'm not mistaken, Rondo's D has bothered Thomas, so I think it's a double-edge sword losing Rondo. They lose a guy averaging a near triple double, plus Thomas may "free up". It's a very hard game to cap, but I think Bulls have played above their expected level, while Celtics have been very disappointing. I think if Celtics can get on too early they'll ride it out for a victory. If it was neutral territory I'd be very confident in that. As it's Bulls home, I'm on the fence but lean Celtics due to circumstances (Rondo out, must win etc.)
Even if you believe the NBA is rigged which I don't believe it is, the Bulls vs. the Cavs in the ECF would be a much better ratings draw than the hapless Celtics.
The general public would be excited to see Butler and Wade go up against James and Irving.
The oddsmakers, TV execs and the betting sharps all know that the Celtics have no chance here vs. the Bulls so they don't need to meaninglessly prolong a 1st Round series for the excitement.
Don't overthink this DK, your initial Bulls -1 bet is still good and you know it.
Correct me if Im wrong, but if the Bulls beat the Celtics, the bulls would meet the Cavs next round and not the ECF?
Even if you believe the NBA is rigged which I don't believe it is, the Bulls vs. the Cavs in the ECF would be a much better ratings draw than the hapless Celtics.
The general public would be excited to see Butler and Wade go up against James and Irving.
The oddsmakers, TV execs and the betting sharps all know that the Celtics have no chance here vs. the Bulls so they don't need to meaninglessly prolong a 1st Round series for the excitement.
Don't overthink this DK, your initial Bulls -1 bet is still good and you know it.
Correct me if Im wrong, but if the Bulls beat the Celtics, the bulls would meet the Cavs next round and not the ECF?
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