If form holds, the Boston Celtics are near locks to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Wednesday night’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals – and Boston is a 9-point betting favorite (over/under: 176) on WagerWeb.com.
The Celtics are back in Boston, where they're unbeaten so far in the playoffs after a regular season in which they posted an NBA-best 35-6 home record. Let’s not mention that 0-5 playoff road record.
Asked if there was a danger that his players were using their home-court advantage as a crutch, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, "The danger is that you're playing on the road right now against really good teams.
"We earned that right to have home-court advantage," he said. "I don't think it has anything to do with why we haven't won a road game. We haven't played well on the road, and we have to do better."
In winning Game 3 and 4 at Cleveland, the Cavaliers limited Boston to 39.5 percent shooting and had only 17 turnovers to 53 assists.
In Game 1 and 2 at Boston, the Celtics shot 41.4 percent, but Cleveland had 32 turnovers to 37 assists.
Cleveland also shot just 33.1 percent in those two losses with LeBron James making only 8-of-42 shots (19 percent) from the field.
”We have to take care of the basketball and we have to keep the turnovers down or else it’s going to be a long, long night,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “We haven’t done a good job of that in Boston, so we have to make sure everyone is on the same page and is executing like we are at home.”The Celtics’ defense has held James to just 26 percent (20-of-78) shooting in the series but Boston has not been able to take advantage on the offensive end; the C’s are averaging just 81.5 points through the first four games.
"They are one of the best defensive teams in the league," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who is averaging 12.5 points in the series. "They force you to drive or take tough outside shots and then their big men collapse. We have to do a better job with the extra pass, but I thought we were more aggressive than in the last game."
James has been able to compensate in other ways: In Game 4, he had 13 assists, four in the fourth quarter, when he took control, assisting or scoring on six of the Cavs’ last seven baskets.
After ripping the Cavs for 28 points in Game 1, Boston's Kevin Garnett has averaged 15 points over the last three games. Garnett took just 13 shots Monday, one less than point guard Rajon Rondo, a sign the Cavs are succeeding.
"(Anderson) Varejao is doing a terrific job on Kevin right now, and we need to try to keep him moving in the post," Rivers said.
For what it’s worth, the Cavaliers have won the last two times they've played a Game 5 on the road in the postseason. In 2006, they won at Detroit in the conference semifinals. Last year, James carried Cleveland to a Game 5 win in the conference finals at Detroit by scoring a franchise-record 48 points.
Betting trends: Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. ... Celtics are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 home games. ... Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5. ... Under is 12-2 in Cavaliers’ last 14 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5. ... Under is 4-1 in Celtics’ last 5 overall. ... Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Boston. ... Cavs are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
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