Game Time: 11/10/2008 07:30 PM -
By: Alex Smart | experts.covers.com
As Crish Bosh goes, so go the Raptors. Look for the Celtics' defense to slow Bosh down at The Garden on Monday night when Boston (6-1) finds Toronto (4-2) in town.
The Toronto Raptors (4-2) enter into this Eastern Conference tilt against the defending champion Boston Celtics (6-1) playing some very good basketball behind their leading scorer Chris Bosh. The host Celtics are also playing at a very high level, via a more balanced attack and defense.
The Raptors' successes and failures hinge on the play of Bosh; if he can be slowed, then his team does not have much of chance of getting a win. The Celtics, who are allowing just 86.7 PPG on .375 FG%, know this and will concentrate on him, while their own offense behind the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen do more than enough damage to come out of this with a win and cover.
Final Notes & Key Trends: Toronto has lost 14 of their last 18 road games SU dating back to last season. Boston is 13-2 ATS in their last 15 vs divisional foes, winning SU by an average of 13.5 PPG.
Game Time: 11/10/2008 07:05 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com
The Over is 9-1 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between the Pacers and Thunder franchise, and Indiana has gone Over vs. every suspect defense they have faced this year. Go Over again tonight.
The Indiana Pacers went Under vs. the New Jersey Nets on Saturday, but we expect a return to their high-scoring ways when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.
The Pacers has gone Over in three of their first four games prior to that Nets contest, with the sole Under coming vs. a Boston Celtics team that plays the best defense in the league. They are no facing such an immovable force here in the Thunder.
In fact, these clubs are accustomed to shootouts, as the Over is 9-1 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings! These teams combined for 221 points in a Pacers 114-107 win over the then Seattle Sonics in this building the last time they met last season in March.
Now the Thunder have yet to crack the 100-point mark, but they have faced quite a few good defensive teams so far such as Boston, Houston and Atlanta. They should at the very least approach 100 points vs. an Indiana defense that is surrendering 96.6 points per game.
Now granted, the Thunder are playing the second of a back-to-back, but that had an adverse effect on the defensively last season, when they allowed a whopping 106.9 points per game on the 15 occasions that they played with no rest.
Game Time: 11/10/2008 07:05 PM -
By: Bryan Leonard | experts.covers.com
Portland begins a long road trip with a long flight from Oregon to Florida where Orlando is 4-1 at home to open the season. The Magic breeze past the Trail Blazers tonight.
Long road trip for the Trail Blazers who had to come from behind to beat the Timberwolves at home on Saturday. Now they fly from Portland, Oregon to Orlando, Florida to take on the Magic.
This marks the opening game of a five-game road trip as Portland plays seven of their next eight games on the road. The Blazers have faced three opponents away from home this season losing by 20, 11 and 7 points.
While Portland is off back-to-back hard-fought games, the Magic should be very fresh tonight. They are playing their fifth straight home game knowing the last two games here were wire-to-wire cakewalks. They led Philadelphia by 14 points after the first quarter and cruised to a 98-88 victory. Then on Saturday they held a 19-point halftime lead over Washington and easily retained control in a 15-point victory.
Look for the long travel situation to be a factor as the Blazers fall behind early. Play Orlando.
Game Time: 11/10/2008 07:30 PM -
By: Jim Feist | playbook.com
With Nets guard Devin Harris at least slowed tonight by an ankle injury, if not out of action completely, we'll back the Miami Heat on their homecourt against New Jersey.
The New Jersey Nets are just 1-2 on the road to start the year and come into Miami with some injury issues.
Nets guard Devin Harris was held out of Saturday night's game against the Indiana Pacers with a sprained left ankle after scoring a career-high 38 points in New Jersey's win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. He ranks second on the team with 18.8 points per game and is a key cog, as we saw when the Nets lost Saturday, 98-80.
Miami has been soft on the road, but really plays well at home (2-0). Unlike last season they are healthy with plenty of offensive firepower behind Dwyane Wade and rookie Michael Beasely. They are averaging close to 100 ppg and match up well against this ailing NJ team. Play the Miami Heat.
Game Time: 11/10/2008 07:30 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
With Boston worn out from travel to and from Detroit over the weekend, look for Chris Bosh and the Raptors to hang within the number tonight. Take Toronto at the Celtics.
Our Monday night NBA selection is on the Toronto Raptors plus the points on the road at the Boston Celtics.
In their last game, the Celtics upset Detroit at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and now return home to take on Chris Bosh & Co. There's not much fault one can find with the Celtics, but their one weakness over the last few years has been playing well at home off an upset win. Boston is just 9-30 ATS since 2003 in that role.
These two teams met last January, and Toronto handed Boston a rare home loss, 114-112, as an 8½-point underdog. I look for a similar result tonight. Take the points.
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