After Losing Two At Home, Orlando Becomes the Underdog NBA Bet to Beat Boston on the Road in Game 3

The Orlando Magic had high hopes going into the Eastern Conference Finals.

After all, they hadn’t lost a single game straight-up during the playoffs and had gone 7 and 1 against the spread in the NBA sportsbook in their 8 playoff victories.

But things can change quickly in the NBA. That’s why the Orlando Magic’s high hopes have been smashed after two stunning losses to the Boston Celtics.

Does the Magic have any chance of getting back into this series?

Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics

• Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
• When: May 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 pm EST
• TV: ESPN

NBA Betting Odds

Orlando Magic +3 -110

Boston Celtics -3 -110

The NBA trends favor the Boston Celtics in this game.

• The Boston Celtics are 5 and 0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600
• The Boston Celtics are 6 and 1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. an opponent from the NBA Southeast Division.
• The Orlando Magic is 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
• The Orlando Magic is 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog on the road.

The truth is that most sports gamblers probably don’t need trends in order to help them figure out who the winner against the spread will be in this game. The Boston Celtics have been better than the Orlando Magic in 2 key stats, turnovers and field goal percentage.

In Game 1, the Celtics committed 15 turnovers to the Magic’s 18. In Game 2, the Celtics and Magic both committed 14 turnovers. In Game 1, the Celtics shot 44.6% while the Magic shot 41.6%. In Game 2, the Celtics shot 45.9% while the Magic shot 39.4%.

The Celtics are being both tougher on the defensive end and more efficient on the offensive end. Because of that, it’s going to be very difficult for the Orlando Magic to not only win a game in this series but also to cover a spread in this series.

Boston hasn’t lost a game since May 7th when the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the hell out of them 124 to 95. Since then, the Celtics have played perfectly winning 5 games in a row and, more impressively, covering the spread in each of those 5 games. Boston is on a roll. They look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, not the Orlando Magic.

I expect Boston to play as well in Game 3 as they have in the two previous games in this series. In fact, if anything, they should play better as it’s obvious to me that Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy is out of ideas on how to stop the Celtics.

Boston is the overall better team. They’re 2 victories away from the NBA Finals. They’re going to beat Orlando in Game 3 and cover the spread in the basketball sportsbook.

NBA Free Pick: Boston Celtics -3