Celtics vs Magic – What do you need to know before making your bet

There’s no rest for the weary, as less than 72 hours after dismantling the Eastern Conference favorite Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics will be back to take on the Orlando Magic. Before you make your NBA basketball bet though, be sure to read below. Here is everything you need to know about the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals:

No. 4 Boston Celtics at No. 2 Orlando Magic

Game 1: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ABC

Game 1 NBA Betting Odds: Orlando -6, Total Points 189 ½

How They Got Here:

Orlando: 4-0 Round 1 Win over Charlotte (4-0 ATS), 4-0 Round 2 Win over Atlanta (4-0 ATS)

Boston: 4-1 Round 1 Win over Miami (4-1 ATS), 4-2 Round 2 Win over Cleveland (4-2 ATS)

What Orlando Needs To Do To Win This Series: For lack of a better term, just keep doing what they’ve been doing. The Magic have ripped through these playoffs, and they’ve done it with offense and defense, but most importantly balance.

While most equate the Magic’s success with the play of center Dwight Howard, he has just been one cog in this well oiled machine. “Superman,” has averaged 11 rebounds and four blocks defensively, but just 15.4 points total, including only nine per game in the first round.

In his place, a new cast of stars has stepped up. Point guard Jameer Nelson has been phenomenal, averaging 20 points a game so far in these playoffs, after averaging just 12 during the regular season. Rashard Lewis has stepped up with 16 points a game in these playoffs, and Vince Carter has added 16 as well. Didn’t I tell ya they were balanced!

However, for all the talk about Orlando’s offense, it has been their defense which has truly been “championship,” caliber. In a league where 100 point games are the norm, the Magic have yet to allow triple digits this postseason, and have held the opponent under 85 points four times in these playoffs, three times in their Round 2 win against Atlanta.

What Boston Needs To Do To Win This Series: Like Orlando, stay balanced.

While this team has always had the talent, they seemed to be injured all season long. Now healthy they’ve got everyone playing at full strength. Kevin Garnett- who was limited all season by injuries- stepped up with a 18 point average in Round 2, including a 22 point outburst in Game 6 Thursday night. Ray Allen has been phenomenal as well, averaging 18 points a game in Boston’s four wins over Cleveland. And finally there’s Rajon Rondo. Overlooked during the regular season, Rondo has been the man in these playoffs, averaging close to 21 points and 11 assists a game in the Cleveland series.

Orlando Will Win This Series If: Howard stays out of foul trouble and protects the rim. The Magic simply need to defend Garnett and control the paint better than Cleveland did. It seemed like Rondo could get into the lane, and dish to Garnett, Kendrick Perkins or Tony Allen whenever he pleased for easy points. Those points need to be earned against Orlando.

Boston Will Win This Series If: Rondo abuses Jameer Nelson the way he did Cleveland’s guards. The truth is, that for all the athletes Orlando has, few match up well with Rondo. He was able to do as he pleased against Cleveland, and Orlando cannot let him do the same.

Aaron’s NBA Free Pick: Boston in 7