Friday NBA Picks – Cavs vs Celtics

After an embarrassing Game 2 loss, can the Cleveland Cavaliers rebound, as their playoff series shifts to Boston? We’ll find out when the Cavs and Celtics duke it out in Friday’s NBA basketball betting action.

NBA Playoffs Round 2: Game 3

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 4 Boston Celtics

Series Tied 1-1 (Both teams are 1-1 ATS)

Friday, May 7: 7:00 p.m. ESPN

NBA Betting Odds: Cleveland -1, Total Points 191
Cleveland comes into this game off their worst performance of the playoffs Monday night against Boston. After a relatively close first half, the Cavs were outscored 31-12 in the third quarter, and run out of the gym by the Celtics. The 104-86 loss wasn’t indicative of how one sided this game was for most of the evening.

Clearly Cleveland needs to win Game 3, but right now, no one is quite certain what the health of superstar LeBron James is. James was phenomenal in Game 1, scoring 35 points and adding seven assists and seven rebounds, before struggling much more in Game 2. He finished with 24 points, but shot just 7 for 15 from the field. Veteran Mo Williams was even worse than LeBron, scoring just four points on 1 of 9 shooting from the field.

As for Boston, everything that could go right did on Monday night. Point guard Rajon Rondo has been the best player in this series so far, and will look to continue his hot play in Game 3. In the Celtics win, Rondo was everywhere, scoring 13 points, but adding a ridiculous 19 assists. Rasheed Wallace had an even more surprising game, chipping in 17 points off the bench.

Entering Game 3, the key for Cleveland will be better overall play from everyone, starting with James. It’s no secret that his injured elbow is hurting him, as he looked passive both in his shooting and playmaking abilities in the Cavs loss the other day. Williams certainly needs to step up, as does Antawn Jamison. While Jamison’s 16 points looked nice on paper, the truth is he missed a few big shots down the stretch that could have made Game 2 interesting. Jamison was acquired in a midseason trade for situations just like this, and needs to elevate his game.

And expect it to happen in Friday night’s NBA basketball betting action.

While this series may very well go seven games, the Cavaliers know they can’t afford to lose this game in Boston.

Expect James to step up his play, and for his role players to have better performances. Also, it’s probably unrealistic to expect some of the Celtics to possibly play as well as they did in Game 2, where Wallace had 17, and Ray Allen added 22. If they take even a little step back, Cleveland can regain the edge in this series.

Finally remember what happened in the first round of the playoffs, when the Cavaliers lost Game 3 to the Chicago Bulls? Cleveland responded with one of the great, dominating victories in recent memory the following game, as LeBron went off for 37-12-11, and the Cavaliers won by 23 points.

Yes Boston is better than Chicago. But when Cleveland is 100 percent focused in, the Celtics simply can’t compete.

Well, expect the Cavaliers to be 100 percent focused in. Also expect Cleveland to cover the betting odds as well

Aaron’s Pick: Cleveland -1 >> Join NOW