NBA Finals Game 7 Predictions – Celtics vs Lakers

For the first time since 2005, the NBA Finals are headed to a deciding seventh game. But as the Lakers and Celtics get settle to do battle Thursday night, who should be your NBA bet in the last game of the season?

Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers

Series Tied 3-3 (3-3 ATS)con

Thursday, June 17: 9:00 p.m. ABC

Basketball Betting Odds: Los Angeles -7, Total Points 187

In this back and forth series, it was the Lakers who stole the show Tuesday night and dominated Game 6.

Truthfully, “dominated,” might not be a strong enough word. They controlled everything from the opening tap, taking a 20 point lead to halftime, and had a 25 point lead heading into the fourth quarter. The 89-67 final wasn’t indicative of how one sided this game was.

The biggest difference between Game’s 5 and 6 for the Lakers were the balance of their offense. In Game 5, it was Kobe Bryant who dominated the ball, scoring 38 points, while his teammates looked around and did little else. Just one other Laker- Pau Gasol- scored in double figures, as Los Angeles lost in Boston. Game 6 was a different story though, as three Lakers were in double figures, and Sasha Vujacic and Lamar Odom combined for 17 points off the bench.

As for Boston, everything that could go wrong did Tuesday, as the Celtics shot 33 percent from the field, just 22 percent from behind the arc, turned the ball over 14 times, and were outrebounded by 13 by the Lakers. Ouch!

So what should NBA Finals bettors expect as we head into Game 7? A much more even matchup.

Again, this series has been back-and-forth, and every time a team plays well one night, the other responds a classic performance the next. Expect the Celtics to come out much more prepared Thursday.

The biggest difference for Boston will be what kind of production they get from point guard Rajon Rondo. Truth be told, Rondo was awful Tuesday, as he finished with just 10 points and six assists, while turning the ball over three times. This after a Game 5 win where he had 18 points and eight assists.

So with that, who should be your Game 7 NBA Finals bet? Take the Celtics.

Don’t those seven points seem like an awful lot for any team to be getting in a crucial, deciding game in the NBA Finals? It just seems unfeasible that a team with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rondo will go down by that many in a deciding Game 7.

Beyond that though, every time the Lakers have come out and won a game, the Celtics have figured things out, and returned with a victory the following night. They responded to a Game 1 defeat by winning Game 2, and the same in Game 4 after falling in Game 3.

Expect Rondo to play much better, but also expect a virtuoso game from Pierce and Garnett as well. They know that this may be their last shot at a ring, and won’t let it slip through their fingers.

The Lakers may have Kobe Bryant, but the Celtics are a better team. Make them your Thursday night NBA bet, and get to ready to celebrate with them, as they win the NBA Championship.

Aaron’s Pick: Celtics +7