NBA Playoff Betting Action – Celtics at Magic Game 5

The Orlando Magic will try to prove that this series is not at its end tonight at 8:30 PM ET at Amway Arena when they host the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals.
NBA Betting Odds:
Boston Celtics +4
Orlando Magic -4
O/U 186.5

Finally, we saw in Game Four an inspired fighter in Dwight Howard, and I expect that to continue today, but the Magic need to give him a hand.

Vince Carter was replaced by JJ Reddick because he sucked from the perimeter, but what else can you expect? This is Vince Carter we’re talking about.

NBA betting fans should understand that Ray Rondo’s injury was the real difference maker in this game.  If Rondo was healthy, we would be talking about how much time the Celtics have to wait for either the Lakers or the Suns in the NBA finals.

Rondo needs to step up for at least one more game so Boston can win this one and then he could go get some rest before the finals. So it has to be tonight.

He shot 3-10 from the field and had only 8 assists, and that’s not Rondo in these playoffs. With all that, the Celtics could have won it in Game Four.  He needs to play better, otherwise Orlando will steal another one and suddenly we will have a series.

Keep in mind that the Celtics are 11-4 ATS in all playoff games this season and 6-2 ATS when leading in a playoff series; not to mention 3-1 ATS in the conference finals.

The Magic are 3-5 ATS in a home game where the total is between 185 and 189.5 points, 1-3 ATS off an upset win as an underdog.

The Celtics are 7-4 against the spread versus the Magic over the last 3 seasons in games played in Orlando.  Plus, 8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons in games played in Orlando.

Simmons’ pick:  Take Boston and the Under.