NBA Playoffs odds favor the Boston Celtics on Saturday as they begin defense of their NBA title against the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics are favored in NBA Playoffs betting in Game 1 against Chicago in this ESPN televised game on Saturday, but the odds are not as high as they could have been since Kevin Garnett is out.
NBA Playoffs odds do favor Boston in this series against Chicago Bulls but the Celtics are not favorites to repeat, especially without Garnett. He averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season and without him the Celtics are just not the same team. Boston head coach Doc Rivers has said that Garnett might be out for the rest of the playoffs. The Celtics were 18-7 without Garnett in the lineup this season so they are still a force in NBA Playoffs betting but they definitely are not the favorite against Cleveland or Orlando in the Eastern Conference.
NBA Playoffs odds for this series could also be more interesting without Garnett in the lineup. The Bulls could make this series a lot more interesting since they don’t have to deal with Garnett in the middle. The Bulls are 7-2-2 ATS in their last 11 Conference Quarterfinals games. They have not played well against the Atlantic Division recently though going 12-25 ATS. And they have not played well at Boston going 0-4 against the spread in the last 4 meetings.
The Celtics do have some things in their favor in this NBA Playoffs odds matchup. They are 22-9 ATS in their last 31 Saturday games. The Celtics are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Boston has some issues though against the NBA Playoffs odds. They are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 home games. They are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. the Central. A key factor in NBA Playoffs odds in this matchup could be that the home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings between Chicago and Boston.
Looking at the NBA Playoffs odds total we find that the Over is 4-1 in the Chicago Bulls last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Under is 4-1 in the Bulls last 5 road games, and 5-2 in the Bulls last 7 overall.
The Over is 7-1 in the Celtics last 7 overall, 20-6 in the Celtics last 26 home games, and 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Boston between the two teams.
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