NBA: Crazy series has bettors bewildered for Game 5

It’s a good thing Detroit and Boston has come down to a best two-out-of-three, since based on the first four games


2008-05-29

It’s a good thing Detroit and Boston has come down to a best two-out-of-three, since based on the first four games, we’ve learned absolutely nothing to this point. Still, with the Celtics playing as a 5-point favorite in Game 5, nearly 75% of bettors believe the hosts will prevail this evening.

This series has featured more twists and turns than the “Mantis” at Cedar Point Amusement Park in northern Ohio. What nobody seems to know, even the coaches, what will happen next, making it a real gamble what choices bettors have to go thru in order to predict the correct side and total.

Detroit rolled the dice in Game four and they came up winners, thanks to Antonio McDyess. The former Denver Nugget, with the explosive high-flying game, saw that element disappear beginning in 2002, with three surgeries in 18 months. His willingness to fight back and remake his game is a constant source of inspiration with his teammates. McDyess scored 21 points, snared 16 rebounds (seven offensive) and played forceful defense to help the Pistons even the series. Rasheed Wallace most accurately described McDyess, “"Dice so far has been the best player in this series,". Detroit heads back to Boston 19-6 ATS after two or more consecutive Unders this season.

The expression, “no rest for the wicked” is on the nose for the Boston Celtics. The Celtics shot a playoff low 31.8 percent in last contest and were never in sync on either end of the floor. What McDyess brought, is what Boston lacked, energy and passion. The grind of the playoffs might be getting to Doc Rivers team, unable to put together back to back efforts in the East Finals. The Celts have now played 16 games in 31 days, all high intensity contests, causing not only physical fatigue, but mental as well. "I don't like to use the fatigue card,” Rivers said “ ,but I don't think it's physical fatigue, but yes, from watching the film, there was some mental fatigue." Boston hopes playing at TD Northbank Garden will reenergize them and don’t fall prey to being 1-8 ATS revenging a loss where team scored less than 85 points this season.

In series such as this, Game Five will be critical. Boston is a six-point favorite, with Total presently at 173 at Sportsbook.com, matching the lowest figure since the series opener. This Eastern Conference final has been about one constituent, desire. If Kevin Garnett and the rest of his mates come to play, they’ll improve to 13-4 ATS playing at home. If the Detroit backcourt plays with the passion McDyess, they should win and move up to 8-1 ATS as a road underdog in the 5-10.5 point range.

This story will best be told by the veteran players. McDyess expressed to his teammates to take nothing for granted, since you never know when this is your last opportunity. Paul Pierce after hearing his quotes said this, “We don’t get this opportunity too much in our careers,” he said after practice. “We have to go out and play like it’s our last, because you never know when this is going to happen again. … We have to find some way, somehow to get a win at home and bring that momentum back to Detroit.”

ESPN picks up the coverage for Game Five starting at 8:35 Eastern, with the underdog 9-3 ATS in last dozen meetings.

StatFox Power Line- Boston by 1

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