NBA Betting Preview: Celtics treat every game as a play-off

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 30 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

A rare and terrible foul results in appalling injury, Portland continue their impressive form, Marbury denies talks with Boston... Nick Shiambouros looks back at the week in basketball and ahead to this weekend's key NBA match-ups.

The may have lost a thrilling match in double overtime to the Charlotte Bobcats 117-110, but the Los Angeles Lakers still remain five games clear in the Western Conference.

The game was marred when Gerald Wallace suffered a collapsed lung and cracked rib after a terrible foul by Andrew Bynam. It's quite rare to see this type of foul committed but I don't think Bynam intentionally tried to hurt Wallace in the mid-air collision. The NBA will act accordingly after this Flagrant-2 violation.

The following evening the Bobcats were thrashed 88-74 by the in form Portland Trailblazers in Oregon. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 points for the home team and Greg Oden put up another good display notching up 14 points and 14 rebounds for a double- double. This is a team to follow.

Over in the Eastern Conference, Boston made it nine wins in a row with a comprehensive victory 119-110 over Golden State at home. In an extraordinary interview on ESPN on Wednesday Stephon Marbury denied that he was in talks with Boston but blamed New York for not releasing him from his $21m per year salary. The point guard claimed he offered the Knicks $1m to leave but they refused. Marburry then took the opportunity to promote his new shoe line called Starbury which he has recently launched.

I don't think Boston need him but he remains one of the few quality point guards in the NBA.


Boston point guard Rajon Rondo can prove this point further on Friday night when the Celtics travel to Detroit in a mouth-watering encounter. I fully expect the Celtics to win this one with the handicap at the Palace. Boston have turned up the intensity ever since their mini slump and they are firing on all cylinders. Even when they are practicing they play hard and I expect them to overpower a wayward Piston team.

The Pistons looks completely out of focus and Alan Iverson did not like being benched against Houston. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett should turn the heat up against Detroit as these two bitter rivals lock horns.

The Celtics are determined to win the Eastern Conference again and every game is approached as though it is a play-off game

Over in the Western Conference on Saturday night, Houston host the Golden State Warriors in a must win game for Houston. The Rockets are currently in sixth place in the west but only a couple of games separate four teams in this Conference, Houston have lost three out of the last four but blew a big lead against Philadelphia on Wednesday. They led 65-51 with just under seven minutes to go but eventually lost a heartbreaker 95-93.

This team has an abundance of talent with players like Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest, and Yao Ming in the rotation but they have tended to lose concentration late on in games. I am sure coach Rick Adelman will address these issues this week and I fully expect then to take care of a moderate Golden State team. I am more than hopeful that Houston will make the play-offs this season. They are a team that has struggled with injuries and at times focus but when playing at their best they can beat anyone believe me.

Recommended wagers:

Friday, Boston, back with advertised handicap
Saturday, Houston, back with advertised handicap