Orlando out to create magic in Boston
The Magic were playing their best basketball since late Nov/Dec. having won seven of last eight with 5-2-1 ATS record. They were obviously looking ahead to this matchup and were whacked upside the head in losing at home to wallowing Washington Friday night 92-91 as 13-point favorites. The loss to the Bullets, err Wizards was offensive problem (38.6 percent), however their defense continues to be suffocating, permitting just 90.6 points per game in this stretch. Orlando has been battling injuries; however its bench has saved them several times during this stretch.
Point guard Jameer Nelson has been bothered by his surgically repaired knee and Mickael Pietrus has been fighting a bad ankle. Both players returned to play against Washington. Vince Carter is in the worst slump of his career, not being able to hit water if he fell out of boat in nearby Lake Eola. This has led to ?Vin-sanity? grabbing some bench in the fourth quarter and sub J.J. Redick playing in the finisher role. ?J.J. has played very, very well lately," said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "I can trust him to be in the game at any point, both offensively and defensively."
Orlando (33-17, 23-23-4 ATS) has not nearly as effective on the road this season (14-12, 11-12-3 ATS) as their defense has not been as effective in helping out and funneling things toward Dwight Howard, allowing 97.4 points per contest. The Magic are only 2-7-1 ATS facing a club with a winning home record.
Not much bragging going on either in the Boston locker room. The Celtics (33-16, 19-28-1 ATS) have had a number of injuries, which is a real possibility with an older, veteran team. Boston recently lost to the Magic, Atlanta and the Lakers in successive games before bouncing back to win last three contests. Since beating the Magic on Christmas Day, the Celtics are 9-11 and 6-13-1 ATS.
What concerns coach Doc Rivers the most is what has been the most reliable part of Boston the last few years. ?We haven't been able to get timely stops to end games," said coach Doc Rivers, "and if anything bothers me over the turnovers and the offensive part ... we've been able in the past to lean on our defense when we go cold offensively."
Boston won but did not cover against New Jersey on Friday and is just 1-6 ATS off a win. After losing all of nine games, including the postseason, at home last year, the C?s are 15-8 and 6-16-1 ATS at TD Banknorth Garden this season.
Sportsbook.com has Boston as 2.5-point favorite with total of 187.5, but they are 0-5-1 ATS of late against teams with a winning road record and 6-1 UNDER if they own a positive season mark. Orlando has a gloomy 4-9-1 ATS record in last 14 road encounters and is 9-2 UNDER on Sunday?s.
ABC Sports has this Eastern showcase at 2:30 Eastern with the underdog on 4-0 ATS run and the total falling below the number six straight times.
Power Line- Orlando by 1
The Magic were playing their best basketball since late Nov/Dec. having won seven of last eight with 5-2-1 ATS record. They were obviously looking ahead to this matchup and were whacked upside the head in losing at home to wallowing Washington Friday night 92-91 as 13-point favorites. The loss to the Bullets, err Wizards was offensive problem (38.6 percent), however their defense continues to be suffocating, permitting just 90.6 points per game in this stretch. Orlando has been battling injuries; however its bench has saved them several times during this stretch.
Point guard Jameer Nelson has been bothered by his surgically repaired knee and Mickael Pietrus has been fighting a bad ankle. Both players returned to play against Washington. Vince Carter is in the worst slump of his career, not being able to hit water if he fell out of boat in nearby Lake Eola. This has led to ?Vin-sanity? grabbing some bench in the fourth quarter and sub J.J. Redick playing in the finisher role. ?J.J. has played very, very well lately," said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "I can trust him to be in the game at any point, both offensively and defensively."
Orlando (33-17, 23-23-4 ATS) has not nearly as effective on the road this season (14-12, 11-12-3 ATS) as their defense has not been as effective in helping out and funneling things toward Dwight Howard, allowing 97.4 points per contest. The Magic are only 2-7-1 ATS facing a club with a winning home record.
Not much bragging going on either in the Boston locker room. The Celtics (33-16, 19-28-1 ATS) have had a number of injuries, which is a real possibility with an older, veteran team. Boston recently lost to the Magic, Atlanta and the Lakers in successive games before bouncing back to win last three contests. Since beating the Magic on Christmas Day, the Celtics are 9-11 and 6-13-1 ATS.
What concerns coach Doc Rivers the most is what has been the most reliable part of Boston the last few years. ?We haven't been able to get timely stops to end games," said coach Doc Rivers, "and if anything bothers me over the turnovers and the offensive part ... we've been able in the past to lean on our defense when we go cold offensively."
Boston won but did not cover against New Jersey on Friday and is just 1-6 ATS off a win. After losing all of nine games, including the postseason, at home last year, the C?s are 15-8 and 6-16-1 ATS at TD Banknorth Garden this season.
Sportsbook.com has Boston as 2.5-point favorite with total of 187.5, but they are 0-5-1 ATS of late against teams with a winning road record and 6-1 UNDER if they own a positive season mark. Orlando has a gloomy 4-9-1 ATS record in last 14 road encounters and is 9-2 UNDER on Sunday?s.
ABC Sports has this Eastern showcase at 2:30 Eastern with the underdog on 4-0 ATS run and the total falling below the number six straight times.
Power Line- Orlando by 1
