PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NBA Total of the Month - 80% NBA Playoff Totals!
(NBA) Golden State vs. Boston,
Total: 209.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 209.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Two straight Under games have the oddsmaker setting the lowest total of this NBA championship series. The Warriors have played 21 playoff games this season. This is their lowest total. Golden State has reached triple digit scoring in 20 of its 21 postseason games.
The Warriors made just nine of 40 3-point shots (22 percent) and had only 15 free throw attempts in Game 5. Stephen Curry had an off-shooting night going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc, which ended his 132-game playoff string of hitting at least one 3-pointer. Yet the Warriors still came up with 104 points.
While I don't expect Curry to reach his God-like status of Game 4 when he scored 43 points, he should shoot much better than he did in Game 5. Curry finally got some scoring help in that Game 5 from Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. These three are all accomplished scorers in their own right. The Celtics tipped their defensive hand in that last game by switching up their coverage on Curry out of Golden State's pick-and-rolls. The Warriors will be more prepared for that now in this game. Boston can't contain all of Golden State's four big scorers.
It takes two to make an Over work. Prior to the last two games, Boston had reached triple digits in 14 of its last 16 games. Yes, Golden State is a strong defensive team and did play an excellent defensive game in Game 5. But some of the Celtics' offensive inefficiency was bad decision-making and a fatigue factor that seemed to especially hit their two best scorers, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics looked like a tired team.
That should not be the case again here. The Celtics have had three days to rest and prepare. They should have their adrenaline at full peak playing at home and in must-win mode. Not only is Boston an above average scoring team, but the Celtics were the second-best free throw shooting team in the NBA at 81.6 percent. The Celtics know their offense must be better that they can not win this series solely on defense. So there will be much focus on producing points.
The Warriors made just nine of 40 3-point shots (22 percent) and had only 15 free throw attempts in Game 5. Stephen Curry had an off-shooting night going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc, which ended his 132-game playoff string of hitting at least one 3-pointer. Yet the Warriors still came up with 104 points.
While I don't expect Curry to reach his God-like status of Game 4 when he scored 43 points, he should shoot much better than he did in Game 5. Curry finally got some scoring help in that Game 5 from Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. These three are all accomplished scorers in their own right. The Celtics tipped their defensive hand in that last game by switching up their coverage on Curry out of Golden State's pick-and-rolls. The Warriors will be more prepared for that now in this game. Boston can't contain all of Golden State's four big scorers.
It takes two to make an Over work. Prior to the last two games, Boston had reached triple digits in 14 of its last 16 games. Yes, Golden State is a strong defensive team and did play an excellent defensive game in Game 5. But some of the Celtics' offensive inefficiency was bad decision-making and a fatigue factor that seemed to especially hit their two best scorers, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics looked like a tired team.
That should not be the case again here. The Celtics have had three days to rest and prepare. They should have their adrenaline at full peak playing at home and in must-win mode. Not only is Boston an above average scoring team, but the Celtics were the second-best free throw shooting team in the NBA at 81.6 percent. The Celtics know their offense must be better that they can not win this series solely on defense. So there will be much focus on producing points.
