Celtics vs 76ers | Prediction & Pick

NBA Free Pick – Thursday, December  9, 2010

vs.

Boston Celtics (17-4) at Philadelphia 76ers  (7-14)
Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 8:00 pm EST on TNT

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The Boston Celtics, the first-place team in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division, travel to play the Philadelphia 76ers, the fourth-place team in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division at the Wells Fargo Center.

This is the first meeting between these teams this season.

The Boston Celtics, almost a quarter of the way into the season, look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. And who would have thought? Their potent mix of veterans and young talent has meshed perfectly so far. Not only have Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce been playing together for long enough to read each other’s minds, Boston has managed to bring in key role players like the Big Aristotle aka Shaq and Nate Robinson with seamless transitions. Watch out when this steamroller of a team comes to your town.

Never has a team seemed more geared for the lottery than the Philadelphia 76ers. From mummified coach Doug Collins to the limping, bloated sight of Elton Brand and his almost $90 million contract, they really suck. But that being said, they suck a lot less when they get to play at home in the Wells Fargo Center. They’ve one five straight there and get some good contributions from young players like Thaddeus Young, who is a double-double waiting to happen.

The odds makers have the Boston Celtics as a -5 point favorite with an over/under of 189.5.

The Celtics will be jacked to start taking down fellow Atlantic opponents, and want to let the Sixers know early who the alpha dog is in this division. The Sixers have enough young players to make games close once or twice a week, and also just enough to screw up in fatal ways the rest of the time.

Prediction: The Boston Celtics will win by 15 points.

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Boston Celtics Betting Trends:

• Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games on the road
• Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
• Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Philadelphia

Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends:

• Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Philadelphia’s last 11 games
• Philadelphia is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games
• Philadelphia is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games at home