Prizing:

1st Place: $50 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Wednesday, April 5th, the (49-27) Cleveland Cavaliers will be on the road to take on the (50-27) Boston Celtics.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Cavaliers 104.5 – Celtics 102.9 with an over/under of 207.3.

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Cavaliers +3.3 (7^th) > Celtics +2.7 (8^th)

Points per game: Cavaliers 110.3 (4^th) > Celtics 107.8 (8^th)

Points allowed per game: Celtics 105.1 (14^th) > Cavaliers 107.0 (tied for 20^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Cavaliers 47.0% (6^th) > Celtics 45.4% (16^th)

Three Point Percentage: Cavaliers 38.6% (2^nd) > Celtics 36.1% (14^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Celtics 45.1% (10^th) > Cavaliers 45.8% (16^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Celtics 12.8 (tied for 9^th) > Cavaliers 13.1 (14^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Bulls 12.8 (20^th) > Cavaliers 12.0 (28^th)

Rebounds per game: Bulls 45.9 (3^rd) > Cavaliers 43.4 (17^th)

Assists per game: Cavaliers 22.7 (12^th) > Clippers 22.4 (15^th)

Summary:

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference facing off with home court advantage implications on the line.  Boston is playing really well going (8-2) in their last ten games while Cleveland (5-5) has struggled.  The Cavaliers are (6-4) in their last ten head to head games with Boston.  Cleveland has been terrible defensively of late allowing 109.3 points per game in their last ten.  Incorporating J.R. Smith and Kevin Love back into the lineup has not gone smoothly though they have played better as of late.  Isaiah Thomas is having a career season averaging 29.1 points and 5.9 assists per game.  The Celtics second unit have struggled to score points when Thomas goes to the bench.  Cleveland is the more talented team on paper but they are just flat out not playing well right now.  I expect a close game between these teams as four of the last five meetings have been decided by six or fewer points.  I like the Celtics to grind out a win at home.

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