Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

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

Overview:

On Wednesday, May 17th, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be on the road to take on the Boston Celtics in game one of their Eastern Conference Finals.

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Cavaliers 109.2 – Celtics 103.7 with an over/under of 212.8.

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Cavaliers +3.1 (7^th) > Celtics +2.6 (8^th)

Points per game: Cavaliers 110.3 (4^th) > Celtics 108.0 (7^th)

Points allowed per game: Celtics 105.4 (15^th) > Cavaliers 107.2 (20^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Cavaliers 47.0% (5^th)> Celtics 45.4% (16^th)

Three Point Percentage: Cavaliers 38.4% (2^nd) > Celtics 35.9% (14^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Celtics 45.0% (9^th) > Cavaliers 45.8% (16^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Celtics 12.6 (tied for 8^th) > Cavaliers 13.2 (tied for 15^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Celtics 13.4 (tied for 15^th) > Cavaliers 12.0 (28^th)

Rebounds per game: Cavaliers 43.8 (12^th) > Celtics 42.0 (tied for 26^th)

Assists per game: Celtics 25.2 (tied for 3^rd) > Cavaliers 22.7 (13^th)

Summary:

Boston finally finished off the Wizards in seven games with a 115-105 victory at home.  The Cavaliers are (6-4) in their last ten head to head games with the Celtics.  Isaiah Thomas is averaging 25.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the playoffs.  The Cavaliers will likely double team Thomas and force the ball out of his hands much like they did against Demar Derozen.  Al Horford (16.1 PPG and 7.5 RPG) and Avery Bradley (15.8 PPG) need to step up and take some of the scoring load off of Thomas.  The weakness of the Celtics resides in their lack of bench scoring and rebounding.  For the playoffs, Boston is averaging 107.1 points while allowing 103.4.  The Cavaliers are averaging 114.5 points and have allowed 104.9.

Cleveland enters the series with a perfect (8-0) record in the post-season and a week to rest and game-plan.  Lebron James is enjoying perhaps the finest postseason of his career averaging 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.  James is shooting an absurd 59.2% from the field and 46.8% from three-point range.  Kyrie Irving (23.8 PPG and 5.8 APG) has been excellent and look for Cleveland to get Kevin Love (13.8 PPG and 9.1 RPG) more involved offensively.  Love and Tristan Thompson should be able to dominate on the glass and create extra opportunities.  The Cavaliers bench is much improved with the additions of Kyle Korver and Deron Williams.  The Cavaliers are rolling right now and I expect them to win game one on the road.

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