Boston Celtics at Phoenix Suns 2011 NBA Preview, Odds, and Predictions: Head coach Doc Rivers will lead the Boston Celtics on the road to US Airways Center to take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Celtics enter the game winning their last 2 at 35-10 1st in the Atlantic while the Suns have lost 3 in a row and are at 20-24 2nd in the Pacific. This is a matchup of two of the top point guards in the league and the top 2 in assists. Boston’s Rajon Rondo leads the league with 12.7 assists per game but only 10.6 points per game while the Suns Steve Nash averages 11.0 assists and 17.3 points per game.
“We have to do better at finishing games,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry. “The bottom line is that there was 1:17 to go and we never got possession of the ball on three missed shots. We have to do a much better job finishing the game. We have to do a better job coming up with plays. … At the end of the day, you have to be able to close out games, and we didn’t do that.” The odds makers at BetUS have the Boston Celtics a -3 1/2 point favorite on the road against the Phoenix Suns.
The Celtics are coming off an 88-78 victory on the road to the Portland Trail Blazers to move them to 22-21-2 ATS for the season. Shooting guard Ray Allen led the Boston scorers with 18 points 2 rebounds and 2 dimes while forward Paul Piece was nearby with 17 points 3 boards and 4 assists. Rondo poured in 11 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists while Kevin Garnett added 10 points 9 rebounds and 9 assists from the paint. Boston is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games on the road. Vegas odds makers have the Boston Celtics +400 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The Suns most recent loss was a 114-107 defeat at home to the Charlotte Bobcats moving them to 18-25-1 ATS for the season. Steve Nash led the Suns attack with 27 points 5 rebounds and 15 dimes while Vince Carter added 22 points and 6 boards. “We have to will ourselves to win. We need to feel good about ourselves.” Guard Vince Carter said. The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing at home against Boston. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 199 1/2 points combined of the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns.
I predict a Celtics win and cover on the road.
Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NFL Football Predictions against the Vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.