Interesting how many storylines that betting markets AREN’T reacting to in the basketball postseason (college and pro). People have been talking about the Boston Celtics stretch of dominance much more than Oklahoma City’s. But, BOTH teams are covering spreads by huge margins. Market’s barely nudged from pre-playoff expectations.
Let’s talk about that more as we run through Tuesday night’s key game stats from a pair of G1 blowouts…
Boston (-12) 120, Cleveland 95
2-point Pct: Cleveland 54%, Boston 59%
3-pointers: Cleveland 11/42 (26%), Boston 18/46 (39%)
Free Throws: Cleveland 10/13, Boston 12/14
Rebounds: Cleveland 38, Boston 55
Turnovers: Cleveland 5, Boston 6
Estimated Pace: 93 possessions
In some ways, the most predictable game ever. Boston kept right on winning they way it has all season. Built a comfortable lead. Then grew it during garbage time instead of letting the opponent rubber-band its way back to respectability. But, HOW it got there was kinda weird. Scoring sums by quarter were 74-34-61-46.
Boston won the “playoff basketball” stats handily, with a 59-54% edge on two-pointers and a monster 55-38 advantage on the boards. Cleveland’s not a team that can save itself with three pointers. Boston crushed the Cavs in that stat too. Looks like another best of seven scrimmage rather than a playoff series.