NBA Finals Betting Free Pick - Lakers Vs. Celtics

One team has a virtually unstoppable offense. The other team boasts the most dominating defense in recent memory. Which one wins out when the game tips off tonight? Hot damn am I excited for the 2008 NBA Finals!

LA Lakers (57-25) vs. Boston Celtics (66-16)

Thursday, June 5th --- TD Banknorth Garden, Boston --- 9:00pm EST

Series: Tied 0-0

NBA Betting Line: Boston -2.5 (191.5)

The Lakers cruise in to the Finals having defeated the Spurs, Jazz and Nuggets without that much of a problem. They are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games and 6-1 SU in their last 7 games. The fact that they are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 against Boston shouldn’t encourage you to take them since they’ve only played this Boston team twice.

While Boston is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games, we are watching a Boston team which has a not-so-secret weapon: Paul Pierce. Interestingly enough, “The Truth” was a nickname adorned upon Pierce when he dropped a huge game on the Shaquille-led Lakers of yesteryear. And the name is appropriate. Pierce has at least 7 games where he’s dropped 30+ points against the Lakers.

After his career-changing performance against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Game 7 of the second round, Pierce has a swagger that we’ve never seen from him before. The unquestioned leader of the Celtics has all the confidence that he needs as he locks horn with Kobe Bryant, the reigning MVP of the NBA.

Boston is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games at home, and with a fairly tight line moving all over the map, I would jump all over it with LA in Game 1 as long as it’s under three. The reason being that Boston is pretty fatigued after playing 20 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Lakers are much, much fresher, and Kobe is used to the spotlight of the Finals. KG, Pierce and Ray Ray aren’t, and that’s enough for me to take the Lakers tonight against my desires as a fan.

NBA Free Pick: Lakers +2.5 (UNDER)