The pick — Pacers-Celtics UNDER 224.5 points (-110, BetMGM)
- BetMGM offer: $1500 in Bonus Bets paid back
I don’t know what to believe anymore.
Everything that happened in Game 1 of the Indiana-Boston series defied my expectations — from the Celtics struggling after an early 12-0 lead to the Pacers hanging around all game and really only losing because of a bad inbounds play.
Is Indy secretly stronger than we thought? Or is Boston just riding waves of inconsistency?
I’m just a humble man with a humble journalism degree. I have no idea. And the early uncertainty in the Eastern Conference finals forces me to play the total.
We saw a TON of scoring in Game 1. Something that I don’t think is replicable in Game 2. There were a combined 28 three-pointers, and Indiana once again had a hot shooting night at 53.5% from the field.
Can the two teams keep up the scoring and crazy fast pace of 100.1? My gut says no.
I anticipate adjustments from both sides, resulting in slower possessions and a pace dictated by the Celtics' deliberate style, one that typically averages a pace rating of 91.5 in the playoffs. Three Pacers likely won’t all score 20+ points again, nor will Boston get to the charity stripe 30 times again.
All of this is to say: Brace yourself for a slower, more methodical game Thursday than the hyper-caffeinated series opener we observed on Tuesday.
If I can’t believe in a side this early, let me just believe in the total.
NBA postseason record: 8-6, +1.48 units