We are down to the final four teams in the NBA Playoffs as the Eastern Conference Finals tip on Tuesday night between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers. Both teams have taken a different path and some could say an easy path to get to the Conference Finals. Below is my Eastern Conference Finals Series Betting Preview and who I believe will advance to the NBA Finals this year.
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Eastern Conference Finals Betting Preview: Pacers vs. Celtics
Pacers +600 Celtics -900
Both teams could argue that this postseason was an easy path to the conference finals. The East teams were decimated by injuries this postseason, but the Pacers and Celtics were able to take advantage of that opportunity.
In Round 1, the Pacers played a Milwaukee Bucks team without Giannis. Furthermore, in the Conference Semifinals, the Pacers played a Knicks team that had injuries to its top guys and caught up to them in Game 7.
On the flip side, the Celtics played against the Heat without Jimmy Butler. Additionally, in the Conference Semifinals, the Cavaliers did not have Jarrett Allen for the entire series, and Donovan Mitchell missed the final two games of the series. However, you play who is in front of you, and I won’t take away any credit from either team.
Series Prediction
The Indiana Pacers will play the most talented team in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics. In the Tatum and Brown era, this Celtics team is the deepest and most lethal. The offseason additions the Celtics made in acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis could be the pieces that win the Celtics a championship. The Celtics are expected to get Porzingis back sometime during the Conference Finals and that will only be a boost for the Celtics.
Since the Indiana Pacers love playing with pace and tempo, that could be an advantage for the Celtics. The Celtics possess the talent to play in the half-court and at a fast pace. These two teams matched up five times during the regular season, including the in-season tournament.
The Celtics won three of the five games; one game was without Tatum. In the two home games the Celtics played the Pacers, the Celtics scored 155 and 129 points in regulation.
However, I do believe the Pacers will make this a competitive series and give the Celtics a run for their money. Let’s not forget that under the Joe Mazulla era, the Celtics have dropped at least one home game during the postseason.
In addition, the Pacers are a perfect 6-0 at home this postseason. I am banking on this series to go at least six games and the Celtics to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
Best Bets: Total Series Games Over 5.5 (+145) Celtics Win Series 4-2 (+400)
