NBA playoffs: Bulls at Celtics, Game 7
Sorry, Boston Celtics fans and backers on WagerWeb.com, but Kevin Garnett is not going to pull a Willis Reed-type moment and suit up for the C’s for Saturday night’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Chicago Bulls.
Follow that epic triple-overtime Game 6 win by Chicago, Boston’s Ray Allen intimated that it might be possible for KG to play in Game 7, saying he has been working out, etc.
“I don’t know anything,” Allen said. ”I see Kevin every day. I know he gets his workouts in. He’s excited. He’s still got that same fire as when he’s on the floor.”
But Boston president Danny Ainge told the local media that it’s not happening and that KG is out for the postseason.
“I’m not planning on him the rest of the season,” said Ainge.
A returning KG is about the only drama we haven’t seen in a series that might well be the greatest postseason series ever. The teams have played three straight overtime games and four overall. Thanks to two multiple-overtime games, there have been seven total in this series – which means Boston and Chicago have played nearly seven games already.
Certainly having a Game 7 in Boston should favor the Celtics, and they have opened as 6-point favorites on WagerWeb.com with an over/under of 197. But Chicago won Game 1 in Boston and could have and probably should have won Games 2 and 5 in Beantown. The Bulls covered in all three.
“I really think the pressure is on them for Game 7,” coach Vinny Del Negro said.
Chicago must find a way to contain Ray Allen, who was incredible in Game 6, with the 13-year veteran scoring a playoff career-high 51 points on 18-for-32 shooting — including 9-for-18 from 3-point range.
But the Bulls have had a huge bench advantage in this entire series with Kirk Hinrich and Brad Miller being big contributors. Miller had 23 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6 and hit all of his free throws in the overtimes after missing two at the end of Game 5. The Celtics are getting nothing from bench players Brian Scalabrine, Eddie House, Stephon Marbury, Mikki Moore or Tony Allen. It’s to the point where Celtics coach Doc Rivers can’t rest his starters at all.
“They haven’t played well, so I haven’t gone to them,” he said. “I’d like to use them more than I have.”
Chicago probably needs more from Ben Gordon, as he hasn’t been the same since injuring his hamstring in Game 4. But if the Bulls can get any Boston starter in foul trouble, the advantage shifts to Chicago.
In last year’s playoffs, the Celtics won at home in Game 7s against Atlanta, then Cleveland.
WagerWeb.com Trends
* Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Boston.
* Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
* Bulls are 4-9-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
* Underdog is 6-0-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Road team is 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
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