NBA In-Season Tournament
The NBA In-Season tournament has been a smashing success in its annual season. No one knew what to expect when Commish Silver rolled out a plan to combat load management and mid-season loafing, but the league seems to have cracked the code. Now, on a random Monday night in December, we are blessed with a playoff type of matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers.
For those of you who have been singularly focused on football, the Celtics are the favorites to win the NBA Championship this year, led by Tatum, Brown, and the additions of Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Shockingly, KP is hurt and will miss this first round matchup tonight.
On the other side of the court, the Pacers are no slouches either, led by one of the best guards in basketball. On his current trajectory, Tyrese Haliburton is tracking to be the best Indiana Pacer of all time. He has this team clicking on offense distributing and scoring extremely efficiently. While the Pacers lead the league in offense, they’re also dead last in Defense, which spells trouble against an opponent like Boston.
This version of the Celtics has so many different ways to beat you, even without the versatility of Porzingis. Jayson Tatum is off to another MVP start, and JB is earning at least some of his NBA record $300 M contract. With the continued ascension of Derrick White, Boston has its eyes on more than just the in-season tournament championship.
Still, they have shown a passion for this event, and appear as determined as anyone to reach the finals in Vegas. I think the lack of defense being played by the Pacers, combined with Joe Mazzulas intense desire to win this tournament, evidenced by Hacking Andre Drummond with a 30 point lead in Game 4, point to a huge edge for Boston.
The Opening Line sits at 5.5, and I think Boston clears that number. I also like the over of 244.5, with the way these teams shoot the ball, the pace Indiana plays at, and a lack of effort on the defensive end. Tatum will be well rested after a 3rd quarter ejection last time out, and Boston takes one step closer to being crowned in-season tournament champions. Not sure if they’ll get away with raising a banner at the Garden for that one.