Free NBA Playoff Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers +9.5 (-110)
Tue May 6 ‘08 8:05p - Click Here for NBA Odds
Let us preface our analysis of this game by saying that we expect the Boston Celtics to win this series vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers fairly easily. That said, we do expect the Cavaliers to stay inside this big number in Game 1.

Cleveland actually covered three of the four meetings with the Celtics this season with the home team winning outright on every occasion, including nice cover here in Boston in a narrow 92-87 loss the last time these teams met. As usual, LeBron James led the way with 26 points in that game, and he scored over 30 points in each of the first three games. Thus, the stiff Boston defense has had as much trouble covering him as the rest of the NBA, and he is certainly capable of single-handedly keeping the Cavs in this game.

Now granted, the Celtics blew away the upstart Atlanta Hawks in all four home games in the first round, winning those contests by an average of +25.3 points. However the Cavaliers represent a step up in class and Cleveland definitely has a huge post-season experience edge over Atlanta, so they should not be intimidated by playing in this building. Remember also that Cleveland won two games on the road in the Washington series, including the decisive Game 6.

Look for the Cavaliers to hang within single-digits to the very end here.

NBA Free Pick: Cavaliers +9.5 - Click Here to Buy LT Profits NBA Playoff Picks