NBA Preview: The Wizards need to slow down Isaiah Thomas and get back into this series with a Game 3 win.
#1 Boston Celtics (59-31) at #4 Washington Wizards (53-37), Thursday 8 p.m. EST.
Line: Wizards -5.5. Total 218.5.
Series: Celtics lead 2-0.
The Wizards know they can compete and win against the Celtics. Washington also knows they can build double-digit leads against the Celtics at Boston. The Wiz scored the first 16 points of this series and led 20-3 early in Game 1. Washington led by 14 points after the first quarter of Game 1 and by 13 points after the first quarter in Game 2. However, the Wizards were unable to hold on to either lead.
Scott Brooks should not have to make too many between-game adjustments for Game 3. Brooks just needs the Wizards to finish what they started.
This game is set up perfectly for my slightly edited version of the NBA Playoffs Zig-Zag Theory. In this edited version, you zig instead of zagging after the home team wins Game 1 and take the home team again to win Game 2. Then you zag after the venues switch and take the home team down 0-2 to win Game 3. This edited version can work well when you have two teams who are playing well at home coming into the playoffs.
Boston is now 21-5 in their last 26 home games. The home team has won and covered the Vegas spread in all six games these two teams have played against each other this season. The Wizards have beaten Boston by 15 and 25 points in their two games at the Verizon Center. Washington is 28-5 in their last 33 home games against all-comers this season.
Isaiah Thomas has put together two monster games for the Celtics. Boston’s budding superstar has apparently been getting film-breakdown advice from retired Lakers’ superstar Kobe Bryant. The advice must be spot-on as Thomas has produced a pair of Mamba-like performances.
In Game 1, Thomas scored 33 points and dished out 9 assists after getting to Boston at 4 a.m. for a 1 p.m. game Sunday after flying cross country from his sister’s funeral. Thomas lost a tooth in that game after he collided with Washington’s Otto Porter. He had oral surgery to replace that tooth and get two others fixed.
Then on his late sister’s birthday. Thomas scored 53 points, while adding 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in Game 2. His 53 points ranks Thomas second on the all-time Celtic’s playoff scoring list for points in a game. John Havlicek scored 54 points in 1973. Thomas’s 53 points was also the most points any NBA player has scored in the playoffs since Allen Iverson scored 55 points against the New Orleans Hornets on April 20, 2003.
Despite being down 2-0 in the series, nobody is writing off the Wizards. However, Washington is going to have to figure out a way to contain Thomas if they are going to win this series. Boston has had a well-balanced attack from their other players as well. Different guys are stepping up on a nightly basis for the Celtics.
Boston’s usual two standouts are doing well. Avery Bradley is averaging 16 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, while getting 4.5 rebounds per game. Al Horford is averaging 18 points per game, 6.5 assists per game and 10.5 rebounds per game.
For Washington, Wall is averaging 30 points per game, 15 assists per game, while grabbing 3.5 boards per game. Bradley Beal is averaging 20.5 points per game, 4 assists per game and 3 rebounds per game.
Wall has never been to the conference finals with the Wizards. He did make it to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2014, losing in six games to the Pacers. Wall and his teammates have a lot of work to do in this series if the Wizards are going to advance to the conference finals.
With the home crowd behind them, I expect the Wizards get a double-digit lead and maintain it this time to get back into the series.
My postseason record: 11-3 (+$620).
My pick:
Washington Wizards -5.5, laying $110 to win $100 (1 unit, normal play).
Good luck.
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