Sixers vs Celtics game 2 picks and predictions
The Boston Celtics are a favorite pick of many experts to go to the Eastern Conference Finals. There are not many people that think that the Sixers have a chance in this series. After game one, it certainly looks like everyone is right. But remember, one game does not make a series. Is there a chance for the zig-zag theory to show up in game two?
Game 1 recap
Jayson Tatum put up a playoff career-high and the Celtics overcame a late deficit to take a 1-0 lead in the playoff series against Philadelphia. The Sixers had numerous turnovers and were inconsistent all night long. The Celtics were the better team in game one.
Point spread points to something else
The Celtics were (-6) point favorites in game one. Although they covered, the top sportsbooks are not willing to change the point spread. According to MyBookie, the #1 rated online sportsbook, Boston is yet again a (-5.5) point favorites. The wise guys and sharp basketball bettors jumped on this line earlier and bet on Philly. With all of the money coming in on the Sixers, the sportsbooks had no choice but to lower this line. The Celtics line is currently (-5) and moving and it may be attributed to the Gordon Hayward injury news.
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A new lineup and a new attitude for Philly
For game two you can expect a new lineup for the Sixers. Rookie Matisse Thybulle is about to get more playing time. His defensive effort in game one stood out and he should be rewarded in this game.
Jayson Tatum Monday night
When guarded by Thybulle:
4 pts
2/9 fg
0/1 3-pt
1 shot blockedWhen guarded by all other Sixers:
28 pts
8/12 fg
2/4 3-pt— Josh Schrager (@Schragz) August 18, 2020
The Sixers should start Thybulle and sit Al Horford making the Sixers lineup smaller, but more athletic. It also allows Horford to come off the bench and give this team leadership, energy, and offense. Horford was notably aggressive in game one and will be an impact player in this series. If Thybulle can stay out of foul trouble, this move will change the series.
The Sixers are focused
Joel Embiid is speaking his mind. He is “encouraging” the coaching staff to get him more involved and demanding his teammates to be more aggressive. He started by critiquing his play in game one.
“I’ve got be more aggressive,” Embiid reiterated after the game. “Maybe we need to call some more plays, but I don’t know. I mean, that’s another thing we’ve got to fix going into Game 2. Like I said, I’ve just got to be assertive and aggressive, and let the game come to me.”
This will motivate the Sixers. They have to improve in the turnover category. They had 13 first-half turnovers alone. That number has to improve in game two as the Sixers will be focused and ready to go.
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Sixers vs Celtics game 2 picks and predictions
This series is not over. The Celtics had an incredible game one performance that will be hard to repeat. The public is overreacting to the win and everyone is putting money down on Boston. That’s a mistake. The Gordon Hayward could miss the first two rounds and this injury is bigger than people think and the Celtics will have to try and adjust on the floor.
Celtics’ Gordon Hayward has a Grade 3 right ankle sprain and will miss four weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2020
The Celtics are 2-5-2 ATS in the last nine games with just one game off and they have only covered once in the last five games after covering in the last outing. The public is going to take a beat down in the second game of this series as the Sixers cover and win the game to knot the series at 1-1.