The Boston Celtics are approaching the derby with their neighbours from Brooklyn in great shape, having won their last six regular season games. Jayson Tatum has been phenomenal, consistently scoring more than 30 points per game and skilfully playing combinations with Jaylen Brown. ‘The Celtics are especially dangerous on their home court at TD Garden, where their defence turns into a real impregnable fortress, with an average of only 104 points allowed per game. The head coach has a full complement of players at his disposal, allowing him to experiment with the starting five.
The ‘Black and White Gang’ from Brooklyn is not having the best of times, having suffered three defeats in the last four meetings. Despite the efforts of Kyrie Irving, who continues to do wonders on the floor, the team has serious problems with three-point shooting - the shooting percentage is barely above 32%. The absence of the injured Ben Simmons, whose ability to organise the attack is sorely lacking right now, is especially noticeable. However, young centre Nick Claxton is showing progress under the boards, which could be an asset in the upcoming game.
This confrontation between two fundamentally different teams promises to be entertaining and rich in scoring chances. Given that the Celtics usually improve in games against direct competition, and the Nets traditionally play effectively against top teams, we can expect a tense battle until the final whistle. ‘Green’ will attack a lot thanks to quick transitions and accurate long shots, and the guests will try to give a worthy response, using the individual skills of their leaders. In the language of basketball analysts, this match may well become a ‘grill’ (high-scoring match).
Prediction: at least 212 points to be scored. We recommend the "Over 211.5" bet, odds 1.55
