NBA 2022/23, on Tuesday, 28.02.2023
In the immediate aftermath of the All-Star Break, I not only looked into where the best free bets are at the moment, but of course also inquired about the best NBA picks just after the week-long break.
My attention fell on a game I’m commenting on in this Knicks Celitcs tip, which is why the Knickerbockers will beat a bona fide title favourite tonight.
The Knicks, in my eyes, are not being treated with the respect they actually deserve. Because measured by the playful possibilities of the New Yorkers, even a place in the top 6 is in it for them in the play-off race.
In their very first match after the All-Star-Break, they not only managed to handle the Pelicans with relative ease (128-106), but also to extend their current second-longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference (5).
The reason why I think they can pull off a little surprise tonight against a tough Boston squad has to do with a recent trade that could tip the scales
The Knicks Celtics odds from sportsbooks are really crying out to be torpedoed by a home win bet. Because what the bookies don’t really have on their radar is the increased playing strength of the home side.
On 27 January, the Knicks already won a game against the Celtics in overtime with 120:117, for which the bookies had to pay out odds of 3.70 – so much for the C’s supposed role as favourites.
But tonight I expect a clearer affair in favour of the Knickerbockers. Because aside from their home field advantage, the trade that brought Josh Hart to the Big Apple on February 9 was worth every penny!
Josh Hart is exactly the stabilising factor in the game of the New Yorkers that they still needed to be able to permanently mess with the big boys of both conferences.
Since “JHart” was traded, the Knicks have won five games in which he has averaged 14 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists. Against the Pelicans, he always made the right decision, especially in the key moments of the game.
The home advantage is another aspect that speaks in favour of the Knickerbockers. For the atmosphere of the fabled Madison Square Garden has probably also contributed to the fact that the NYK have lost only one of their last eleven NBA home games within the regular season.
I don’t want to give the impression in my Knicks Celtics tip that an easy game awaits the home side tonight. It’s going to be close either way, as the Celtics are also coming on strong.
In the very first game after the All-Star-Break they managed to defeat the 76ers in a heartbeat final with 110-107. Jayson Tatum once again played an important role – the Knicks will not be able to completely eliminate him either.
But the Knickerbockers again have two great players themselves in Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, who couldn’t be stopped by the C defence in the last head-to-head clash, scoring 37 and 29 points respectively.
A high-scoring game could be the logical consequence when two such offensively strong teams meet – nevertheless, I would personally want to keep a certain distance from an over/under bet.
That the NBA fan will actually see a score beyond the 235-point mark, I consider far less promising than speculating on a strong performance by the Knicks – because this is literally in the air.
However, the bookies see the Celtics as the favourites in this game, at least the 1.71 offered on average for an away win by the strong team from Boston gives this impression.
The NYK win odds, on the other hand, are on a level – depending on the exact provider – that seems to gravitate around the value of 2.25, which all in all seems to me to be a much more interesting offer!
Conclusion: With Tatum, Randle and Brunson, this match has no less than three playful offensive elements that the respective defences will not be able to stop – two of whom are under contract with the home side.
In addition, the recent transfer of Josh Hart immediately after the last encounter against the C’s – which, incidentally, was also won – should have only made the Knickerbockers stronger!
The home advantage compared to the last direct duel is another reason why I think that the NYK stars, who are currently playing strongly, can once again be photographed in the winning pose after the end of the game.
My Knicks Celtics tip: Win by the Knickerbockers.
