NBA - Pacers @ Celtics
(NBA) Indiana vs. Boston,
Point Spread: 9.00 | -113.00 Indiana (Away)
Result: Loss
I'm on the Pacers +9 in game 2 of the Celtics Pacers Series, for these reasons:

- Celtics are the better defensive unit, but they opted to match the Pacers game speed due to their tired legs of playing Sunday before Game 1. The short rest did not phase the Pacers at all. It's likely that the fast pace continues tonight in Game 2 with the Pacers gameplan almost working against the #1 team in the east.

- Celtics shot terribly from long distance. Tatum and Brown both shot 25% from deep. If the Celtics want to compete with a faster team that is aiming to tire them out, they need to capitalize on the outside shot, being that they lack size without Porzingas available and Kornet being useless.

- Jrue Holiday had issues defending Haliburton. That's a key matchup for this series. Haliburtons size is an issue for smaller gaurds, and he shot 6 for 14 in game one from deep. Boston shot 45 three-balls (33%), Indiana only shot 35 (37%) and the both still scored 117 before Overtime.

- Pacers are a determined young team. Their supporting cast is better than Bostons, so when Boston rests players, the tempo that the Pacers implement, heavily overwhelms the Celtics bench talent. This makes it hard for the Celtics to keep a large lead, as we saw in the 2nd quarter when their 17 point lead vanished before halftime.

Official Play: Pacers +9

Side Bet: Myles Turner over 6.5 rebounds

Hail Mary: Over 224.5