This is a 10* ART OF WAR on the Boston Celtics.

I think the Clippers come in a bit complacent tonight and while I do obviously feel that the outright win isn't out of the question for the playoff hopeful home side, I will in the end recommend grabbing as many points as you can as I look for Boston to at the very least, keep this one close enough to sneak in through the back door down the stretch with what I deem to be a healthy amount of points afforded to it today. This is the final game of a three game road trip for the Clippers, who have won the first two, most recently clinching a playoff spot after thumping the 76ers 119-98 on Friday night. In my opinion, this is sets up as the very definition of a letdown spot, the final game of an Eastern road swing, coming off back-to-back victories and already punching your ticket to the post-season? Conversely, the C's are in a dog fight right now for the final two spots in the East and currently occupy the eighth slot by one-half game over Brooklyn (note that the Nets are at home to the Lakers today). Note that LA loves to get out and push the pace of the game, but Boston is ranked third in the NBA in fast-break points allowed. Also note that the Clippers are just 17-27 ATS this year vs. good offensive teams which score 99-plus points per contest and just 13-16 ATS in all non-conference games, while the Celtics are 23-15 ATS this season vs. poor defensive teams which allow 99-plus points per contest and 16-12 ATS in all non-conference games. In my opinion, the situation, the numbers and the trends do all indeed point to the CELTICS as the savvy move in this contest.

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