Jason Storm
Free Picks Newsletter Lead Researcher
140-91-1 Overall Record 

Pro Basketball: Indiana Pacers (+6) vs Boston Celtics (-6) Over – Under 185

The NBA Season is going to fast paced and intense. Regular season wins are going to be more less about motivation and more about endurance, health, and depth.

Tonight we are getting a regular season match up between two playoff teams: The Indiana Pacers go to Boston to take on the Celtics.

The Pacers talented roster is no longer a secret after it was introduced to the mainstream media last playoff season when they made a run to get into the NBA playoffs. This is a Pacers team that has most of the right pieces. They have a true point Guard in Darren Collison who can direct this offense. The UCLA guard is only in his 3rd year, he is going to continue improve and he will be a point guard in this league for a long time. He averaged 13 ppg a game last year, and although he is only averaging 10 ppg right now, his assist are up. For this Pacers team to be successful, they need Collison to be a guard not the teams top scorer. Exactly what he is doing.

The Pacers have had a terrific scorer for years in Danny Granger. Granger has averaged 20 ppg the last 3 season. As his team gets better because of more talent around, his points per game may go down slightly, but he will still get the ball when the game matters. He will still have the ability to take over whenever his team needs him.

The Pacers are going to make a statement in this game, and not because of thier offensive abilities. They are going to crash the boards and control the paint.

See the Pacers did made a big move when they signed Roy Hibbert, one of the all time best defenders in College Basketball. There is no one on the Celtics Roster that wants to bang inside with this 7 foot monster. Last year, the Pacers and Celtics played 4 times and the Pacers won the rebounding margin in 3 of those 4 games including averaging 14 offensive rebounds a game.

See the Celtics just don’t have the type of players to play inside with the Pacers. Kevin Garnett brings a level of intensity to this team, but he is also about to be 36 years old. He is more of a fade away shooter than an in your face put back type of player. Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough is going to have a field day inside. They will be only fighting each other for rebounds and 2nd chance points are going to be enough for the Pacers to pull this game out.

Take: Pacers +6