Celtics vs. Knicks Odds, Preview, Prediction: New York Favored in Season Opener

by Nick Galaida (nickgalaida) Last Updated 2021-10-20 13:18:58

Celtics vs. Knicks Odds

On Wednesday evening, the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks will battle at Madison Square Garden, each playing their first game of the 2020-2021 NBA season. After five consecutive years of being a top-four team in the Eastern Conference, Celtics regressed significantly last year and were eliminated in five games against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the postseason. Conversely, the Knicks overperformed expectations to earn the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Oddsmakers anticipate a tightly-contested affair between these two teams this evening, pricing the Knicks as two-point home favorites on the spread.

Let’s take a closer look at the matchup between the two teams and see where NBA bettors can find value at sportsbooks Wednesday night.

Boston Celtics Preview

Prior to a disappointing 2020-2021 campaign, Boston had made the Eastern Conference Finals three times in five years. Thus, the decision to replace Brad Stevens with Ime Udoka as head coach was a surprise to many people who follow the NBA. Still, this roster has two legitimate stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Marcus Smart and Dennis Schroder are an intriguing backcourt that should make life difficult for opposing guards on a nightly basis this winter. Robert Williams III and Al Horford are going to be a productive combination on the low block, though Horford has been ruled out for the season opener as he recovers from COVID-19.

Despite finishing the regular season 36-36, Boston had a net positive point differential and ranked in the top-10 in the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring 113.1 points per 100 possessions. Tatum and Brown are in the upper-echelon of offensive players in the league, and still young enough to become even better on this end of the floor. Boston could be an under-the-radar offensive nightmare if their young players continue to improve their game.

Boston ranked only 13th in defensive efficiency during the 2020-2021 season, but the Celtics have the potential to be one of the most dominant defensive teams in the NBA this year. Smart and Schroder are capable of neutralizing opposing backcourts. Tatum and Brown are athletic, young, and long enough to slow down some of the most elite players in the league.

New York Knicks Preview

Julius Randle grew into an elite first-option for the Knicks last season, leading the team with 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. Still, New York struggled overall to score points, ranking only 22nd in offensive efficiency. The Knicks are counting on new additions Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to provide a much needed spark on this side of the ball this winter.

R.J. Barrett became a defensive menace for Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks a season ago. At only 21 years old, Barrett appears to be on the verge of becoming a star in the Big Apple alongside Randle. Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel combine to form arguably the best defensive center tandem in the entire NBA, though it is worth mentioning that Noel is doubtful for opening night with a knee injury. As a whole, New York is one of the toughest teams in the league on the defensive end of the floor. They ranked fourth in defensive efficiency last year and should be equally committed to getting stops in year two of Thibodeau’s system.

Celtics vs. Knicks Pick: Over or Under 218 Points?

The Knicks were a defensive fortress last year, but adding Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to the starting lineup is surely going to hurt them on that end of the floor—at least in the early part of the campaign. Jaylen Brown is questionable in this contest for Boston. His absence would unquestionably hurt Boston on the offensive end of the floor, but it could hurt the Celtics even more defensively. Both Boston and New York showed during the preseason that they plan to shoot far more three-point attempts than they did during the 2020-2021 campaign. Thibodeau might not be happy about it, but this game is likely to be relatively high-scoring. Take the over.

PICKS: Over 218 (-110)

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