Celtics and Magic Game 5 Prop Picks

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Looking at some props for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-final series between the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, which you can find at BetUS by clicking the "Show All Props" link under the game odds:

TEAM LEADING AFTER 1ST QTR WINS GAME

Yes -170

No +140

In this particular series, I believe the teams to be relatively evenly matched. Even though I (went with the Celtics), it would not surprise me a bit if there were a number of lead changes and that it was a close game all the way to the end. Therefore, I would tend to gravitate toward taking the price on this proposition.

JAY'S PLAY: NO (+140) **

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LARGEST LEAD IN THE GAME

Over 15 Points -120

Under 15 Points -110

Frankly, I have been somewhat surprised that these games have not been higher-scoring. They have played it a little closer to the vest in this series, or it could be that Orlando is a better defensive team than was Chicago, the Celtics' last opponent. Boston has a slight advantage because they are at home, but for Orlando, this is a back-to-the-wall kind of thing, since the Celtics are the team that has the home court edge. The Magic possess more of a proclivity to shoot and make threes, so if they fall behind I see them cranking up the three-point shooting in an effort to not fall too far out of it. The bench will be better along those lines too, especially if Courtney Lee is inserted into the starting lineup and J.J. Redick comes off the pines.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 15 PTS. (-110) *

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TOTAL 3 PT SHOTS MADE IN THE GAME

Over 14½ 3 Pt Shots -115

Under 14½ 3 Pt Shots -115

In the four games thus far, there have been 17, 17, 14 and 6 three-point shots made. Both teams were awful on Sunday, and if they had made 37% of their 37 attempts, they would have made 10 combined. To beat this number, they would have to shoot 40.5% based on the same number of attempts. There were 50, 39 and 36 attempts in the first three games, and in Game 3, these teams combined to make 14. I'll say at least 40 attempts will be taken for this one; there'll be a lot of talk among the Orlando team of "getting back to their game" or something like that (they averaged 10 per game this season) and we'll see these clubs moving closer to the season average.

JAY'S PLAY: OVER 14.5 (-115) **

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RAJON RONDO TOTAL POINTS AND ASSISTS

Over 25½ Points+Assists -115

Under 25½ Points+Assists -115

Rajon Rondo - the guy is my hero. No 6'1" player should be getting 14 rebounds in a game, or dishing out 19 assists in a game without a turnover, but this guy has figured out a way to do it. For a team that has lost Kevin Garnett for the entire playoffs, this guy has filled the vacuum better than anyone I can imagine. In this series he's averaging 16.5 points, and even though he had 18 assists in Game 2, he only had three, six and eight in the others. This guy, however, has been the type to see what has been needed and provided it. After a game where he had just three assists and three turnovers, I think he'll come roaring back. I'll tell you this much - after what I've seen, I wouldn't want to be the kind of guy who bet against him.