A spirited affair expected in Raptors/Celtics – Game 7

By Razor Sharp Picks Sep 12, 2020

OddsHQ’s Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Prediction for Game 7: Streaky shooting may be the cause for five of six games in this series going under the total. The market has corrected itself to reflect that factor in game 7.

Whole New Ball Game

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Boston Celtics were up 2-0 in this series and .05 seconds from a 3-0 lead, but after the buzzer-beater in game 3, it’s been a whole new ball game that leads us to this game 7. Everyone thought this series would go to a game 7 before the series started, but when Boston went up 2-0 everyone thought they would roll to the next round with ease. Toronto said not so fast.

Slow roll pace makes an argument for the Under

All five of the first games in this series have gone UNDER and the 6th game would of as well if it didn’t go into overtime. I’m going to sound like a tape that is on repeat when I write this because like I said in the last article Toronto is not going to win this game in a shootout and they know that. Just like Boston knows they can’t win in a shootout. That’s why both teams will be depending on their defense. They know they need their defenses to win this game and if they want to win they will have to hold Boston to under 100 points. Toronto held Boston to 93 points in game 4 and 103 in game 3 and they won both of those games so they know if Boston scored over 105 points that they are probably going to lose.

Raptors will have to lean on their defense

The Toronto Raptors are the #1 defense in the NBA, and they show that every game and nothing changes today. They are ranked number 1 in points against per game on defense. They are ranked #2 at field goal percentage against per game on defense and they are ranked #1 in 3 point percentage against per game on defense so it’s not going to be easy for Boston to score just like it hasn’t been easy for them to score in the first 5 games. On the other side of the ball, we have the Boston Celtics. Their defense played great last game and has been all series. Like I mentioned in my last article, Boston’s defense is ranked #2 when it comes to points against per game and it is showing. Toronto averages 112 points per game, but in the first five games, Toronto was held to 94 points, 99 points, 104 and 100 and 89. Boston knows if they want to win this game, they can’t let up more then 100 points either and Jason Tatum and company are going to give it their all to make sure they do that.

Celtics have to defend the perimeter in Game 7

Boston’s defense guards the 3 point line very well as well. The Raptors shot 40.4% from 3 in game 6, and they shot 30% from 3 in game 5. From game 1 to game 4 the Raptors shot no better than 38% from behind the arc. Boston’s defense is ranked #2 when it comes to 3 point percentage against, and it’s been showing. The Raptors are not getting all of their open looks like they are used to, and the pressure could be getting to them.

Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Prediction: Under 204.5 (-114) via DraftKings