It was an embarrassing loss for Charlotte in Boston to open the season, falling to the Celtics 92-59. Look for the Bobcats to get even at home on Tuesday night.
The rapidly improving Charlotte Bobcats host the Boston Celtics tonight with both teams riding four-game winning streaks.
Larry Brown’s Cats have beaten all comers lately as they’ve improved to 7-9 on the year. They beat Lebron and the Cavs on Friday and followed that up with a victory over Agent 0 and the Wizards.
Charlotte has never made the playoffs; in fact the Bobcats have yet to have a winning season. But with the offense showing signs of life to Charlotte may be on to something this year.
The Bobcats are tickling the twine to the tune of 101.5 points per game during their streak roughly 18 points higher than their season average. Meanwhile Charlotte’s defense remains the best in the league allowing an NBA low 87.9 points per game and five points lower than that during the four-game run.
Charlotte will also have the revenge factor working tonight as it looks to make amends for a horrific season-opening, 92-59 loss to the Celtics. Charlotte finished with the fewest points in franchise history and Gerald Wallace with 10 points was the only player in double-figures.
Boston has been solid out of the gate this season posting a 13-4 record and opening up a 6 ½-game lead in the Atlantic Division. The Celtics offense has been red hot during their winning streak. They shot 52 percent against the defensive minded Heat on Sunday and have averaged 107 points and 51% shooting per game over their last four games.
It’s almost sacrilegious to suggest playing against the Celtics. Especially against a team they annihilated by 33 points in their first seven meetings. But Boston has struggled in Charlotte wehere it is 2-5 ATS the last seven North Carolina throw-downs.
In fact the Bobcats have a 12-3 ATS advantage over the Beantown Bad Boys in their last 15 series meetings in Charlotte. The Bobcats are also 6-2 SU at home and own the second-best ATS record in the league at 11-5.
There’s nothing like seeing the Celtics on the opposing bench to get a team fired up. Look for that scenario to unfold tonight. Boston may win but Charlotte gets the cover and I give Brown’s brigade a good shot at pulling off the mild upset.
The total is 177 and while normally I’d look at the 'under' with any game involving Charlotte, given the recent upswing in offense by both teams this could be the night to take the 'over.'
Free Pick: Bobcats +4 (-110)