Friday Night Split in Boston: Bet the Bruins, Fade the Celtics?

Here's are a couple of things we're looking at for Friday's action.  It might be a good idea to look at fading the Celtics and betting the Bruins.  These teams currently have arrows pointing in opposite directions.

Here's why (odds avaialble at SPREADS.CA):

Boston Celtics' three-game slide and offensive woes continue....

In the NBA, Boston might be in danger of missing out on the postseason for just the second time since they won the 2008 championship.  The Celtics have been a disappointment at two games below .500 heading into Friday night’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.  Boston has lost three straight games and all those losses were to teams with a losing record.

Boston ranks in the bottom half of the league in most offensive categories. The Celtics aren’t moving the ball like they did in the past, ranking 28th in the NBA in assists, and this offense has become stagnant. LINK

The visiting Indiana Pacers are +2.5 tonight, but an even more attractive +125 on the moneyline.

Boston Bruins coming off 7-2 humiliation, should rebound strong tonight....

Meanwhile, the other Boston team, the Bruins are coming off a horrific game last night.  In one of the worst periods of hockey played by any Stanley Cup contender this year a 2-2 game after the 2nd period resulted in Boston falling behind 3-2 at the 14 minute mark, then 4-2 midway into the 3rd.  Boston let the game completely get away from them in ugly fashion giving a whopping 5 goals in the final stanza, losing 7-2, which likely plays into a more focused effort on Froday night.

It's Boston off such a disappointing and embarrassing effort in that final 20 minutes last night that has to make you think that there is really nowhere to go but up for Boston after that performance. Even as a back-to-back, fatigue shouldn't be a huge concern for Boston given that they had been off since Sunday.  LINK

Boston is listed at -115 to win in regulation (-180 to win in full time).  The regulation wager looks like value, assuming we believe the Bruins will take the ice tonight with more determination.