The Boston Celtics came into this NBA regular season with a chip on their shoulder as they were just beaten by their archrivals in the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals. Even though they fell to the Lakers in game seven of the NBA Finals, Kevin Garnett and company were ready to get right back to form and defend their Eastern Conference title.

In the beginning of the year, the Boston Celtics were without a doubt the best team in the NBA. With arguably the best team chemistry in the league, the Celtics were just beating their opponents with some great team basketball and lockdown defense.

Unfortunately, before the NBA trade deadline the Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge decided to make trade that sent shockwaves throughout the organization and seriously affected the way this team played for the rest of the season. With the Boston Celtics sending center and arguably their best defensive player in Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team started to fall apart as they just couldn’t seem to get motivated to play a high level once again.

With the Danny Ainge ripping up the franchise by sending eight-year man Perkins elsewhere, the players on the team seemed to lose that fire that made them so good in the first half of the NBA regular season.

As a result of their poor play, the Boston Celtics have dropped from the number one seed in the Eastern Conference to the third seed behind the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat. The Boston Celtics still could be the best team in the East, but they will have to prove that point against a tough first-round opponent in the revamped New York Knicks.

With the Knicks making the biggest trade of the season by acquiring Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, they have become a legitimate force to be reckoned with and might be able to give the Boston Celtics a run for their money.

Prediction: Boston Celtics advance in six games 4-2

Eastern Conference Playoffs  online sportsbook odds:

DSI Sportsbook:
Spread: New York Knicks +6 & Boston Celtics -6
Moneyline: New York Knicks +235 & Boston Celtics -275
Over/Under: New York Knicks 110 Boston Celtics 110 under (197)

Bookmaker Sportsbook:
Spread: New York Knicks +6 & Boston Celtics -6
Moneyline: New York Knicks +235 & Boston Celtics -275
Over/Under: New York Knicks 110 Boston Celtics 110 under (197)

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