ACELA ANGLE

The most talked about road trips among NBA handicappers are the trip through the Texas Triangle of Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, the trip through Florida to face the Heat and Magic and the trip through Utah and Denver.

However, perhaps the trip with the most interesting and profitable results involves a trip you can take on the Acela, the high speed train that goes between Boston and New York, with the round trip taking under four hours. The Celtics’ and Knicks’ franchises have a wealth of basketball history and success associated with them. They are in the “club” of past NBA champions. As such, these two have a certain amount of respect for each other. This respect is not manifested when they play each other – the respect is apparent when another team is trying to sweep the storied franchises on the road, back-to-back.

It seems as if New York and Boston have a pact – unspoken or other otherwise – that no team will sweep them consecutively. If a team beats the Knicks in New York, the Celtics go all out to prevent the 2-0, New York – Boston sweep.

Similarly, if a team beats the Celtics in Boston, the Knicks “pick them up” by playing significantly above the linesmakers expectations. This “agreement” has been going on for quite some time.

In fact, the league is 0-10 ATS (-8.4 ppg) since March 6th 1996 in Boston after beating the Knicks in New York. Similarly, the league is 0-10 ATS (-9.2 ppg) since January 20th 1997 in New York after beating the Celtics in Boston!

In 2007-08, there are seven road trips through New York and Boston. Five of the seven trips start in New York and two start in Boston. They are listed below, in chronological order:



Acela Trips 2007-08
Team Game 1 Game 2
Denver Nov. 6 vs. New York (WIN) Nov. 7 vs. Boston (LOSS)
Golden State Nov. 20 vs. New York (WIN) Nov. 21 vs. Boston (LOSS)
Washington Jan. 14 vs. Boston (WIN) Jan. 15 vs. New York (LOSS)
LA Clippers Feb. 4 vs. New York (WIN) Feb. 6 vs. Boston (LOSS)
San Antonio Feb. 8 vs. New York (WIN) Feb. 10 vs. Boston (LOSS)
Bobcats Feb. 27 vs. New York Feb. 29 vs. Boston
Pistons Mar. 5 vs. Boston Mar. 7 vs. New York

BOBCATS +6

BOL DJ

That is good stuff, but what supports the Bobcat play? Aren't you saying in your thread that if by chance the Bobcats win in NY that the play would be against them when they play Boston.

This is just a coincidence. The Knicks couldn't avenge their own mom's. NBA players could care less about other franchises success or failure on a given night.

sorry your right.

NO PLAY UNTIL RESULS OF FIRST MATCH UP POSTED TOO FAST.

Will wait til Fridays matchup !

Sorry

Great stuff Jim. I remember last time it applied to when the C's beat the Spurs in Boston so hopefully it can keep going.

I am playing Charlotte anyway, I don't see the Knicks giving 6 pts to any team, even the Bobcats which I agree that are for sure a bad team, especially on the road.

...beat the Celtics in the Gahden back in January. I look for the Green to open up a can of whoop-ass on Friday night.

that already this year that each of the 5 previous teams have come in and WON the first game of this trip. Probably why you had a Freudian slip and posted Charlotte +6 :)


Duckman

because the Knicks may be a nice play 3/7 after the Pistons punk out the Celtics at their place

Is Boston a Play tonight?


I'm assuming not since CHA lost to NYK

My understanding is that it is NOT a play tonight, as NY won.

Not saying that the C's don't spank them, but under this system, the answer is no.


Maybe in March.