15* NBA Thursday Total ANNIHILATOR on Celtics/Bucks UNDER 200.5

Boston vs. Milwaukee, 03/22/2012 20:00 EDT, Score: 100 - 91

Total: -105/+200½ Under

Sportsbook: 5Dimes

Result: Win

Oddsmakers have missed their mark badly with this total set tonight. Any time you have the Boston Celtics in a game and the total is over 200 points, you should automatically think take the UNDER. That's precisely what I'm doing here in a game that I believe will be played in the 180's.

The reason this total is set so high is because Milwaukee has been scoring at will of late against some of the worst defensive teams in the league. The Bucks have scored over 100 points in seven straight games against the likes of the Blazers, Warriors, Cavaliers, Nets, Raptors, Knicks and Bulls. Only one of those teams plays defense at an above-average level, and that is the Bulls.

Boston will be determined to put an end to that 100 points streak as they are one of the few teams in the league that takes pride in their defense. The Celtics give up just 90.6 points/game and 42.6 percent shooting this year. Boston is also having trouble offensively, especially away from home where they are scoring a mere 89.4 points/game. Boston games are averaging a combined 181.7 points/game this season, nearly 20 points below this posted total.

In their last 12 meetings dating back to 2008, Boston and Milwaukee have combined to score 201 or less points at the end of regulation all 12 times. That's an 11-0-1 system backing the UNDER pertaining to tonight's total set. Take the UNDER in this game Thursday.