It’s Game 2 the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs and we will see the Miami Heat take on the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The game has a start time of 8:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN. Vegas odds have the Heat listed as 2.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 185.5.
Analysis: The Miami Heat came into the Eastern Conference Finals having lost just 1 post-season game thus far, but they were really not playing all that well and the Indiana Pacers exposed that with a 107-96 win in game 1. The home team is now 9-0 SU the last 9 meetings. The Heat have averaged a solid 101.9 ppg on 50% shooting for the year, while in the playoffs they have averaged 99.2 ppg on 49.0% shooting. In the playoffs the offense has been led by whoever but Lebron James, who is averaging 29.5 ppg so far, while also leading the team in rebounding at 7.4 rpg and assists (4.7). Dwayne Wade (18.8 ppg) and Chris Bosh (14.0 ppg) have also averaged in double figures for the Heat so far. Defensively Miami was a solid bunch this year, allowing just 96.9 ppg (5th) on 45.7% shooting (16th) overall and in the playoffs they have been even better, allowing just 93.7 ppg on 46.3% shooting.
The Indiana Pacers came into the playoffs as the number 1 seed in the East and at times they didn’t really look like, but in game 1 of this series they put it all together to take out the Heat by 11 points. The Pacers are now 39-10 SU at home this year. The Pacers have struggled to score this year, but that was not the case in Game 1 as they surprised the Heat with a smaller lineup and put up 107 points in the game. Still they are averaging just 92.5 ppg on 44.8% shooting in the post-season thus far. In the playoffs Paul George has led the team in scoring at 22.1 ppg, while also leading them in rebounding at 8.4 rpg. David West (14.9 ppg), George Hill (12.2 ppg) and Lance Stephenson (13.7 ppg) have also averaged in double figures for the Pacers. The Pacers have hung their hat on the defensive end of the floor this year and it has been no different in the playoffs, as they have allowed just 90.3 ppg on 41.1% shooting in the post-season so far.
Pick: I will be going with the Under in this one. The Heat were surprised in game one, but I expect them to make the proper adjustments in this one and after allowing 107 points in the opener I expect those adjustments to be made on the defensive end of the floor. The Heat have still played good defense in the playoffs, allowing just 93.7 ppg and prior to game 1 they had allowed just 87.4 ppg in their previous 8 games vs the Pacers, so they do know how to play defense vs this team. The Pacers allowed the Heat 96 points in Game one, but still this is a team that has allowed just 90.3 ppg in the playoffs and just 89.1 ppg on their home floor this year, so I expect them to look for a bit more defense as well. Prior to game 1 the previous 7 meetings between these tams had put up just 175 points, while the previous 3 meetings on this floor had produced just 169.7 ppg. This one should be played at a much slower pace with much more defense than in game 1 as we get a game played in the 170's at best.
$22 qualifier for $2,000,000 FANTASY BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP! -- CLICK HERE
Details:
- $22 to enter
- Top 119 are paid
- For the baseball games on Tuesday, 5/20
- Winner gets entry into the 2014 DSBC
- Winner of the DSBC wins $1,000,000
- First time depositors at DraftStreet receive a 100% bonus up to $200
Get Scott Spreitzer's 3* NBA TUESDAY NIGHT TAPOUT! For Free- No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free!
$10,000 Match Marco Baseball Challenge--- During the 2010 MLB season, Pregame Pro Marco D'Angelo won an unheard of 25 straight baseball games, never laying more than -$120! This contest replicates Marco's feat--- CLICK TO JOIN
Stay on top of the latest odds and line moves for NBA Playoffs with our real-time odds from Las Vegas and offshore!
How Offensively Challenged Teams Did In NFL Draft
Steve Fezzik from Pregame.com analyzes how offensively challenged teams did in the NFL Draft.