Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs continues on Wednesday night and we will see the Brooklyn Nets travel south to take on the Miami Heat in game 5 of their best-of seven series. The game has a start time of 7:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on TNT. Vegas odds have the Heat listed as 7 point favorites, while the total sits at 189.5.
Analysis: The Nets are in a 3 games to one hole to the Heat and taking to the road is not the best remedy for them to get back on track here. The Nets have gone just 17-29 on the road this year and while they did win two regular season games at Miami, the post season has been different, as they lost the two games in Miami by 21 and 12 points. In the playoffs the Nets have averaged just 95.6 ppg, including just 92 ppg vs Miami. Joe Johnson has led the team in playoff scoring with 20.0 ppg, while Deron Williams (14.3 ppg) and Paul Pierce (13.2 ppg) round out the double digit scorers on the team. Kevin Garnett leads the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg), while Williams has led them in assists (6.0 apg). On the defensive end of the floor the Nets have been solid this year allowing just 99.4 ppg during the regular season and they have been a bit better in the playoffs so far, allowing just 96.9 ppg on 46.6% shooting.
The Miami Heat came into the playoffs as the #2 seed in the East and they are playing like it so far, sweeping the Bobcats in 4 games and taking a 3-1 lead over the Nets in round 2. The Heat averaged solid 102.1 ppg overall this year and were the top shooting team in the league, connecting on 50.1% of their shots, but have been a bit worse in the playoffs scoring just 100.0 ppg on 49.4% shooting. In the playoffs the offense has been led by whoever but Lebron James, who is averaging 30.1 ppg so far and scored 49 points in game 4 on Monday night. Lebron also leads the team in rebounding (6.8) and assists (4.6). Dwayne Wade (16.6 ppg) and Chris Bosh (14.4 ppg) have also averaged in double figures for the Heat so far. Defensively Miami was a solid bunch this year, allowing just 97.4 ppg (5th) on 45.7% shooting (16th) and they have been much better in the playoffs, allowing just 92 ppg on 45.6% shooting.
Pick: Going to look at the Under here. The Heat have played excellent defense in the playoffs and have played good defense at home this year. The Nets have no shot if the game is sped up so I expect them to slow the pace and make it a half court game. They have done that many times this year vs the Heat and will do so here as well. I can't see more than 185 in this one.
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