The first round of the NBA Playoffs continues on Saturday night and we will see Miami Heat travel to Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina to take on the Charlotte Bobcats in game 3 of their best-of-seven series. The game has a start time of 7:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN. Vegas odds have the Heat listed as 4.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 187.5.
Stat Packs: The Miami Heat came into the playoffs as the #2 seed in the East and so far have played like it by taking a 2-0 lead over the Bobcats. The Heat come in averaging a solid 102.2 ppg, which is 12th in the league and they have scored 100 ppg in the first two games of this series. They were the top shooting team in the league, hitting 50.1% of their shots from the field and have connected on 49% of their shots in the playoffs. The offense is led by whoever but Lebron James, who is averaging 29.5 ppg in the playoffs, while Dwayne Wade (19.0 ppg) and Chris Bosh (16.0 ppg) are also averaging in double figures for the Heat. Defensively the Heat were are a solid bunch this year, allowing just 97.4 ppg (5th) on 45.7% shooting (16th) and so far in the two games vs the Bobcats they have allowed just 92.5 ppg on 43.7% shooting. Miami has dominated this series, winning the last 17 in a row vs the Bobcats.
The Charlotte Bobcats come in as the 7th seed in the East after going 43-39 on the year. Not bad for a team that won less than 30 games the two previous years combined. They have played the Heat tough twice in the series, but still are in an 0-2 hole as they head back home where they went 25-16 on the year. During the rgular season, the Bobcats averaged 96.9 ppg (23rd) on 44.2% shooting (25th), nut in the first 2 games they have been able to muster just 92.5 ppg so far. In the playoffs, Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson lead the team in scoring at 18 ppg each, while Michale Kidd-Gilchrist (13.5 ppg) and Josh McRoberts (11.5 ppg) round out the top 4 scorers on the team. On defense was a solid team this year, allowing just 97.1 ppg on 44.2% shooting for the year and they have done a decent Job in holding Miami to just 100 ppg in the two games thus far.
Pick: Going with the Heat here. This is a short price to lay with them and I will take it. Charlotte played Miami Close in the first two games but still this is a superior Miami team and the Bobcats best player Al Jefferson is still hobbling. I just cannot see the Bobcats keeping this one close.
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NBA Playoff Update #1
Steve Fezzik, from Pregame.com, give his thoughts on how the NBA playoffs have gone so far and what to look for in the future.