The first round of the NBA Playoffs continues on Monday 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 4 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 7.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 188.
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 3-0 lead over the Bobcats. They are the only team that has started a series 3-0. The Heat averaged solid 102.1 ppg overall this year, but vs the Bobcats they have averaged just 99.3 ppg. They were the top shooting team in the league, hitting 50.1% of their shots from the field, but have connected on just 46.9% of their shots in the playoffs. The offense is led by whoever but Lebron James, who is averaging 29. ppg in the playoffs, while Dwayne Wade (18.3 ppg) and Chris Bosh (13.7 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 three games vs the Bobcats they have allowed just 90.0 ppg on 43.2% shooting. Miami has dominated this series, winning the last 18 in a row SU vs the Bobcats.
The Charlotte Bobcats played the Heat tough in the first 2 games of the series, but in game 3 it was a different story as they fell to Miami 98-85. The loss now has them at 0-3 in the series and 25-17 at home on the year. During the regular season, the Bobcats averaged 96.9 ppg on 44.2% shooting, but vs the Heat they have scored just 90.0 ppg on 43.2% shooting. In the playoffs, Al Jefferson leads the team in scoring at 18.7, while Kemba Walk (16.3 ppg), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (10.0 ppg) and Josh McRoberts (12.0 ppg) round out the top 4 scorers on the team. On defense this was a solid team this year, allowing just 97.1 ppg on 44.2% shooting and they have done a decent job vs the Heat, holding them to just 99.3 ppg so far.
Pick: I will be going with the Under in this one. The Bobcats have scored just 90 ppg on Miami in this series and with an ailing Al Jefferson I don't see that point total improving at all. That means they will have to look to their defense a bit more here and that have played great defense at home, holding teams to just 94.4 ppg on the year here. Miami has not been all that explosive on offense of late, averaging 95.6 ppg in their last 5 games and they won't need to put up a ton here as the Bobcats just can't score right now. Bobcats only hope of extending the series is by slowing the pace and Miami is OK playing that way. I look for a game in the lower 180's at best.
Get Stephen Nover's NBA 3* GAME OF MONTH 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!
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.