It’s Game 1 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 3:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ABC. Vegas odds have the Heat listed as 3 point favorites, while the total sits at 182.
Analysis: The Miami Heat got to the NBA Finals by sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and by beating the Nets in 5 games. Miami was a mediocre 25-20 on the road this year and the home team is 8-0 SU the last 8 meetings. The Heat have averaged a solid 101.9 ppg on 50% shooting for the year, while in the playoffs they have averages 99.6 ppg on 48.8% shooting. In the playoffs the offense has been led by whoever but Lebron James, who is averaging 30.0 ppg so far, while also leading the team in rebounding at 7.1 rpg and assists (6.8) and assists (4.7). Dwayne Wade (17.9 ppg) and Chris Bosh (14.6 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 92.2 ppg on 45.8% 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 they came together as a team just in time to make it to the NBA Finals. The Pacers were a solid 38-10 SU at home this year, but they have gone just 1-9 ATS at home vs a team with a winning road record. The Pacers struggled to score during the regular season and it is has followed them into the playoffs, as they come in averaging just 91.4 ppg on 44.4% shooting in the post-season thus far. In the playoffs Paul George has led the team in scoring at 21.9 ppg, while also leading them in rebounding at 8.7 rpg. David West (14.6 ppg), George Hill (12.4 ppg) and Lance Stephenson (13.5 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 88.9 ppg on 40.5% shooting in the post-season so far.
Pick: Let's go with the Under in this one. Both teams have been playing lockdown defense in the playoffs, as Miami comes in allowing 92.2 ppg in the post-season, while Indiana has allowed just 88.9 ppg in their post-season games, including just 83.4 ppg in their last 5. The Pacers have also allowed just 88.9 ppg on their home floor this year and they allowed the Heat just 83 and 84 points in the two games the teams played here this year. The Pacers offense is weak as always, especially of late as they averaged just 87.6 ppg in the series vs Washington and will now take on a better defensive team than the Wizards were. The last 7 meeting have gone 5-2 to the Under, with those games averaging just 175.4 ppg. I don't expect more than the mid 170's here as well.
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