It’s Game 3 the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs and we will see the Indiana Pacers take on the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena in Miami. The game has a start time of 8:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN. Vegas odds have the Heat listed as 7 point favorites, while the total sits at 183.5.
Analysis: The Indiana Pacers came into the playoffs as the number 1 seed and fought all year to grab homecourt advantage, but after losing game 2 they have now lost their homecourt advantage. The Pacers are a mediocre 26-21 on the road this year and the home team has won 9 of the last 10 SU in this series. The Pacers have struggled to score this year and after putting up 107 points in game 1 they reverted back to struggling as they could manage just 83 points in game 2. The Pacers are now averaging just 91.9 ppg on 44.5% shooting in the post-season thus far. In the playoffs Paul George has led the team in scoring at 21.5 ppg, while also leading them in rebounding at 8.1 rpg. David West (14.6 ppg), Lance Stephenson (14.5 ppg) and George Hill (12.6 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 90.1 ppg on 41.7% shooting in the post-season so far.
The Miami Heat lost game 1 of this series, by 11 points, by they did what they always seem to do in the post season and that it bounce back from a loss as they evened the series At 1 game apiece with an 87-83 game 2 win over the Pacers. The home team is now 9-1 SU the last 10 meetings. The Heat have averaged 98.2 ppg on 49.2% shooting in the post-season so far. In the playoffs the offense has been led by whoever but Lebron James, who is averaging 28.8 ppg so far, while also leading the team in rebounding at 7.4 rpg and assists (4.8). Dwayne Wade (19.2 ppg) and Chris Bosh (13.5 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 92.7 ppg on 45.7% shooting.
Pick: Going to go with the Under here. I know that Miami home games should be higher scoring that Indiana home games, but I do like the Pacers to keep this one close and that should indicate a low scoring game, just like in game 2 in which 170 points were scored. The Heat have allowed just 92.7 ppg in the playoffs overall, including just 89.4 ppg at home, while Indiana comes in allowing just 90.1 pg in the playoffs overall and just 84.3 ppg in their playoff road games. The Last 9 in this series has averaged just 177.9 ppg, while the last 4 played here between these teams have averaged just 179.8 ppg. Both defense will show up big time here and the offenses will keep the pace slow. Should be another game played in the 170's at best.
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