NBA Basketball Matchup: Heat vs Trailblazers
The Miami Heat finished the first half of the season on a nine-game winning streak. Not only were the Heat winning those games, they were blowing everyone out of the water.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Miami Heat vs. Portland Blazers
10:30 PM EST on TNT
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Heat -4.5
Over/Under: 197
Miami is clearly a better team than they were last year at this time.
Portland had an up and down first half, but they are always very tough to beat at the Rose Garden.
LeBron James has been the league’s Most Valuable Player so far this year. James has worked hard on getting better at using his low post skills and he isn’t settling for nearly as many outside shots. James is averaging 27.4 points per game, and he is shooting a ridiculous 54.7% from the floor.
Dwyane Wade was dinged up quite a bit during the first half, but he is completely healthy now. Wade looked much better in the team’s last few games, and he is getting much more aggressive going to the hoop once again. Chris Bosh has been a steady contributor and his 18.4 points per game really help this team. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Miami looks much more in sync offensively this season. They average 103.7 points per game, which is the best mark in the NBA.
Portland got out of the gates really quickly, but the team stumbled into the break. LaMarcus Aldridge missed some time at the end of the first half, and the Blazers constantly fell into a bad habit of standing around on the offensive end. The Blazers are now just a single game above .500.
Aldridge has been superb this year. He was thrust into a leadership role on this team when Brandon Roy retired before the season, and he has responded in a big way. Aldridge is averaging 22.2 points and 8.3 boards per game. Nicolas Batum is the team’s best outside shooter, and they’ll need him to stretch the floor in this one.
Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford have struggled in the backcourt this year, and they must play well in this one if Portland stands a chance of winning.
The Heat have been on a rampage of late, and I don’t see that ending here. Portland just doesn’t have the same amount of weapons.
Prediction: Miami 101 Portland 95‘
One reply on “Miami Heat vs. Portland TrailBlazers NBA Preview & Free Pick”
Miami all the way