Miami Heat vs. Houston Rockets NBA Betting Odds
The Miami Heat have been the second-best team in the Eastern Conference throughout most of the 2013-14 NBA season, and that fact hasn’t changed as they enter their matchup Tuesday night with the Houston Rockets. [ad-4468020]
Houston, while still fighting for home-court advantage in the West, has yet to nab a top-three seed at any point this year. That said, they’re just one game out from making that happen, giving them extra motivation against the defending champions.
Miami @ Houston
Tuesday, March 4 8:00 PM ET NBATV
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Miami
The Miami Heat may be second fiddle to the Indiana Pacers, but they went on an absolute tear during the month of February, going 9-1 in 10 games. Unfortunately for Miami, its schedule has been relatively easy, with only matchups against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers being comparable to what it’ll see against the Rockets.
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For the Heat, this will be the first time they’ve faced off against the Rockets since they acquired Dwight Howard. We know that Miami has had trouble in the past stopping big bodies inside, which is why Houston will look to attack the middle every chance it gets.
Offensively, look for LeBron James to do what LeBron James does. Not even a broken nose has been able to slow him down (since he added the protective mask to his attire), as he averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.7 steals during February.
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Houston
Stopping LeBron James is easier said than done. Chances are, the Rockets will opt into an alternative course of action: letting LeBron get his while containing everybody else.
We know at this point that Dwyane Wade is crucial to Miami’s long-term success. However, its short-term success is just as important if it hopes to catch the Indiana Pacers for the top spot in the conference. This is why you’ll likely see different matchups on Wade throughout the game, switching between players such as James Harden and Chandler Parsons.
The key in this one for Houston is pushing the pace on offense and protecting the perimeter on defense. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are more efficient at the rim than they are on the perimeter, but step one is preventing isolation, which begins on the perimeter.
Offensively, look for James Harden to control the ball most of the way. Unless LeBron James is defending him, nobody on the Heat can stop him when he puts his head down and attacks the rim. Harden will look to do the same to Miami as LeBron will do to the Rockets, which is why it comes down to pace
If Harden and company get locked down in half-court traps or full-court pressure, expect the Heat to fully utilize their athleticism to turn Houston’s turnovers into their own fastbreak opportunities. That said, if the Rockets can push the tempo and score quick buckets, they should come out on top with home-court advantage on their side.
Prediction: Houston 108 – Miami 101
