2008-09 NBA Wagering Preview – Miami Heat
The Miami Heat (15-67 SU, 35-46-1 ATS, 37-43-2 O/U), took a huge step backwards last season, going a pitiful 15-67 just one season after posting a respectable 44-38 record.
While the Heat lucked up and landed the No. 2 pick in the entire draft – and really lucked up by landing the most NBA-ready player in power forward Michael Beasley, BetUS NBA Sportsbook basketball fanatics should know that this team is a far cry from the one that won the NBA title just three short seasons ago.
After trading away aging malcontent center Shaquille O’Neal in exchange for multi-talented forward Shawn Marion, the Heat will have a new look entering the 2008-09 regular season.
Miami must immediately address several areas of concern before the start of the regular season beginning with finding a starter at point guard to play alongside superstar Dywane Wade in the Miami backcourt. Veterans, Marcus Banks and Chris Quinn will compete with rookie Mario Chalmers.
The Heat will also have a first-year head coach in Erik Spoelstra who will need to decide on a starting lineup and will have to figure out who’s going to get the bulk of the minutes at center between underachieving veterans Mark Blount and Jamaal Magloire.
With Beasley slated to play the power forward spot, Spoelstra has also indicated that current starting power forward Udonis Haslem will play more minutes in the middle this season in an effort to get Beasley and his prolific offense on the court.
Combination forward Shawn Marion, will also play both forward positions at times depending on who’s on the floor and the Heat should be seriously encouraged by Wade’s outstanding Olympics this past summer.
“I like Shawn at the four (power forward) and I like Beasley at the four,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
James Jones, Magloire, Dorell Wright, Yakhouba Diawara and second-year shooting guard Daequan Cook make up a competent, but not scary bench.
The Heat went 15-26 ATS at home and 20-20-1 ATS on the road in 2008 and were led in scoring by Wade, (24.6 ppg) and rebounds by Marion, (11.2 rpg).
Miami can use Beasley’s added scoring ability to help the team immensely as Miami ranked 30th in scoring, averaging just 91.4 points per game while allowing 100.0 points per contest defensively.
