NBA Handicapping Predictions – Heat vs Pacers
The Heat have lost the last 2 games of this series and Game 3 was an ugly loss where Dwyane Wade and even had a spat with his head coach.
Game 4
Venue/ Stadium: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Time/Date: 8 PM EST Sunday, May 20, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Heat -130 / Pacers +110
Spread (ATS): Heat -1.5
Over/Under: 177.5
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers Preview
The Heat struggled with their shot again in that game and while the Pacers did not shoot lights out they used a well-balanced attack on offense. NBA lines have the Heat as 1.5-point away favorites with a total of 177.5.
In Game 3 the Pacers embarrassed the Heat beating them 94-75.
This season the Heat are 37-37 ATS with an O/U record of 27-45-2 and the Pacers are 37-37 ATS with an O/U record of 36-36-2.
Wade was only 2/13 from the floor in Game 3 going for 5 points and since Miami is not a deep team it does not need to be said that he needs to score in this game.
4 out of the 5 Pacers’ starters in Game 3 scored in double figures led by George Hill with 20 points. The Heat need their bigs to step up on Roy Hibbert, who had 19 points and 18 boards in Game 3. For the 2nd straight game the Heat were killed on the glass and they need some guys to help King James on the board. This is especially the case when Indiana has the rock, as they had 16 offensive boards in Game 3.
Chris Bosh is still out indefinitely and is probably out for this game.
With Bosh out the Heat need to get out and run more on the break to get easy points. Their half court offense has struggled in the last couple of games in this series and they need to change things up or they will go down 3-1 in this series. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Danny Granger has been very physical with Wade in this series and these guys have mixed it up a few times. If Grange continues to give Wade problems the Pacers have a great chance to win this game.
Mario Chalmers went for 25 points on 10/15 shooting in Game 3 and he has to score again, but Wade is the key and he needs to get back to his scoring ways and be aggressive and take the ball to the hoop.
In some betting trends for this Eastern Conference match up the Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games, 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a road favorite of 0.5-4.5 points, and they have an Under record of 5-0 in their last 5 games.
The Pacers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog, and they have an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Jason’s Pick: The Heat are in desperation mode and they have really struggled in the last couple of games and while many are counting them out I think they will step up in this game and win and cover tying the series.
