Heat at
Celtics Betting Preview: Big Playoff Implications at Stake
You’ll be
hard-pressed to find a game with more on the line than the Heat at Celtics on
Sunday. With the inclusion of a play-in tournament this season, the desire for
the sixth seed is more important than ever. The NBA odds
should be close for this tilt.
Both the
Heat and Celtics have been swapping between six and seven. This game could be
the deciding factor in the seeding.
This is
actually the first of two straight games for these teams. The first game of the
season series came back on January 6. Boston won that game 107-105.
The
action tips off on Sunday at 1 PM EST.
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Miami
Heat
The Heat
haven’t quite matched their bubble success from a year ago this season - though
they are trending up.
Jimmy
Butler and Bam Adebayo remain the two focal points of this team on both ends.
Miami is a defensive-focused team with a methodical offensive pace. Owners of a
top-ten defense and a bottom-ten scoring offense, most Heat games end up
low-scoring.
On the
season, Butler averages 21.5 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and
2.0 steals per game. Adebayo similarly fills the stat sheet, with averages of
18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and over a steal and block per game.
The
offense prefers to shoot the three, led by Duncan Robinson’s 40% mark from
deep.
The Heat
defense’s bread and butter is stopping shots near the rim. No team in the NBA
allows fewer points in the paint than Miami.
Their
defense does struggle to stop the three - which could be a problem in this
game.
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Boston
Celtics
Boston
has had an up-and-down season, often playing to their competition. With a few
confounding losses on their resume coupled with big wins, it’s hard to make out
what type of team the Celtics are.
What
Boston does have going for them is balance. On paper, they have an
above-average offense and defense.
Their
offense is lifted by their perimeter shooting, a top-ten team shooting the
three this season. Their defense is particularly strong in the paint, like
Miami, fifth in the NBA in points in the paint per game.
Boston is
led by their pair of wings - Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The two were
involved in a collision this past weekend, but it isn’t believed to be serious
for either player.
Tatum
leads the way in scoring, with 26.5 points per game on 46/40/87% shooting
splits. Tatum also hauls in 7.4 boards per game.
Brown is
right behind Tatum, scoring over 24 points per game thanks to his 40% mark from
deep. This offense goes as these two young All-Stars do.
The
defense is vulnerable to the outside shot, like Miami - though not to the level
the Heat do.
Our NBA
action doesn’t stop. Take a look at our Spurs
at Trail Blazers pick for Saturday’s game.
Game Pick
Miami
ranks 29th in the NBA in opponents threes made and 22nd in opponent three point
percentage.
Going
against a Boston offense that shoots threes at a high clip, signs point towards
the Celtics, picking up a must-win game.
This
Eastern Conference battle is high-stakes, and should be a great start to the
NBA Sunday slate. Pick Boston to cover the spread at home.
See how we
did last time, it was our Trail
Blazers at Hornets betting preview.
