Category: NBA

NBA Basketball Matchup: Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks

8:00 PM EST on TNT
NBA Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NBA Betting Favorite: Heat -2
Over/Under: 189

Miami blew out Indiana last night, but LeBron James turned his ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game in Atlanta. Dwyane Wade continues to have foot problems, and he is also questionable for this matchup. The Hawks beat the Heat earlier this week to give Miami its first loss of the season. Will Miami get revenge in Atlanta or will the Hawks take a second straight game from the Heat?

The Heat have really improved their offense so far this year. At times last season it appeared the team was out of sync offensively, but they seem to have much better chemistry on the offensive end so far this year. Miami leads the NBA in both points per game and field goal percentage offense. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have made it clear they are going to be more aggressive and stop settling for three-pointers this year, and I think that is a huge help to this team. A healthy Udonis Haslem is a big plus for this team as well. He leads the team with ten rebounds. Chris Bosh will need to step up his game tonight with James and Wade hurting.

Atlanta’s nucleus looks quite similar to what it has the last few years. Joe Johnson, Al Horford, and Josh Smith are all see as team leaders. Jamal Crawford left the team in the offseason, but Tracy McGrady is doing surprisingly well in his role with the team. McGrady has given this team a nice offensive spark. He is shooting 51.2% from the floor in six games this season. Atlanta is 4-2 primarily because they are only giving up 85.7 points per game. The Hawks forced 16 turnovers in their win over Miami earlier this week.

It seems like the Hawks aren’t getting much respect from the oddsmakers in this one. Miami has two stars that might not even play and they are still favored by two. I’ll take the Hawks in this one.

Prediction: Atlanta 95 Miami 94

Rip City – NBA Handicapping Lakers vs Blazers

The Los Angeles Lakers will roll into Rip City on Thursday with Kobe Bryant and all of their titles, but Portland will have the advantage with the best record (4-1) in the Western Conference.

Date/Time: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, January 5, 2012
Venue: Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Broadcast: TNT
Spread: -3.5 Portland
Over/Under: 187

The Lakers (4-2) Bryant is just 6-23 in Portland in his career while the Lakers are 4-16 in Portland since 2000, and this game could be a barometer of how the two teams will finish the 2012 season.

The good news for the Lakers is that this is their only trip to Portland this season.

With All-Stars like Bryant and Pau Gasol along with future All-Star Andrew Bynum, the Lakers can never be counted on for being an easy win. Bynum is averaging nearly 23 points and 17 rebounds in his last three outings, including 21 points and 22 rebounds in a victory over Houston on Tuesday. However, he is not immune to the struggles against Portland, averaging 6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11 games.

Meanwhile, the Blazers are unbeaten in three home games at the Rose Garden and have the best record in the Western Conference for the first time since they went 42-18 on March 5, 2001.

Six players are averaging at least 10 points and three averaging at least seven rebounds per game, while Gerald Wallace became the first Trail Blazer to produce a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds) in Tuesday’s win over Oklahoma City.

But all hasn’t been rosy for Portland who have been plagued by the turnover bug, committing 46 turnovers in their previous two games, but did improve with just nine against the Thunder.

Free Pick: Portland —The Trail Blazers will meet their stiffest challenge yet with Los Angeles, and will rely on guard Wesley Matthews, who averages 15.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, to help anchor a back court that will need to contain Bryant and Fisher, while Marcus Camby has his hands full with Bynum. Still, I like the Blazers at home here.