NBA Handicapping Predictions – Heat vs Pacers
The Heat won a highly tense Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in this series, but it was a costly win since both Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman were called for flagrant fouls and both will miss this game.
Venue/ Stadium: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Time/Date: 8 PM EST Thursday, May 24, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: MIA -160 / INDY +140
Spread (ATS): Heat -3
Over/Under: 182
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers Preview
The Pacers only shot 33.7% in Game 5 while the Heat shot over 60% and the Pacers have to forget about that game and shoot the ball much better tonight or this series will be over. NBA lines have the Heat as 3-point away favorites with a total of 182.
In Game 5 the Heat crushed the Pacers 115-83.
This season the Heat are 39-37 ATS with an O/U record of 29-45-2 and the Pacers are 37-39 ATS with an O/U record of 38-36-2.
With Bosh still out the Heat will miss Haslem tonight, especially on the glass, and in Game 5 he was solid with 10 points and 6 boards.
Pacers’ leading scorer Danny Granger was only 3/6 for 10 points in Game 5 and while he stated he will play he is questionable for tonight’s game with a sprained ankle.
Once again LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were solid in Game 5 combining to score 58 points and each shot well above 50% from the floor. These guys are rolling, but the Pacers’ defense must play better on these guys and can’t let them get in the lane for easy shots. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
It is also key that the Pacers get back on defense, as in Game 5 the Heat had 29 points off transition while the Pacers just had 6.
With Granger injured and Bosh and Haslem out for this game David West and Roy Hibbert must give the Pacers inside offense. Indy must feed these guys in the paint and get easy buckets near the hoop.
The Pacers’ guards of George Hill and Paul George were combined 6/18 shooting in Game 5 and they have struggled with their shot the last couple of games in this series. They have to hit the J so the Heat do not pack the paint on D.
In some betting trends for this Eastern Conference playoff match up the Heat are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games, and they have an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
The Pacers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5 points, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points, and they have an Over record of 11-5 in their last 16 games as an underdog.
Jason’s Pick: I think the Pacers are done in this series, as Wade and James will play well again and the Heat will easily win cover tonight heading to the Eastern Conference finals.
