Miami vs Philadelphia NBA Betting Odds
The Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers have two very different goals entering the 2013-14 NBA season. Miami is looking to win its third straight championship, while the Sixers are hoping to obtain the first pick in the 2014 draft. [ad-4468020]
Miami Heat (1-0) @ Philadelphia 76ers (0-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 30 7:00 PM ET @ Wells Fargo Center
Spread: Miami -11.5
O/U: 196
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Both teams will provide entertainment on Wednesday night, but don’t think too hard about which team will come out on top.
Miami Heat
If Miami proved anything during its season-opening victory over the Chicago Bulls, it’s that it is ready to compete on both ends of the floor. The Heat held Derrick Rose and the Bulls to 95 points, but the more impressive number is 107—the amount of points scored on one of the best defenses The Association has to offer.
Despite a slow start, the Heat looked excellent defensively. They were rotating well, interrupting passing lanes and closing out on shooters on a regular basis. What they didn’t do well was closing out the game while taking a lead into the fourth quarter. They allowed Chicago to score 37 points in the final period, which made the game closer than it appeared to be throughout much of the contest.
No individual player took over the game for Miami, but that’s what should scare Philadelphia the most. [ad-6571516]
The Heat had seven players in double digits, and every player to see minutes scored at least six points.
Miami is the defending champions for a reason, and Philly is about to find out why on Wednesday night.
Philadelphia 76ers
Game 1 for Miami proved that Philly must pay attention to all players on the Heat’s roster. That said, LeBron James is the reigning MVP of both the regular season and NBA Finals, and he is the one the Sixers must look to lock down.
That job will belong primarily to Evan Turner. The 6’7”, 216-pound small forward will have his work cut out for him—as all players attempting to contain James do—and the goal must be to keep him on the perimeter as much as possible. His outside shot is continually improving, but he’s most effective when he’s attacking the rim, either head on or with his back to the basket.
Philly’s outlook on the season is this: The fewer wins, the better. They traded their All-Star point guard for an injured center (Nerlens Noel, who may not play at all this season recovering from a torn ACL), and now Michael Carter-Williams, a rookie point guard, has the potential to be one of the most productive players on the team.
The Sixers want in on the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes, and a win against the Heat won’t get them any closer. Even if Philadelphia wanted to win, this one is a long shot.
Expect a big win from Miami, and don’t be surprised if the Heat keep momentum late into the contest.
Prediction: Miami 110 – Philadelphia 97
