LeBron James and the Miami Heat try to go 2-0 up in the series when they host Indiana as favorites. The Indiana Pacers, however, won't lay down and may very well be the right side in Game 2. What do the oddsmakers have to say about this one?
Odds for Game 2 have been made public and we find Miami
favored by a similar number. After being favored by 8.5 points for the first
matchup, the Heat are now 7.5-point favorites at the best NBA betting shops.
The total is at 185 at most places.
Game 1 look destined to end in a Pacers cover, but they fell
apart in the last few minutes and LeBron's jumper with seconds remaining ended
any hopes for Indiana backers. Fortunately for us, SBR handicappers had nailed this matchup, having predicted a Heat cover.
All in all, it was a solid effort from the underdogs,
especially in the first half. They were up by as many as nine points at one
juncture and took a 48-42 lead into halftime.
Individually it was Roy Hibbert and David West that stepped
up for the Pacers. They combined for 34 points and 23 rebounds, while both
shooting 6-of-12 from the field.
Poor nights from Danny Granger, George Hill and Paul George
were what really kept Indiana from stealing away Game 1. They shot 6-of-25
between them, with Granger the main culprit at a gross 1-of-10 from the floor.
Pacers let Game 1 slip away
On the other end, Chris Bosh left the game early due to
injury, meaning LeBron and Dwyane Wade were tasked with doing even more on both
ends of the court. Boy did they respond.
LeBron, who was given the MVP trophy before tipoff, ended up
with 32 points, 15 rebounds and five assists while Wade came up with 29 points
on 8-of-23 shooting. The pair got to the line 24 times altogether and made 21.
For Game 2 Bosh is considered doubtful, and that's just one
reason I think the Pacers conjure up an ATS cover and could potentially even
win this game straight up.
Now we know this is LeBron and Wade's team anyway, but not
having Bosh out there to contend with Indiana's size is going to be a problem.
Hibbert and West were decent in Game 1 and should make even more of a
difference now that Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf are set to get more time
inside.
Hibbert, West and Tyler Hansbrough aren't afraid to get
physical down low, and Frank Vogel would be wise to concentrate his efforts
there considering the frontcourt has always been a question mark for the Heat
this season.
Also, if Bosh can't go, LeBron could see more time at power
forward, which in turn would mean he'd be matched up with West defensively
instead of Granger. Granger, who averaged 21.4 PPG in the first round against
Orlando, would be ecstatic if that's the case after the offensive dud he
dropped in Game 1.
Attack the paint
We'll see what plan of attack Erik Spoelstra opts to go for
on both ends of the court, but I see this as a prime opportunity for the
Pacers.
In terms of bench play, it looks like Indiana has the edge
there as well. Sure, when you've got two of the best players in the league on
your team you don't need a studly second unit, yet the Pacers nearly doubled up
the Heat in bench scoring in Game 1 as Hansbrough, Darren Collison and Leandro
Barbosa all scored at least eight points. Eventually a lack of depth could
catch up to Miami.
If there's a game Indiana can win in South Beach this
series, it's this one. The odds boards show similar numbers to tohse offered in Game 1, but with the Pacers confidence, and the Big Three cut down to two, should us basketball bettors look for Indiana to pull off the upset? The Pacers were able to give the Hear a tough fight in Game 1 and will be
feeling confident in their chances of stealing away a crucial road win.
FREE Pick: Indiana Pacers +7.5 and a small ML wager
at +345
TREND BREAKDOWN
Heat are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games
Heat are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall
Pacers are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games overall
UNDER is 5-2 in Indiana's last 7 games overall
UNDER is 23-7 in Miami's last 30 home games
Underdog is 24-10-1 ATS in the last 35 head-to-head meetings