Celtics Heat Line – Game 2 NBA Eastern Conference Finals

Carrie Stroup here and I have your Celtics Heat line for Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.  The gambling public actually pushed this number up a half point.  Be sure to place your online bets here at Sportsbook and qualify for up to $250 in FREE CASH. 

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Miami -8 & 177

Opening Line & Total: Heat -7.5 &177.5

The Heat imposed their will on the Celtics with a huge second half to take Game 1 by a 93-79 score, and now Boston tries to return the favor in Wednesday’s Game 2.

Monday’s Game 1 was decided in the paint, as Miami made a whopping 21-of-27 shots (78%) in the lane, while Boston connected on just 17-of-37 shots (46%) in the paint, including 11 misses as the result of Heat blocked shots. They outrebounded the Celtics by a wide margin (48-33) and forced the C’s into poor shooting from all areas of the floor --  39.5% FG, 4-of-14 threes, 11-of-21 FT. Although Boston lost Game 1 on just one day of rest, the veteran team is still a strong 28-18 SU (26-20 ATS) in this scenario. Miami has been slightly better with one off-day at 30-13 SU, but is a subpar 21-22 ATS in these games. Doc Rivers will incorporate his bench more in this game, and will employ a more physical defense on both James and Wade. The Celtics are 22-7 ATS (76%) in road games off a road loss where they failed to surpass 80 points since 1996.

The Celtics are now 17-23 (19-21 ATS) on the road this season, which includes a dismal 2-5 mark (3-4 ATS) in away playoff games. Miami improved to 34-6 at home (6-1 SU in playoffs), as it has outscored visitors by a hefty 100.0 to 88.3 PPG edge, going 23-16-1 ATS at AmericanAirlines Arena. Both teams continue to play excellent defense in these playoffs. Boston has allowed just 84.6 PPG on 41.4% FG, while Miami has been just as effective, giving up 85.0 PPG on 41.0% FG.

Other than Kevin Garnett, who continued his strong playoffs (19.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG) with 23 points (9-of-16 FG) and 10 rebounds in Game 1, the rest of the Celtics did not play well offensively. Starting forwards SF Paul Pierce (5-for-18 FG) and PF Brandon Bass (4-for-11 FG) combined to shoot 9-of-29 from the field with just four rebounds and a minus-27 rating. The starting backcourt also struggled to make baskets as SG Ray Allen made just 1-of-7 FG and 3-of-7 FT, while PG Rajon Rondo needed 20 shots (8-of-20 FG) to get his 16 points. Rondo had just seven assists, which is a far cry from his 12.7 APG in the conference semifinals versus Philadelphia. Every Boston player that logged more than three minutes of action on Monday ended the night with a negative rating. The team combined for just one measly block in Game 1, but committed only nine turnovers, as Rondo (4 TO) was the only player with more than one miscue.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 54 total points in Game 1 to help Miami outscore Boston 47-33 in the second half. James and Wade have now combined for a whopping 251 points (62.8 per game) in their past four games, which have all been Heat victories. With PF Chris Bosh continuing to miss time with his abdominal strain, Miami might need more than just two players to keep winning games. On Monday, SF Shane Battier was the only other Heat player that scored in double-figures. Battier did have a well-rounded game though, with 10 points (4-of-11 FG), 10 rebounds and a +16 rating. The center duo of Ronny Turiaf and Joel Anthony combined for just seven points in 38 minutes, but the pair did pull down 11 rebounds and block three shots. Starting PG Mario Chalmers missed all six of his three-point attempts, but he still managed a decent line of nine points, five rebounds, four assists and just one turnover. SF Mike Miller provided a nice spark off the bench with eight points in just 12 minutes, draining both of his threes.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter