Celtics Heat Spread at Miami -8 – Game 1 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
Carrie Stroup here and I have your Celtics Heat spread for May 28, 2012. This is Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Eligible customers receive up to $250 in FREE CASH here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Miami -8.5 & 179
Opening Line & Total: Heat -8 & 180
The Eastern Conference Finals get underway Monday when the heavily-favored Heat host a Celtics team that’s had just one day of rest since finishing its seven-game series with Philadelphia.
Both teams have experience in this situation, as one of these two squads will represent the East in the NBA Finals for the fifth time in seven years. Boston beat Miami in the first round two years ago, but the Heat returned the favor with a five-game series victory last postseason. The Celtics won the regular season series with Miami though, three games to one. The Heat prevailed 115-107 in their first meeting on December 27, but the Celtics won the three most recent matchups (all in April) handily, prevailing by 19 points at home, eight points on the road and finally by 12 points at home. Miami PF Chris Bosh averaged 11.7 PPG and 10.3 RPG against Boston this season, but he remains sidelined indefinitely with an abdominal strain. That puts the onus on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to continue their hot streak, as the duo has put up an astounding 197 points in the past three games, all Heat victories. Boston is winning in the playoffs with defense, allowing just 83.9 PPG on 40.8% FG in 13 postseason games. But the Celtics are just 19-36 ATS (34.5%) after a win by 10 points or more over the past two seasons, and home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points are 41-15 (73.2%) in the past five seasons when revenging a loss where a team scored less than 85 points, a good team (60% to 75% win pct.) playing a team with a winning record.
Although Miami dominated points in the paint in the regular season series (178 to 128), Boston was the superior offensive club, outscoring the Heat 97.8 PPG to 90.0 PPG and outshooting them 51% FG (52% threes) to 43% FG (38% threes). The C’s will try to slow the tempo in this series, while the younger Miami club will try to get up and down the court quickly. Despite being a veteran squad, the Celtics have played very well with just one day off this season, going 28-17 (26-19 ATS, 58%) in this scenario. Miami had three off-days before Monday’s series opener, and the team is 11-3 (9-4-1 ATS) with at least two days of rest this season, outscoring these opponents by an average of 101 to 91. This includes a 4-0 mark (SU and ATS) and 14.0 PPG margin on 3+ days of rest.
Seven Celtics players averaged at least 10.0 PPG against Miami this year, led by SF Paul Pierce (19.3 PPG on 50% FG), PG Rajon Rondo (18.7 PPG, 13.7 APG, 7.7 RPG) and SG Ray Allen (18.5 PPG, 3.5 APG). PF Kevin Garnett pitched in with 15.3 PPG (58% FG) and 7.3 RPG, and is coming off a monster series versus Philadelphia (19.7 PPG on 50% FG and 11.0 RPG). PF Brandon Bass also played well against the 76ers (14.0 PPG on 47% FG and 92% FT), and posted strong numbers versus Miami this season with 12.3 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Boston will be missing starting SG Avery Bradley (8.0 PPG versus Miami this season), who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
SF LeBron James had a tremendous three meetings with Boston this season, averaging 28.3 PPG (54.4% FG), 5.7 RPG and 4.0 APG. James has also faced the Celtics 18 times in the playoffs, putting up 27.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG and 6.3 APG, but he’s shot just 41.6% FG (29.5% threes) in these 18 postseason meetings. SG Dwyane Wade struggled shooting the basketball versus Boston this year (43% FG), but still posted 19.7 PPG, 5.3 APG and 2.0 SPG in three meetings. However, in his two career playoff series (10 games) against the C’s, Wade has been unstoppable, dropping 31.7 PPG on 55% FG (37% threes) while adding 6.2 RPG and 5.8 APG.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
