MIAMI @ BOSTON (BOS -6.5, 207.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
JA CAVALIER REVIEWS, CELTICS vs. HEAT 5/18/22
Without Marcus Smart and Al Horford in Game 1, the Celtics played a seven-man rotation in which Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each played over 40 minutes. They ended tired in the second half and without quality minutes from Smart and Horford, Miami prevailed. That all changed in Game 2.
With Smart and Horford back in the lineup, Boston was able to go to an eight-man rotation. Tatum and Brown were much fresher and the Celtics shot 50 percent from behind the arc. Now, Boston returns home to TD Garden where the Celtics are 32-15 SU this season.
The Celtics are also the best defensive team left in the postseason. They rank first in points allowed and first in defensive efficiency. After giving up 118 points in Game 1, Boston tightened up and gave up just 102 to Miami in Game 2. The Celtics defense will have to find a way to slow down Jimmy Butler and defend the Heat’s perimeter shooting.
Boston did defend the three well in Game 2 holding Miami to just 29.4 percent from behind the arc. The Celtics will need to continue that type of defense in Game 3. Miami will need more from Bam Adebayo who had just six points in Game 2. Tyler Herro missed all three of his three-point attempts and Max Strus was just 2-for-7.
With the win in Game 2, Boston is now 13-5 SU in its last 18 games. The Celtics are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games. Despite two of the best defenses in the NBA, both games of the series so far have gone Over the total. Game 3’s total has ticked upward again, this time to 207.5. The two teams have scored 225 and 229 thus far. The last 10 games between Miami and Boston have averaged 222.8 points.
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Jimmy Butler has been on fire during the postseason and he’s turned it up against Boston. After a 41-point night in Game 1 of the series, Butler came back in Game 2 and scored 29 despite the Celtics blowing out the Heat 127-102. There is simply no way NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart can hang with Butler. He’s too small. If the Celtics put Jayson Tatum on Butler, he’ll get into foul trouble. Butler has been to the free throw line 26 times already this series and has made 23. With Boston continuing to go under screens, Butler will keep hitting mid-range shots. I’ll take Butler to go Over 26.5 Points.
When it comes to picking a handicapper for NBA basketball, the only choice is J.A. Cavalier. NBA action is fast and furious with daily slates of games for sports bettors. Diving in deep on each game requires time. Time that the average sports bettor doesn’t have. It also requires a certain level of experience, one that NBA handicapper J.A. Cavalier is well-known for throughout the industry. With 25-plus years in the business, you will not find an NBA handicapper with a greater understanding of more than just the numbers.
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