Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat United States: NBA Basketball Sunday 1 May 2011 – Tip-Off 3:30pm ET 8:30pm (British Standard Time) Game 1 Eastern Conference Semi Finals for all the neutrals who love watching Play Off basketball, this game represents the most eagerly anticipated Semi Finals of the Play Offs 2011. The Miami Heat (62-25) and the Boston Celtics (60-26) were destined to meet one another this season in the postseason, although many would have expected it to be the Eastern Conference Finals. The Miami Heat disposed of the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 in the 1st round, but started off slowly in games and cannot afford to give a team like Boston the chance to make a fast start as they wont be as easy to reel in. The Celtics themselves crushed the New York Knicks 4-0, but should have lost both home games when the Knicks made errors. Boston completed the sweep on the road with 2 big wins. both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were beaten by Boston in the Play Offs last season as the Celtics ended up playing in the Finals. it was games with the Celtics that James was accused of quitting when playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers although that was dismissed as ‘corny’ by the King. The teams flat out dont like one another and James has also described the series as ‘personal’ after being beaten by Boston on one too many occasions. Shaquille O’Neal for the Celtics, and Udonis Haslem for the Heat, are both hoping to return to the rotation during this series. both are questionable for Game 1 though. While Miami want to get Dwyane Wade going, the Celtics have identified Chris Bosh as the key, a factor that may not go unnoticed without Kendrick Perkins. When Bosh reaches 10 points and 10 rebounds, Miami have won 24 of 31 games this season. The Celtics will look to use their superior PG Rajon Rondo to cause matchup problems for the Heat who will be using Mike Bibby/Mario Chalmers in that position. Boston have not played for 1 week since they swept the Knicks in the 1st round. The Boston Celtics won the season series 3-1, but Miami won the last of those games and perhaps the most important one. that game gives Miami the belief they can beat Boston and also home court advantage in this series. Boston are 9-3 against the spread in the last 12 games they have played here in Miami. The favourite has improved to 13-6 against the spread in the last 19 games between the teams. Miami are 17-27 against the spread at home this season, Boston are 20-23 on the road. Miami are 3-4 against the spread when playing with 3 or more days rest between games, Boston are 5-2 with the same amount of rest period. The home team is 64-16 straight up in Game 1 of the Semi Finals since 1991. The home team is 46-31-3 against the spread in that same period. Miami are 5-11 against the spread in their last 16 games as the home favourite of between 5 and 10.5 points. they are 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 home games. Boston are 4-12 against the spread in their last 16 games following a straight up win. they are 17-43-1 against the spread in their last 61 games following a double digit win. The Celtics are 10-4 against the spread in their last 14 games as the underdog. Boston are 6-2 against the spread in their last 8 Play Off games as the underdog being given between 5 and 10.5 points. I am going to take the Miami Heat to make a statement in Game 1 and cover the spread for the following reasons: First, that last win in the regular season should give the Heat the belief that they can beat the Celtics. second, Miami have been playing the better basketball of late between the teams- the sweep of the Knicks looks better on paper, but the Celtics could easily have been 0-2 down in the series. third, the lack of recent game time for the Celtics could mean they take a little longer to warm up. Finally, Miami are totally ready to prove a point to the Celtics here whereas the veteran Boston team will know Game 1 does not decide the series.
I’ll take the Miami Heat – 5 Points @ 1.95 (2 UNITS) Follow me on Twitter- the direct link is below
Also you can read: