Boston Celtics at Miami Heat Game 3 Betting Preview
It can all hit the fan in game 3 if the Celtics are not too careful today. After watching the Nuggets go up 3-0 on the Lakers on a day where the best player in the league did almost nothing for three quarters, it is clear that just because a team is at home, they are not safe.
The road teams have won three consecutive conference finals games overall now, and now the series has shifted to Miami. The Heat have zero home losses this postseason.
The series has been decided so far by the dominance of the Bam Adebayo-Jimmy Butler pairing. This one is far from over, but the team is hard to beat when they can play through both of these guys.
When Duncan Robinson starts making threes, there is no answer from a shooting specialist on the other side. This just goes to show the value of having so many shooters on the floor around your stars.
Betting Odds & Lines
- Spread: BOS -3.5
- Moneyline: MIA +132, BOS -156
- Over/Under: 213.5
Celtics Seek Key Road Win
The series is very much in Miami’s favor right now. Three out of the next four games will be played on their home floor, so it feels like game 3 is house money for them. Of course for the Celtics sake, they must come out with a win.
A series is never over until it is actually over, but falling behind 0-3 puts you in a hole you can’t climb out of, according to league history. Jayson Tatum has been doing everything possible, but his supporting cast disappeared.
The weirdest thing about the NBA weekend has probably been that Rui Hachimura and Grant Williams oddly became the only scorers for their teams in the waning moments of recent games.
If Williams is the only guy making a basket over the last eight minutes of a game, then the team has absolutely no shot. Tatum has to get some help from his guys, or this is 0-3.
Heat Aim For Near Knockout Blow
An 8 seed winning the title is not something that happens in the NBA. It is a league usually run by the top dogs, not the ones who just barely squeak into the postseason.
Bam and Jimmy have looked incredible in this series, with the players around them all stepping up as they have needed to do, as well. The bench has been playing as well as their starters almost across the board, which has been massive.
Considering the first-round injuries to Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, Miami has really been able to adapt and overcome. Max Strus and Duncan Robinson are sinking their shots. Gabe Vincent has played incredible defense and made some big shots.
Caleb Martin is averaging 20 off the bench. The personnel groupings and rotations by Erik Spoelstra have been incredible. If Jimmy can play his game in the fourth and keep Boston at bay, this is a victory.
Winning At Home
Sorry, Boston. As good as the C’s are, they can’t stop the Heat. Not in Miami. They play way too disciplined to fall in front of the home faithful.
Pick: MIA +132
