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]]>June 1 is finally here, which means it’s the start of the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. Nikola Joki? was the statistical leader for Denver, while Jimmy (Himmy) Butler led the Heat to the finals. With the finals starting tonight, who will lead the NBA Finals in scoring? If you are looking for the best betting odds and stats, here is information to know:
?Nikola Joki? was the statistical?leader in the series against the Timberwolves, the Suns, and the Lakers.? Joki? was an MVP candidate for a reason this season and makes everyone around him play better. He can attack inside, hit outside the perimeter, creates plays for his teammates, and is a staple for Denver on the daily. He is playing elite basketball and is an unstoppable force. During the NBA Finals, everyone will be looking at his matchup against big man Bam Adebayo. The question is, can Adebayo stop?Joki??
Postseason Stats: 29.9 Points, 1.1 Steals, 10.3 Assists., and 13.3 Rebounds in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. In addition, Joki? is shooting 47.4 Percent from the three, and 53.8 percent from the field this post season.
There’s no doubt in our minds that Jimmy Butler is HIM, and he is?known as ‘Playoff Jimmy’ for a reason. In fact, according to Bleacher Report, Butler recently filed trademark for ‘Himmy Buckets,” in which he plans to use on clothing and more. Butler is the heart and soul of this team and put the Heat on his back even through injuries. Like Nikola Joki?, he was the leading scorer in the series against the Celtics, Knicks, and Bucks. It’s important to note, Butler is shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line. He’s an aggressive player that plays tough on both sides of the ball and will do whatever he can to help.
Postseason Stats: 28.5 Points, 2.1 Steals, 5.7 Assists, and 7 Rebounds. He’s shooting 35.6 percent from the three, and 48.3 percent from the field.?
Jamal Murray suffered a torn ACL in the 2021 season, and Denver felt the effects of his absence. Much like Nikola Joki?, Murray is an integral part of this Nuggets team. Murray had monstrous games this postseason and can be clutch in certain situations. We saw him perform in the bubble, and since then, Murray has taken his game to a new level. Known to go off in the 4th quarter, Jamal Murray has established himself as an outstanding three-level scorer. He can hit beyond the arc, the mid-range, and can drive to the basket and finish. Nikola Joki? may be the “guy” in Denver, however, Jamal Murray could arguably be the best man on the court this series against Miami.
Postseason Stats: 27.7 Points, 1.7 Steals, 6.1 Assists, and 5.5 Rebounds. He’s shooting 92.5 Percent from the line, 39.8 Percent from the three, and 48 percent from the field.
Although quiet on the offensive front in the final two games against the Celtics, Bam Adebayo has been proficient throughout the playoffs. Adebayo is an elite rim protector and is considered of the NBA’s best defensive guys. Standing at 6 foot 9, Bam is slightly undersized for a Center and is not an outside shooter. However, Adebayo is a force in the paint.? Even though Adebayo didn’t have a big offensive Game 7, he was a presence down below, and was a huge defensive player for Miami. The Biggest question heading into the NBA Finals will be his matchup against MVP Candidate Nikola Joki?.
Bam averaged 20.5 Points, 1.5 Blocks, and 4.5 Rebounds in 2 games against Denver this season, in which he was held to 42.9 percent field goal shooting. There’s no doubt Nikola Joki? will give Adebayo a hard time in the paint this series. However, I do believe Bam Adebayo will eat down low as well, considering the Nuggets will want to keep Nikola Joki? out of foul trouble.
Postseason Stats: 16.8 Points, 1 steal, 3.8 Assists, and 9.2 Rebounds. He’s shooting 79.7 percent from the free-throw line, and 49.2 percent from the field.
?Michael Porter Jr. is one of my x -factors in the NBA Finals, and one of Denver’s top role players. Once riddled with Injuries, Porter Jr. is one of the most important players on this Nuggets team. Although Porter Jr. is a tremendous player, he’s been inconsistent, especially in this year’s playoffs. Standing at 6 foot 10, it’s hard to imagine who will cover Porter Jr., given Adebayo will have the matchup with Nikola Joki?. Besides Caleb Martin, the next man up to guard MPJ would be Kevin Love, who is not the best defensively. Porter Jr. had some big games against Minnesota and Phoenix; however, he will be an x factor in this next test.
If Nikola Joki? and Jamal Murray are clamped up, can Michael Porter Jr. shoot as well as he did against the Timberwolves and Lakers? It will be vital for him to attempt as many three-point shots, and hopefully make them in key situations. I don’t see him leading the team in points. However, I believe his shooting volume will increase against Miami, in which he attempted 13 threes last game against the Heat. Look for his matchup against Caleb Martin, who has a huge size disadvantage.
Postseason Stats: 14.6 Points, 1.8 Assists, and 7 Rebounds. Porter Jr. is shooting 81 percent from the free-throw line, 40.8 percent from the three, and 45.5 percent from the field.
?I saw Caleb Martin destroy the Boston Celtics in Game 7 with my own two eyes at the TD Garden in Boston. Once an undrafted player, Martin has risen to an NBA star who was the best player on the floor in Game 7. Caleb Martin showed his speed and ability to get open, especially from the three-point line against the Celtics. In fact, Martin shot 66.7 Percent from the three, and shot 4-6 against the Celtics last game. Although he only averaged 6.6 Points in April, Martin stepped up in the absence of Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo.
In addition, Martin averaged 19.3 Points, 6.4 Rebounds, and shot 60 Percent from the field in the Eastern Conference Finals. To me, Caleb Martin is one of the biggest x-factors for Miami, and some considered him to be the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Also, his playing time increased following teammates injuries. Can he sustain his numbers and step up, especially if Jimmy Butler is hampered by injuries? Look for the matchup with Michael Porter Jr here.
Postseason Stats: 14.1 Points and 9.2 Rebounds. He’s shooting 79.7 percent from the free-throw line, and 49.2 percent from the field.
?Gabe Vincent is another undrafted player, who’s seen his stock rise, especially with injuries in the NBA Playoffs. Vincent found himself with increased minutes, due to the decline in play by point guard Kyle Lowry. In the Heats Game 2 win against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, Vincent finished with 29 Points, and shot nearly 80 percent from the field, and 66.7 percent from the three. If you look at those numbers, they are incredible. Not only is Gabe Vincent a force on the defensive end, but he’s also become a player that can handle high volume shooting.
Although Vincent was offensively absent in the last three games against the Knicks in the 2nd round, he showed up big in Game 5 against the Bucks. I expect Vincent to bring his defensive presence and could be that x-factor if Butler is clamped up.
Postseason Stats: 13.1 Points, 2.3 Assists, and 1.7 Rebounds. He’s shooting 89.3 percent from the free-throw line, 39 percent from the three, and 40.8 Percent from, the Field.
?Max Strus may have a little chip on his shoulder now that Miami beat the team who once let him go (Boston).? He can get hot at any time, and when he’s hot, there’s no stopping Strus. Although Strus was inconsistent in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, we saw what he could against the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. In that single game, Strus shot 7-12 from the three, and added 31 points.
Strus had his best numbers against the New York Knicks in the second round, in which he averaged 14.7 Points Per Game. Strus is being talked about as one of the best undrafted free agents, and will have a huge test against the Nuggets, who more than likely watched film on their role players. With Strus averaging under 30 minutes in the playoffs, I don’t see him being the top scorer in this series.
Postseason Stats: 10.3 Points, 1 Assist, and 3.3 Rebounds. He’s shooting 81 percent from the free-throw line, 35.9 percent from the three, and 45.2 Percent from, the Field.
?Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is not a stranger to the NBA Finals and is another x-factor in the Finals. In fact, he was an important player when the Los Angeles Lakers won the Championship in 2020 against the Heat. Not only does he have experience in the Finals, but this is also his second matchup against Jimmy Butler and Head coach Erik Spoelstra in the Finals. The addition of both him and Aaron Gordon helped shape this Nuggets team into championship contenders throughout the league.? Caldwell-Pope is known for his corner threes and thrives when he’s left open to make the shot. He is an incredible shooter and is a player that is not afraid to take shots in big moments.
We saw Caldwell-Pope have a massive Game 6 against Phoenix, and Game 1 against the Lakers. In addition to his shooting, Caldwell-Pope is arguably Denver’s best defensive guard, which will vital against a Heat team that can shoot. He’s averaging 33 minutes per game this postseason, and I like his NBA odds better than Michael Porter Jr. I truly believe KCP will be an important x-factor for this Nuggets team. Along with his defense, KCP may need to take more shots to keep up with Miami’s shooting guards.
Postseason Stats: 11.7 Points, 1.3 Steals, 1.6 Assists, and 3.2 Rebounds. He’s shooting 86.4 percent from the free-throw line, 41.1 Percent from the three, and 48.1 percent from the field.
There’s no question Aaron Gordon is one of Denver’s best role players, and the trade with the Orlando Magic was a successful one. Although Gordon’s offensive numbers dipped slightly from the regular season to the playoffs, he’s an impactful player. It’s important to note Gordon had a career year with the Nuggets. Not only does Gordon possess tremendous size at 6 foot 8, 235 pounds, he can attack and finish at the rim. In addition, he hits outside shots and steps up when he needs to.
Considering the Nuggets are healthy, I expect his role to remain the same in the playoffs. Gordon’s had some big games against the Lakers and Phoenix. Otherwise, his performance has been underwhelming offensively. So far, Aaron Gordon is averaging 35.6 Minutes in the playoffs, and I expect him to have a tough matchup, especially if he’s matched up with Jimmy Butler.
Postseason Stats: 13 Points, 2.5 Assists, and 5.5 Rebounds. He’s shooting 70.4 percent from the free-throw line, 35.1 Percent from the three, and 49 percent from the field.
Stay tuned for more odds, stats, and predictions for the NBA Finals.
For More Betting Info & Game Predictions,?Follow us at @BallislifeBets.
Sara Jane is a?full-time content creator,?focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL,?and writer of www.ebooksnet.com.?Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter/YouTube/Twitch/Instagram: @GGirlSports.
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]]>Tonight, is the last night of the NBA Play-In Tournament. The 7th seed Miami Heat (44-38, 27-14 Home) will play the 10th seed, Chicago Bulls (40-42, 18-23 Away). The Winner of this game will play the #1 Seed, Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Playoffs First-Round. These two teams will play tonight at 7 PM EDT, at Kaseya Center, located in Miami, Florida. The matchup will air on TNT. If you are looking for the best betting odds, here is information to know:
*All lines are taken from Draft Kings*
Bulls: +185
Heat: -215
Bulls: -110
Heat: -110
Bulls: +5.5 (-110)
Heat: -5.5 (-110)
Betting Odds: Miami (-7), Over/Under 216
Betting Results: Bulls ML, Bulls -7, OVER
Game Summary:? The Bulls were outperformed by Miami in both Field Goal and Three-Point Percentage. However, their defense continued to shine. The Bulls had 12 steals, forced the Heat to commit 19 turnovers, and had 6 blocks.
Betting Odds: Miami (-1.5), Over/Under 221.5
Betting Results: Bulls ML, Bulls -10, UNDER
Game Summary: In this game, Chicago was the superior team in Field Goal and Three-Point shot percentage. In addition, they led in Free-Throw Percentage (83.3), and outrebounded the Heat 39-35. The Bulls scored more points in the paint and were the better shooting team.
Betting Odds: Miami (-2.5), Over/Under 216
Betting Results: Bulls ML, Bulls -4, OVER
Game Summary:? While Chicago shot 50 percent from the Three, they held Miami to 27 percent beyond the arc. Furthermore, Chicago shot 100 percent from the line, and 56.3 percent from the Field. Although Miami outrebounded the Bulls 39-32, and had more points off turnovers, Chicago dominated in the paint, 42-34.
The Bulls survived the first round of the NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday. Although they did not play their best game, the Bulls defeated the Raptors 109-105. Not only did Toronto outscore Chicago in the first two quarters, but the Bulls also couldn’t buy a shot. They specifically struggled from three-point range, hitting 26.9 percent of their shots. Even worse, Chicago shot 3-19 from the Three through the first three quarters of the game.
Although the Raptors outrebounded the Bulls 50-35, Chicago had 9 steals, had more points in the paint, and points off turnovers. This game ultimately came down to poor shooting for the Bulls, and free-throwing shooting for the raptors. Pascal Siakam missed two vital free-throws at the end of the game, and Toronto shot 18-36 from the line.
Guard Zach LaVine led the way for Chicago. He scored 39 points, on 12-22 from the field, and 2-7 from the Three-Point. In addition, he went 13-15 from the field. Although he didn’t make many threes, his shots mattered late in the game. LaVine was hot towards the end of the game, adding 17 points in the third quarter alone, 1 Steal, and 6 Rebounds.
DeMar DeRozan is one of the most underrated forwards in the game. He added 23 Points, on 10-19 shooting, and added 2 blocks. He contributed 7 Rebounds and shot 3-5 from the line.
Center Nikola Vu?evi? was a force on the glass. He added 14 points and grabbed 13 total Rebounds. Guard Alex Caruso had three steals, and Forward Patrick Williams had 2 steals as well, along with 10 points.
The Miami Heat Missed their chance to secure the 7th Seed in the east and advance to the First-Round against the Boston Celtics. Miami had a horrible first half and was outscored 65-50 by the Atlanta. Miami was outrebounded 63-39 and allowed the Hawks bench to score 53 points. In addition, Miami got outrebounded on the offensive side 26-6. This unfortunately led to second chance points for Atlanta. Although the Hawks were cold from the Three and Free-Throw Line, they dominated Miami inside the paint 64-46. Bottom line, you cannot win games when you’re outrebounded by that much.
Kyle Lowry had his best game of the season and scored the highest points in his time with Miami. He was questionable for the game and missed a chunk of the season due to injuries. Lowry exploded for 33 points on 11-16 shooting, and 6-9 from the Three-Point. In addition, he dished out 5 Assists, and grabbed 4 Rebounds.
Tyler Herro had a rough start to this game. Herro is known to knock down threes, especially when it comes to the playoffs. In addition, he has a career 38.3 percent Three-Point Percentage in the playoffs. Although he finished with 26 points on 12-23 shooting, he shot only 2-9 from the Three. In addition, he had 4 turnovers.
Star Forward Jimmy Butler struggled in this game as well. Playoff Jimmy “buckets” is known for his playoff performances and shot only 6-19 from the field. Butler didn’t hit a single three-point shot, although he dished out 9 Assists.
Center Bam Adebayo struggled down low. He shot 5-12 from the field and added 12 points. However, he grabbed 9 boards, only 2 offensively. He’s averaged 20.4 Points Per Game in the Regular Season.
PG Lonzo Ball: (OUT) Left Knee
F Justin Lewis: (OUT)
F Nikola Jovic: (OUT) Back.
PG Kyle Lowry: (Questionable) Left Foot Soreness.
SF Jimmy Butler: (Questionable) Personal- expected to play.
PG Gabe Vincent: (Questionable) Back Pain
Zach LaVine
LaVine gave the Bulls life last game and was their best player vs. the Raptors.? As mentioned before, he exploded for 39 points, and brought this Chicago Bulls team back, who was once down 19 points.? In two games against the Heat this Season, LaVine averaged 19.5 Points Per Game, 7 Assists, 5 Rebounds. In addition, he shot 83.3 percent from the line, 42.9 Percent from the Three, and 56 Percent from the Field.? In addition, He’s averaged 37.5 Minutes against Miami this season.? Zach LaVine averaged 26.6 Points, 49.9 Percent from the Field, and 37.6 Percent from the Three on the road this season.
DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan?balled out in his three games against the Heat this season. Given Miami doesn’t give up many points. DeMar averaged 28.3 Points, 1.7 Steals, 8 Assists, and 5.3 Rebounds against Miami this season. In addition, he shot 50 percent from the Three, and an amazing 64.7 percent from the field.? DeMar DeRozan averaged 25 Points Per Game, 1.1 Steals, 5.5 Assists, and 4.8 Rebounds on the Road this Season.
Nikola Vu?evi?
As we know, rebounding is extremely important in the game of basketball. Nikola Vu?evi? averaged 19 Points, 1.3 Blocks, and 13 Rebounds against Miami in three games this season. In addition, he shot 100 percent from the line, 40 percent from the three, and 63.2 percent from the field. Vu?evi? will be a key player in tonight’s game offensively and defensively.
The Bulls Bench
Believe it or not, this Bulls bench is extremely important, especially on the defensive end. In their three games against Miami, Chicago’s bench averaged 33 Points Per Game, 3.3 Steals, 1 Block, and 9 Rebounds. Patrick Williams, Alex Caruso, Coby White, Andre Drummond, and Derrick Jones Jr. all have the ability to provide on the defensive end. Drummond had a key block in his last game against the Raptors.
Tyler Herro
Although Herro struggled from the Three last game, he averaged 19 Points, 1.3 Steals, 3.3 Assists, and 5.3 Rebounds in his 3 games against Chicago this season. It’s important to note Herro averaged 40 percent from the Three, and 47.6 percent from the Field. Also, Tyler Herro averaged 19.3 Points, 4.4 Assists, 5.4 Rebounds, and shot 37.4 percent beyond the arc at home this season. He will be a key piece in this game, given he is one of their top shooters.
Max Strus
Max Strus is another underrated player, who only played 24 minutes and shot 1-5 against the hawks. If fully healthy, Max can be a difference maker on this Heat team. In his three games against the Bulls this season, Strus averaged 15.3 Points, 3.7 Assists, 4.7 Rebounds, and shot 40.7 Percent from the Three, and 44.1 Percent from the field. Although his numbers are lower at home, he could be an x-factor.
Bam Adebayo
If rebounding will be an issue this game, there will be extra pressure on Adebayo. In his three games against Chicago, he averaged 20.7 Points, 9.3 Rebounds, and shot 55.3 from the field.? Additionally, he will have a tough matchup with Nikola Vu?evi? down low on the glass. It’s important to note, Adebayo averaged 20.1 Points, 8.9 Rebounds, and had an 82 Field Throw Percentage at home games this season.
Jimmy Butler
Butler had a down game against Atlanta, however, he’s the heart and soul of this team. Also, the fans do not call him “playoff Jimmy” for nothing. Past years, we have seen Jimmy Butler carry this team, and erupt for some big games. Butler averaged 24 Points, 7.5 Rebounds, and shot 54.2 percent from the field in two games against the Bulls this season. He also averaged 24.2 Points, 1.8 Steals, 5.4 Assists, and 6.4 Rebounds in home games. In those home games, Butler averaged 37 percent from the Three, and 54 percent from the field.
?Chicago averages 113.1 points per game.
?Miami averages 109.5 points per game (Last in the League).
?Chicago ranks 7th in points allowed with 111.8 opponents points per game.
?Miami ranks 2nd in points allowed with 109.8 opponents points per game.
?Chicago ranks 22nd in rebounds per game with 42.4.
?Miami ranks 26th in rebounds per game with 40.6.
?Chicago ranks 13th in point differential at +1.2.
?Miami ranks 21st in point differential at -0.3.
?Chicago ranks 19th in blocked shots with 4.5 per game.
?Miami ranks last in blocked shots with 3.0 per game.
?Chicago averages 36.1 percent from the 3-point, while Miami averages 34.4 from the 3-point.
-Chicago covered the spread in 6 of their last 10 games.
-Miami covered the spread in 4 of their last 10 games.
-Chicago has a 41-39-3 record ATS this season.
-Miami has a 30-50-3 record ATS this season.
-Miami is 11-26-2 in HOME games ATS this season.
-Chicago is 19-20-2 in AWAY games ATS this season.
The Bulls covered the spread in their last three games. Although they struggled against Toronto, I truly believe they have key pieces to keep up with Miami. Give me Bulls +5.5 here.
-Chicago won the Money Line 6 out of their last 10 games.
-Miami won the Money Line 5 of their last 10 games.
Chicago is 3-0 against the Heat this season. Besides Lowry erupting for the game of his life, I don’t feel Miami has what it takes to go far this year. We saw what Chicago did in the third quarter last game. With their defense and depth, I expect them to win this game tonight against Miami.
-Chicago Avg +/- vs O/U Line: -2.86
-Miami Avg +/- vs O/U Line: -0.48
-Chicago Overall O/U Record: 38-45-0
-Miami O/U Record: 41-42-0
-Chicago hit the OVER 7 times in their last 10 games
-Miami hit the OVER 7 times in their last 10 games
These are two solid teams that do not allow many points per game. However, Chicago struggled in the last game, and still hit the over. If both teams rebound shooting wise, I expect this game to go over, slightly.
For More Betting Info & Game Predictions, Follow us at @BallislifeBets
Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of www.ebooksnet.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter: @GGirlSports
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]]>? The NBA Play-In Tournament is finally here. For the Eastern Conference, the 8th Seed, Atlanta Hawks (41-41, 17-24 Away) will face the 7th Seed Miami Heat (44-38, 27-14 Home).?The two teams will play tonight at 7:30 PM EDT at the Kaseya Center, located in Miami, Florida. If you’re looking to watch this game, the matchup will air on TNT.
?For the Western Conference, the 8th Seed Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40, 20-21 Away) will face the 7th seed Los Angeles Lakers (43-39, 23-18 Home). These two teams will play tonight at 10:00 PM EDT at Crypto.com Area, located in Los Angeles, California. In addition, the matchup will air on TNT. If you are looking for the best betting odds for the NBA Championship, here is information to know:
Atlanta Hawks: +35000
Miami Heat: +25000
Minnesota Timberwolves: +30000
Los Angeles Lakers: +1800
Hawks: +170
Heat: -200
Spread: Heat -5, Hawks +5
Over/Under: 228
Timberwolves: +295
Lakers: -360
Spread: Lakers -8.5, Timberwolves +8.5
Over/Under: 232.5
?The Atlanta Hawks have 1 NBA Championship in 49 total appearances and won their only championship in 1958. The Hawks lost to the Miami Heat in last year’s First Round, and they are looking for revenge. Atlanta ranks 3rd in Points Per Game (118.4), 18th in Assists Per Game (25), 10th in Rebounds per Game (44.4), 22nd in Three-Point Shooting Percentage, and 26th in Opponent Points Per Game (118.1). After a 7-3 start to the Season, Atlanta was 17-20 by New Years Day. By the time February came along, the Hawks fired Head Coach Nate McMillan, who took them to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
In late February, former Head Coach of the Utah Jazz, Quin Snyder, signed a 5-year deal to become the next Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Since Snyder’s debut against the Washington Wizard, the Hawks finished 10-11, and lost their last two games of the regular season. Although Atlanta lost to the Heat last season, the addition of guard Dejounte Murray should take some pressure of All-Star Guard, Trae Young. Although the Atlanta Hawks have two extremely talented guards, this team has been mediocre all season.
?The Atlanta Hawks are a high scoring team, and they rank 3rd in the league in points per game. They are a very efficient team at the line, ranking 3rd in the league in Free-Throw Percentage (81.8), and 9th in Field Goal Percentage (48.1). The Hawks also rank 1st in the league in Field Goals Made (44.6).
It’s important to note Trae Young ranks 10th in the League in Points-Per Game with 26.2. In addition, Young is averaging over 10 Assists per game, which is 2nd in the league and a career high. Although Trae struggled shooting percentage wise, he is more efficient from the field and three-point range on the road.? Guard Dejounte Murray was acquired to help Guard Trae Young in the backcourt. He’s averaged 20.5 Points-Per-Game, 6.1 Assists, 5.3 Rebounds, and is shooting 46.4 percent from the field. Like Trae Young, Murray shoots better from the three-point on the road (36.2 percent).
?The Atlanta Hawks can score, and sometimes numbers can be deceiving. Although Atlanta ranks 9th in Field Goal Percentage, they rank 21st in Three-Point Shooting (35.2). Given the league caters to the three-point shot, this is a huge disadvantage for this team. Furthermore, Trae Young is shooting 33.5 percent beyond the arc this season, compared to 38.2 percent last year. Apart from that, they are not a team that frequently gets to the free-throw line.
It’s no secret the Atlanta Hawks also have depth issues. If the Hawks want some decent three-point shooting, they will have to rely on guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is shooting 40 percent beyond the arc. One of the Hawks’ biggest weaknesses is their lack of defense. Ironically, this is a top scoring team that ranks 26th in Opponents points per game (118.1). Even Worse, they allow opponents to shoot 35.6 percent from the three-point line. Although Young has been the star of this team, Atlanta is open to a trade. According to CBS Sports, “Hawks front office has ‘green light’ to consider moving All-Start guard (Trae Young).”
?Trae Young is averaging 19.8 points and 9.8 assists against the Miami Heat this season. He’s been ice cold from the three-point, shooting 20 percent and 35.6 from the field against Miami.
?Dejounte Murray averages 18.5 points per game and 5 assists per game against the Heat. Much like Young, the Heat held Murray to 29.6 Three-point shooting, and 43.9 percent from the field.
?Center Clint Capela is averaging 13.3 Points and 9.7 Rebounds against the Heat this year.
?The Miami Heat have total of 3 NBA Trophies in 24 appearances. Although the Heat finished as the #1 Seed in the East last season, they lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.? Although Miami is 1st in the Southeast Division, they’ve regressed. They finished 44-38 and sit in the Play-In Tournament.? Stat- wise, the Heat rank last in the league in Points Per Game (109.5), 25th in Assists Per Game (23.8), 26th in Rebounds Per Game (40.6), and 26th in Three Point Percentage (34.8).
?Although Miami struggles in most of those categories, they are 2nd in the league in Opponent Points-Per Game (109.8), and Opponent Field Goal Attempts (83.2). The Heat started their season 12-15 and won 4 out of their 5 last regular season games. Although Miami has not performed to their expectations, Head Coach Erik Spoelstra has experience in the postseason, and Jimmy Butler (Playoff Jimmy) is known for his tough playoff performances. Given Kyle Lowry has been out, can Miami advance far given they do not have a true playmaker?
?The Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the league. They do not allow many points per game, and they rank 3rd in the league in Field Goal Attempts (21.1). They also rank 8th in Steals Per-Game (7.0). In addition, they rank 6th in the league in Opponent Rebounds Per Game (41.8), and 2nd in the league in opponent field goal attempts (83.2). Regarding Rebounds, Miami ranks 1st in the league in Opponent Offensive Rebounds Per Game (8.9). Although they do not get to the free-throw line much, they make their shots when it matters. Miami is 2nd in the league in Free-Throw percentage (83.1). In addition, Miami handles the ball well, and does not commit as high of turnovers compared to the rest of the NBA.
?Although Miami is a very good defensive team, they allow opponents to shoot 36.7 percent from the Three-Point, and 48.2 percent from the Field. They do not get to the free-throw line frequently and rank dead last in the league in points scored. In addition, the Heat do not shoot the ball well beyond the arc (34.4) and rank towards the bottom in Assists. Although Miami has stars in Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, they lack a true point guard and playmaker. Tyler Herro is perfect as a 2 guard, and Gabe Vincent has been starting in place of Veteran Point guard Kyle Lowry.
?The Miami Heat won the regular season series 3-1 against the Atlanta Hawks.
?Jimmy Butler is averaging 25 points and 6.3 assists against the Hawks this season. He shot 100 percent from the Three-Point, and 63.2 percent from the Field in those games.
?Bam Adebayo averages 24.5 Points Per Game, 1.8 Steals, and 9.5 Rebounds against Atlanta. He’s also shooting 92.3 percent from the Free-Throw line.
?Guard Tyler Herro struggled in his 4 games against Atlanta. He’s averaging 14.8 points per game, 5.5 assists, and shooting 21 percent from the Three.??
?The Minnesota Timberwolves have a total of 11 playoff appearances and never won an NBA Championship. Furthermore, Minnesota lost to the #2 Seed Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA First Round last season. The Timberwolves rank 13th in Points Per Game (115.8), 8th in Assists Per Game (26.2), 23rd in Rebounds Per Game (44.4), 13th in Three-Point Shooting Percentage, and 18th in Opponent Points Per Game (115.8). The Wolves made some moves, acquiring Center Rudy Gobert in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, 2023 first-round pick, 2025 first-round pick, 2026 pick swap, 2027 first-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick. You could make the argument Minnesota gave up too many assets for Gobert.
Minnesota hovered around the .500 mark all season. The Timberwolves shipped off D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Lakers in a three-way trade with the Utah Jazz. Minnesota received Veteran Point Guard Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 2024 2nd-round pick swap, 2025 2nd-round pick, and a 2026 2nd round pick. Minnesota has a record of 29-23 against teams in the Western Conference and will be without Rudy Gobert.? Also, Karl-Anthony Towns is on the injury report. In addition, the Timberwolves will be without forward Jaden McDaniels.
?The Timberwolves are a middle-of the road team in many statistical categories. Although they hovered around the .500 mark, Minnesota finished the season 7-3 in their last 10 games. In those 10 games, they averaged 117 points per game, over 7 steals, nearly 44 rebounds, and 29 assists. The Wolves rank 4th in Blocks per game, however, with Gobert and Towns possibly out, this will affect the team. Anthony Edwards, Kyle Anderson, and Mike Conley will have to pick up the slack for this team, who does not have many strengths right now. If the Wolves lineup were healthy, there would be plenty of depth, especially at the Center position.
?Minnesota is a depleted team after a disastrous last game of the Season. Rudy Gobert was sent home from the team, after throwing punches at teammate Kyle Anderson. In addition, Jaden McDaniels will be out for the rest of the season after punching a wall, resulting in a broken hand. Both McDaniels and Gobert are defensive players, and without them, this team could struggle.? ?Even with two big men, the Wolves rank 23rd in the league in Rebounds (41.9), and their point differential is 0.0. Even worse, Minnesota ranks 24th in opponent three-point percentage (36.9), and this team turns the ball over many times (14.9).
?The Minnesota Timberwolves won the regular season series 2-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
?Rudy Gobert is averaging 19.3 Points and 15.3 Rebounds against the Lakers this season. With him at, the Wolves will be at a defensive disadvantage.
?Anthony Edwards averages 19.7 Points Per Game, 2 Steals, and is shooting 43.5 percent from the Three-Point against the Lakers.
?Veteran Point Guard Mike Conley is averaging 17 Points Per Game and 8 Assists against LA this season. In addition, Conley is shooting 44.8 percent from the Three-Point in his last 10 games, and 48 percent from the Field.
?The Los Angeles Lakers have 17 NBA Championships and 63 NBA Playoff Appearances. The Lakers are three years removed from an NBA Championship and missed the 2021-2022 playoffs entirely. It’s Darvin Ham’s first season, in which the Lakers did not get off to a great start.? Los Angeles started the season 2-9 and lost 5 in a row in the month of November. The Lakers rank 6th in Points Per Game (117.2), 15th in Assists (25.3), 6th in Rebounds (45.7), 25th in Three-Point Shooting Percentage, and 20th in Opponent Points Per Game (116.6).
In desperation, the Lakers traded for D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley. Although stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis endured injuries, Los Angeles finished 8-2 in their last 10 games. Over their last 10 games, this Lakers team is gelling nicely, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. If Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and D’Angelo Russell suit up and are healthy, this team could make a serious run if they win tonight. Although they sit in the Play-In Tournament, this Lakers team is 18-9 since the NBA Trade Deadline.
?The Lakers have a great amount of depth, particularly at the forward position. The addition of Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt gives Anthony Davis and LeBron James a great amount of support. Rui Hachimura’s playing good basketball as of late, and Vanderbilt is a guy who is a defensive player the Lakers needed. If Russell suits up, he has Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves. As far as their shooting guards go, Malik Beasley is a nice 2 guard, in addition to Lonnie Walker IV, who’s proven he can put up stats in certain situations.
If the Lakers cannot make their three-point shots, they will get to the line. They currently rank 1st in the league in Free-Throw Attempts and are top 6th in Rebounding (45.7). In particular, the Lakers are 2nd in the league in Defensive Rebounds per game (35.7). LA is in the top 10 in field goal percentage, especially if Davis and LeBron are both in the Lineup. Also, it’s important to note, although the Lakers are not the best team on the defensive end, they are very good against opponent perimeter three-pointers (34.4 percent).
?The Lakers have been hit with injuries all season, particularly to LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell. One of their biggest weaknesses is the ability to shoot the three-ball, where they rank 25th at 34.6 percent. Although the Lakers get to the free-throw line quite frequently, they rank towards the bottom in field goal percentage (77.5). In addition, LA ranks 20th in opponents points per game (116.6) and does not force many turnovers (12.1).
?LeBron James averages 23 points, 8.5 Rebounds, and 5.5 Assists against Minnesota this season. The Wolves held LeBron to 22 percent three-point and 39.5 percent field goal shooting.
?Anthony Davis averages 38 points per game, 2 blocks, 1 steal, and 11 Rebounds per game against the Wolves. In addition, Davis shot 56 percent from the field during those 2 games.
?Guard Malik Beasley is averaging 14.4 Points and is shooting 38 percent from the three against Minnesota this year.
Heat ML
Heat -5
Over
Lakers ML
Minnesota +8.5
Over
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Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and Writer of www.ebooksnet.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter: @GGirlSports
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