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Sara Jane Gamelli

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The NBA trade deadline is a little over two weeks away, and there's been a shake up between two Eastern Conference teams. On Tuesday morning, ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski announced the Miami Heat acquired guard Terry Rozier, in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick.

This move comes after the Hornets 128-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62 points. With a 10-31 win/loss record on the year, Charlotte finds themselves once again in the basement of the East Conference standings. As a franchise, the Hornets haven't seen a playoff run since the 2015-2016 season, and have a cumulative 295-375 record since that year.

Welcome to the Miami Heat, Scary Terry! pic.twitter.com/6DQ3UWW7rF

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) January 23, 2024

Charlotte hasn't seen the playoffs since the 2015-2016 season

There was newfound hope after the franchise selected sensation LaMelo Ball third overall in the 2020 draft. While he's dealt with injuries, especially throughout the past two seasons, Ball is showing steady improvement in his scoring capabilities. Limited to just 36 games in the 2022-2023 season, Ball signed a 5-year $260 million extension this past offseason.

After Ball, Charlotte found themselves with a top lottery pick three years later. In 2023, the Hornets selected former Alabama forward Brandon Miller second overall. Logging his third straight game of 20+ points, Miller's found his stride after an inconsistent month. While the verdict is still out whether Miller is a franchise player, the loss columns keep stacking up for Charlotte.

4th in the Southeast Division, the Hornets have been plagued with several injuries. Forward Gordon Hayward has been out with several, limiting him to just 25 games on the season. Cody Martin's been limited to eight games, and big men Mark Williams and Nick Richards are injured as well.

The Hornets haven't had much luck despite drafting Ball, Miller

Following Michael Jordans recent sale of the Charlotte Hornets, it seems Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall are ready to sell and rebuild. While I can't confirm this information, this certainly seems the case. If you look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are a prime example of a team that found success after a rebuild.

A laughing stock in the NBA, Charlotte remains one of the worst teams on both sides of the ball. 27th in offensive rating, Charlotte averages only 108.8 points per game on 45.9 percent field goal shooting. Allowing close to 120 opponent points per game, the Hornets allow a league worst 40 percent three-point shooting. Unable to rebound efficiently, it's best the Hornets implode the team.

Terry Rozier is an instant upgrade for the Heat

@T_Rozzay3 | @Lowes pic.twitter.com/RtG3UNFzSW

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 21, 2024

Terry Rozier, 29, is now in his 9th NBA season. Having left the Boston Celtics for Charlotte in free agency five years ago, Rozier blossomed as a player. In 294 games with the Hornets, the guard averaged 20.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. This season, he's averaging a career-high 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals on 45.9 percent field goal shooting. He's a baller, and he fits in with the toughness and grit that Miami stands for.

In addition, Rozier has the highest usage rate percent of his career (26.8 %), and he's known for being one of the more clutch players in the league. In fact, according to the NBA, Rozier ranks 6th in highest clutch effective field goal percentage since the 1996-1997 season. With Lowry's play declining, Rozier isn't afraid to shoot the rock. He takes a ton of pull up three-pointers and makes nearly 40 percent of them.

For the Heat, it's a brilliant move, especially since veteran Kyle Lowry's name has been on the trading block for quite some time. Although Miami didn't get their man in Damian Lillard, Rozier is a major upgrade in their backcourt. In his prime, Rozier is player who's consistent, trending up, and can provide Miami with durable minutes.

Terry Rozier will join Tyler Herro in the backcourt

Rozier will be immediately inserted into the starting lineup at the point guard position for the Heat, along with Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, and Bam Adebayo. As i've said years prior, don't sleep on the Heat. They are 24-19, and that's with Butler missing considerable time due to injury. This lineup is scary, and Miami has a higher chance of competing in the Eastern Conference. Their odds of winning an NBA Championship is currently at +4000 on DraftKings.

Overall, Scary Terry is a an upgrade over Lowry, who's 37 years old. From my days watching Rozier in Boston, he's an explosive guard, who should excel well when it comes to the pick and roll with Bam Adebayo. Not afraid to drive to the lane, Rozier will provide an offensive spark and secondary playmaking for this team. Similar to last season, the Heat rank 20th in offensive rating, putting up 113.4 points per game. They rank 9th in assist percentage, which should increase with Rozier.

The weakest part of his game is his defense, which head coach Erik Spoelstra can help develop during his time in Miami. While this deal looks great on paper, we'll see how he fits with Tyler Herro in the backcourt, and with start Jimmy Butler, who's back from injury.

Kyle Lowry spent three years with Miami

Thanks for everything @Klow7! We appreciate you! pic.twitter.com/EWxf7AVcOE

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 23, 2024

Veteran Kyle Lowry is averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 37 games this season. An NBA Champion with the Toronto Raptors, he was a key part in Miami's run to the Finals against the Denver Nuggets in 2023. In his 19th NBA season, Lowry is a 6x All-Star who's played for Memphis, Houston, Toronto, and Miami. He was most recently taken out of the starting lineup, struggling over the last five games.

With Lowry on an expiring contract worth $29 million, Rozier has three-years remaining on his 4-year $96 million contract. Making $23 million this year, he's due to make $24.9 million in 2024-2026, and $26.6 million in 2025-2026.

Lowry will certainly be missed by his teammates in Miami. Bam Adebayo described Lowry as a "brother," and Kevin Love emphasized losing a "hall of fame, championship pedigree point guard" is tough. (Clutch points). With that said, it will give Love and other players from Miami the opportunity to step up.

Sitting at the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, the recent moves signals another playoff push for the Miami Heat.

Stay tuned for more NBA related articles.?Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager at Ballislife.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Eastern Conference Finals are here, and the Heat and Celtics find themselves in a familiar spot. The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics met in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, where Boston won the series 4-3. The 8th Seed, Miami Heat (44-38,17-24 Away) will face the 2nd Seed, Boston Celtics (57-25, 32-9) in Game 1. These two teams will play tonight at 8:30 PM EST, at TD Garden, located in Boston, Massachusetts. The matchup will air on TNT. If you are looking for the best betting odds and stats, here is information to know:

NBA Championship Odds: Eastern Conference.

Miami Heat: +1600.

Boston Celtics: +100.

*The Boston Celtics have the least odds of winning the NBA Championship*

NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (Series Odds).

Miami Heat: +400.
Boston Celtics: -525.
*The Boston Celtics currently have the?least odds of winning the series. *

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (Game 1).

Miami: +290.
Boston: -350.
Spread: Miami +8, Boston -8.
Over/Under: 211.5.

Injuries:

Miami Heat

C Cody Zeller (Day-To-Day).
PG Tyler Herro (OUT): Hand.
SG Victor Oladipo (OUT): Knee.

Boston Celtics

PF Danilo Gallinari (OUT).

Regular Season Recap (Series split 2-2).

Game 1: Celtics 111 @ Heat 104

Betting Odds: Boston -2, Over/Under 219.
Betting Results: Boston ML, Boston -2, UNDER.

Game Summary:

This was the first matchup since the Celtics beat Miami 4-3 in the 2022 Eastern Conference. In Game 1, Boston got the win in a road game against Miami. Not only did Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 57?Points,?but Boston also shot 42.4 Percent from the Three, and 52 Percent from the Field. The Celtics hit 100 percent of their free-throws, had more points in the paint, and outrebounded Miami, 43-36. The Celtics also capitalized and had more points off turnovers. In addition, The Celtics bench added 27 Points, including Grant Williams with 10 points. Defensively, Boston had 7 Blocks as a team, including 3 from Guard Derrick White, and 3 Steals. It’s important to note that every player on this Celtics roster contributed rebounds. Center Robert Williams III was out of this game with an injury.

Instead of Jimmy Butler leading the way, both himself, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, Gabe Vincent, and Tyler Herro all had points in double digits. Miami couldn’t find their stride from the Three and shot only 30 percent. In addition, the Heat shot 80 Percent from the line, and 45.7 Percent from the field. Besides Vincent adding 17 Points, the Heat bench only put up 4 points.

Game 2: Heat 121 @ Celtics 134

Betting Odds: Boston -9.5, Over/Under 224.5.
Betting Results: Boston ML, Boston -9.5, OVER.

Game Summary:

Jayson Tatum had another electric night for the Celtics at home in Game 2. Tatum finished with 49 Points, including sinking 8 three-point shots. In addition, Jayson Tatum grabbed 11 rebounds, and snagged 2 steals. Jaylen Brown had another big game with 26 Points, 5 Rebounds and 7 Rebounds. Although Brown struggled from the Three, he shot 10-18 from the field. Both Marcus Smart and Derrick White added points in double-digits, and 1 steal a piece. Also, Malcom Brogdon added 21 off the Bench. Overall, the Celtics had 5 steals as a team, dominated the first and fourth quarters, Outrebounded Miami, and shot 55 Percent from the Field and 49 percent from the Three.

Although the Heat were without star Jimmy Butler due to a sore Knee, they hung with the Celtics for most of the game. Much like Boston, Miami shot extremely well, and their role players stepped up. The Heat shot 100 Percent from the Free-Throw Line, 45 Percent from the Three, and 52 Percent from the Field. In fact, Highsmith and Vincent added a combined 26 Points off the Bench, and all 5 of the Heat’s starters scored points in double-digits. Max Strus shot 5-10 from the three, and Tyler Herro added 22 Points. Although Bam Adebayo only grabbed 6 rebounds, he put up 23 Points. Although Boston dominated on fast break points, Miami dominated when it came to points in the paint.

Game 3: Heat 120 @ Celtics 116 (OT)

Betting Odds: Boston -7, Over/Under 227.
Betting Results: Heat ML, Heat +7, OVER.

Game Summary:

Down 2-0 in the regular season, Miami came out with a chip on their shoulder in Game 3. Jaylen Brown had another huge performance, with 37 Points, 5 assists, and 14 rebounds. In addition, Jaylen Brown shot 5-11 from the three, and 12-23 from the field. In fact, Brown sunk a three-point shot to force this game into overtime. Much like many games in the playoffs, Jayson Tatum struggled in Game 3. Tatum put up 14 Points, 12 Rebounds, and shot 5-18 from the field, and 0-7 from the three. The Celtics were held to 33 Percent Three-Point shooting, in which Marcus Smart, Al Horford, Tatum, and Sam Hauser all struggled. Although the Celtics had more fast break points, the Heat had the return of Jimmy Butler, including a three-pointer to seal the game.

For the Heat, all their starters played extremely well. Jimmy Butler, back from injury, had 25 Points, 1 steal and 15 Rebounds. Bam Adebayo had a huge game with 28 Points, along with Tyler Herro with 26 Points. As a team, Miami shot 47.5 Percent from the field and 31 Percent from the Three. It was a high scoring offense from their starting five, who ultimately outscored and outplayed Boston in overtime. Miami not only dominated in the paint but grabbed more rebounds.

Game 4: Celtics 95 @ Miami 98.

Betting Odds: Miami -2.5, Over/Under 214.5.
Betting Results: Miami ML, Miami -2.5, UNDER.

Game Summary:

Game 4 was a relatively low scoring game, given Jaylen Brown and Jimmy Butler were out. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 31 Points, 14 Rebounds and 7 Assists. In addition, Tatum shot 11-14 from the line, and 9-18 from the field. Guard Derrick White added 23 Points, and Boston’s Bench only contributed 10 Points. Robert Williams III was back in the lineup, and added 11 Points, 2 blocks and 8 rebounds. As a team Boston shot 31 percent from the three, and only 43 percent from the field. Boston was outrebounded by Miami 44-51 and had more turnovers.

Bam Adebayo led the way for Miami with 30 Points and 15 Rebounds. Although Butler was out for this game, Max Strus added 13 Points, and Miami’s bench added 37 points.? It’s important to note, both Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, and Caleb Martin all struggled from the field. Overall, Miami shot better as a team, 36 percent from the three. However, The Heat shot 36 Percent from the field. Although Boston had a 10-point lead, Miami went on a 15-0 run to secure the lead in the 4th quarter. Although Herro struggled, he had a key steal to secure the game.

Key Stats-Playoffs

?Miami averages 113.3 points per game.

?Boston averages 115.5 points per game.

?Miami ranks 7th in points allowed with 108.8 opponent points per game.

?Boston ranks 6th in points allowed with 108.3 opponent points per game.

?Miami ranks 11th in rebounds per game with 41.3.

?Boston ranks 8th in rebounds per game with 44.

?Miami ranks 3rd in point differential at +4.4.

?Boston ranks 2nd in point differential at +7.2

?Miami ranks 15th in blocked shots with 3.5 per game.

?Boston ranks 2nd in blocked shots with 6.8 per game.

?Miami averages 36.8 percent from the 3-point range, while Boston averages 39.5 percent from the 3-point range.

LAST 10 GAMES + GAME PREDICTION

SPREAD: Boston +8

-Miami covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 games.

-Boston covered the spread in 6 of their last 10 games.

-Miami has a 39-53-3 record ATS this season.

-Boston has a 54-41-0 record ATS this season.

-Boston is 28-20-0 in HOME games ATS this season.

-Miami is 19-26-1 in AWAY games ATS this season.

Miami doesn’t have a good record against the spread in away games, and they covered the spread in 2 out of their 4 regular season games against Boston. The Celtics have a great record against the spread at home. I think Tatum and company have another great game. If the Celtics can play team ball and shoot well, I think they cover here at home.

MONEY LINE: Boston ML

-Miami won the Money Line 7 out of their last 10 games.

-Boston won the Money Line 6 of their last 10 games.

Boston is a very good team at home, and they are coming off a blowout win against the 76ers. If Tatum is on his game, I think the Celtics will win. The Bench rotation is all dependent on Head Coach Joe Mazzulla. Ball key will be movement to get everyone involved. Give me Celtics Money Line.

OVER/UNDER: OVER

-Miami Avg +/- vs O/U Line: +0.51.

-Boston Avg +/- vs O/U Line: +1.74.

-Miami Overall O/U Record: 49-46-0.

-Boston Overall O/U Record: 50-43-2.

-Miami AWAY O/U Record: 23-23-0.

-Boston HOME O/U Record: 28-19-1.

-Miami hit the OVER 7 times in their last 10 games.

-Boston hit the UNDER 7 times in their last 10 games.

?Two of the Heat vs. Celtics game hit the OVER in the regular season. Although Boston hit the under in their last two games, I expect both teams to produce a lot of offense. Boston is facing a Miami team who is hot and playing as good as any team right now. Give me the over.

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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