Cavaliers will try to withstand Heat
Is it Riles? Is it Diesel? Or is it both?
Ever since Shaquille O?Neal returned from injury and Pat Riley took over as Miami?s head coach, the Heat have been red-hot.
The team now has an opportunity to make a big statement Thursday night when they host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game of TNT?s weekly doubleheader (8 p.m. ET).
Back in December, things weren?t looking so bright for the Heat. After playing the first two games of the season, Shaq suffered a sprained ankle and would miss the next five weeks. While he was out, the Heat were just 9-9. During that stretch, as the team struggled many started to question the roster moves Riley made in the off-season.
As the team?s president, Riley made significant changes even though the team finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference last season and was one win away from advancing to the NBA final. Among the changes, Riley acquired veterans Antoine Walker and Gary Payton from the Celtics, and dealt Eddie Jones to the Grizzlies in exchange for Jason Williams and James Posey.
Most observers understood the team would need time to gel, but when the Heat went on a four-game losing streak just before Shaq returned, some were beginning to wonder whether Riley?s moves were backfiring.
Lo and behold, the game after Shaq returned, coach Stan Van Gundy suddenly resigned and Riley took over the reins. Since that day, the Heat have gone 17-8 (.680 pct.).
Through the month of January, Miami was 10-5. Currently, they are riding a three-game win streak and have won five of their last six. At 28-18 overall, the Heat now have a commanding lead in the Southeast division.
The game against Cleveland will be significant because, even though they have been winning, most of Miami?s victories have come against poorer teams. Of the 17 wins since Riley took over, only six were against teams with a .500+ record. None have come against teams with a .600+ record, and none were against division leaders.
The team?s most notable win likely came on Monday night at home against the LA Clippers, who are second in the Pacific. The Heat won 118-114 as 4-point favorites.
Meanwhile, losses have come against Phoenix, San Antonio, New Orleans, Detroit, New Jersey and Cleveland back on Dec. 17. The Heat lost that game 115-107 as 1.5-point road dogs.
With a 15-6 record, the Heat have been strong at home. But they?re going to have their hands full with the Cavs, who were riding a six-game win streak as of Tuesday. Four of those wins came on the road.
The Cavs are 26-17 overall and sit solidly in second place in the Central behind the powerhouse Pistons. The Cavs have been particularly strong against the number having gone 25-16-2 ATS, which is the best ATS record in the NBA.
With Shaq and teammate Dwayne Wade going head-to-head against LeBron James, the total in Thursday?s game will likely be fairly high. Wade leads the Heat in scoring averaging 26.8 ppg (sixth overall) and James leads the Cavs averaging 31.2 ppg (third overall).
With the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league (100.2 ppg), the Heat are 25-21 on the OVER/UNDER this season; the Cavs were 20-23 on the O/U as of Tuesday.
Other Thursday game:
In the second game of TNT?s doubleheader, the San Antonio Spurs visit the Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET).
The defending NBA champions have been dominant this season and are in a heated battle with Dallas for top spot in the Southwest.
As of Tuesday, the Spurs had won four straight and were 8-2 over their past 10 games. However, against the number the Spurs are only 21-23-1.
With the second-best scoring defense in the NBA combined with a lower-scoring offense, the Spurs are just 17-25 on the OVER/UNDER.
The Warriors had a solid start to their season but have faded. As of Tuesday, they were second-last in the Pacific with a 20-23 record SU and ATS. Over their previous 10 games, the Warriors were 3-7 SU.
The Spurs are 14-7 SU (10-10-1 ATS) on the road this season; the Warriors are 12-12 SU (9-15 ATS) at home.
In their last meeting, the Spurs beat the Warriors 113-89 as 4-point road dogs.
-Perry
lines dept of
BetWWTS.com
Is it Riles? Is it Diesel? Or is it both?
Ever since Shaquille O?Neal returned from injury and Pat Riley took over as Miami?s head coach, the Heat have been red-hot.
The team now has an opportunity to make a big statement Thursday night when they host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game of TNT?s weekly doubleheader (8 p.m. ET).
Back in December, things weren?t looking so bright for the Heat. After playing the first two games of the season, Shaq suffered a sprained ankle and would miss the next five weeks. While he was out, the Heat were just 9-9. During that stretch, as the team struggled many started to question the roster moves Riley made in the off-season.
As the team?s president, Riley made significant changes even though the team finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference last season and was one win away from advancing to the NBA final. Among the changes, Riley acquired veterans Antoine Walker and Gary Payton from the Celtics, and dealt Eddie Jones to the Grizzlies in exchange for Jason Williams and James Posey.
Most observers understood the team would need time to gel, but when the Heat went on a four-game losing streak just before Shaq returned, some were beginning to wonder whether Riley?s moves were backfiring.
Lo and behold, the game after Shaq returned, coach Stan Van Gundy suddenly resigned and Riley took over the reins. Since that day, the Heat have gone 17-8 (.680 pct.).
Through the month of January, Miami was 10-5. Currently, they are riding a three-game win streak and have won five of their last six. At 28-18 overall, the Heat now have a commanding lead in the Southeast division.
The game against Cleveland will be significant because, even though they have been winning, most of Miami?s victories have come against poorer teams. Of the 17 wins since Riley took over, only six were against teams with a .500+ record. None have come against teams with a .600+ record, and none were against division leaders.
The team?s most notable win likely came on Monday night at home against the LA Clippers, who are second in the Pacific. The Heat won 118-114 as 4-point favorites.
Meanwhile, losses have come against Phoenix, San Antonio, New Orleans, Detroit, New Jersey and Cleveland back on Dec. 17. The Heat lost that game 115-107 as 1.5-point road dogs.
With a 15-6 record, the Heat have been strong at home. But they?re going to have their hands full with the Cavs, who were riding a six-game win streak as of Tuesday. Four of those wins came on the road.
The Cavs are 26-17 overall and sit solidly in second place in the Central behind the powerhouse Pistons. The Cavs have been particularly strong against the number having gone 25-16-2 ATS, which is the best ATS record in the NBA.
With Shaq and teammate Dwayne Wade going head-to-head against LeBron James, the total in Thursday?s game will likely be fairly high. Wade leads the Heat in scoring averaging 26.8 ppg (sixth overall) and James leads the Cavs averaging 31.2 ppg (third overall).
With the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league (100.2 ppg), the Heat are 25-21 on the OVER/UNDER this season; the Cavs were 20-23 on the O/U as of Tuesday.
Other Thursday game:
In the second game of TNT?s doubleheader, the San Antonio Spurs visit the Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET).
The defending NBA champions have been dominant this season and are in a heated battle with Dallas for top spot in the Southwest.
As of Tuesday, the Spurs had won four straight and were 8-2 over their past 10 games. However, against the number the Spurs are only 21-23-1.
With the second-best scoring defense in the NBA combined with a lower-scoring offense, the Spurs are just 17-25 on the OVER/UNDER.
The Warriors had a solid start to their season but have faded. As of Tuesday, they were second-last in the Pacific with a 20-23 record SU and ATS. Over their previous 10 games, the Warriors were 3-7 SU.
The Spurs are 14-7 SU (10-10-1 ATS) on the road this season; the Warriors are 12-12 SU (9-15 ATS) at home.
In their last meeting, the Spurs beat the Warriors 113-89 as 4-point road dogs.
-Perry
lines dept of
BetWWTS.com
