NBA PlayOffs Conference Finals Pick
We still don't know the exact line up of the Conference Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers waiting for a Game 7 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets to be completed.
Before that final game of the Conference Semi Finals is played, the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat will begin the Eastern Conference Finals.
Both teams will feel good about their chances to reach the NBA Finals for the first time with their current rosters in place, although I would suggest the winning team is going to be a significant underdog against the Western Conference representative.
Of course I say that now when I believe the two Los Angeles teams will be competing for the place in the NBA Finals, but the Denver Nuggets will have plenty to say about that having shown considerable desire to recover from positions that teams simply have not done regularly in the history of the NBA PlayOffs.
Tuesday 15th September
Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics Game 1 Pick: The top two Seeds in the Eastern Conference were both dismissed in the Semi Finals of the PlayOffs, although the Boston Celtics needed the full seven games to edge out the Number 2 Seeded Toronto Raptors. Things were much simpler for the Miami Heat who beat the Number 1 Seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games and have had plenty of time to rest within the NBA bubble while awaiting the Celtics to make the Conference Finals.
So far the Miami Heat have looked very strong having dropped a single game in the PlayOffs and with Jimmy Butler leading the way to his first ever Conference Finals experience. The team are greater than the sum of their parts, but there are some quality players on the roster even if the Heat are not the same as when they had the Big Three during the LeBron James era on South Beach.
The fact that the Heat are playing without much pressure has to be a benefit for them as many thought they were one of the also-rans in the Eastern Conference. That is not the same for the Boston Celtics who swept the Philadelphia 76ers before being embroiled in a life and death Series with the Toronto Raptors.
Many would have tipped up the Celtics as a dark horse in the Conference having reached the Eastern Conference Finals two seasons ago. Kyrie Irving's departure was seen largely as a positive at Boston and the young players have really come into their own and become All-Stars in their own right.
That has to give Boston a narrow edge in the Series with the Defensive performances ramping up for both teams, but the lack of time to prepare for this game is a tough position to be in. Maybe they are in better rhythm, but we have to expect something of an emotional letdown for the Boston Celtics who invested as much as they did into the last Series.
The Heat also knocked off Boston inside the NBA bubble without Jimmy Butler which will give them confidence, although finding more shooting is going to be the big question for them throughout the Conference Finals. Where Butler and Goran Drajic are likely going to get their points, Miami need Bam Adebayo to have a dominant Series if they are going to earn the upset.
Gordon Hayward remains on the sidelines for the Boston Celtics, but he is nearing a return to the team having returned to the NBA bubble. Even without him the Celtics are plenty talented and they look to have ramped up their ability on the Defensive side of the court to really take control of games.
Both teams are actually very effective Defensively and this Series could be a low-scoring one barring the referees making overuse of their whistles. The Heat do love getting to the foul line, but Boston have shown they can restrict the Offensive output of better teams than the Miami Heat and I think the best approach to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is looking for the under to hit.
The 'under' has been the trending selection in recent Boston games and those when these two teams face one another. Miami could easily be a touch colder shooting the ball having had a week off, while the Celtics fatigue could show up on the Offensive side of the court against an intense Defensive unit like the Heat.
MY PICKS: 15/09 Boston Celtics-Miami Heat Under 210 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
No comments:
Post a Comment