Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls Pick Prediction Point Spread Odds Line March 14 2012

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference meet for the second time this season when the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls square off Wednesday at the United Center.

This game can be seen live nationally on ESPN, and in the Chicago area on Comcast Sports Chicago, with tip-off at 9:30 pm ET.

Chicago is a 2.5-point favorite and the over/under total is at 192 in NBA Picks.

The matchup features one of the most explosive offenses in the NBA against one of the league’s strongest defenses. The Heat have the No. 2 offense with 102.6 points per game, while Chicago has the No. 2 defense, allowing just 88.9 points per game.

The Bulls will be out to avenge a 97-93 loss in the first meeting this season on Jan. 29, when the Heat failed to cash as a 4.5-point home favorite.

Miami is 31-9 straight up and 20-20 against the spread and beat the Indiana Pacers 93-91 on Saturday but failed to cover the spread as a 9.5-point home favorite. Chicago is 35-9 SU and 25-18-1 ATS and is coming off a 104-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday. The Bulls could not cash as an 8-point home favorite.

The injury report has Miami guard Mike Miller out indefinitely (ankle injury), while Chicago forward Luol Deng is day-to-day (wrist injury), as is guard C.J. Watson (ankle injury).

Miami is averaging 10.4 offensive rebounds and 32.3 defensive rebounds per game, while Chicago has an average of 13.6 boards on offense and 32.3 on defense.

Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks Game 5 NBA Finals Pick

Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks Game 5 NBA Finals Pick: I would love to take the Mavericks here, and I could certainly find a couple reasons to do so. For instance, I’ve watched 4 NBA Finals games thus far (if you are into math, that’s all 4 games) and I haven’t seen the Mavs play a good game yet. It’s bound to happen one of these nights, and when they do, well, I’ll have wished I picked the Mavs. Also, the Mavs have the most clutch player in the series, Dirk Nowitzki. And since the Heat seem dead-set on making every single game a down-to-the-wire event, betting on the team with the coldest blooded super star has some value.

All that being said (and more) I have to take the Heat in Dallas on Thursday Night. I’m starting to believe that part of the reason Dallas hasn’t played well in this series yet is because Miami is just that much better than anyone else. When they play focused and up to their potential, they shouldn’t be touched.

Also, after the collapse of Game 4 (it really wasn’t that big of a collapse, not like Game 2 – but is still being recognized as a collapse because Lebron disappeared for the entire game) Miami should come out just that much more motivated. The question is, will we see the Miami team that couldn’t win big games earlier in the year? Remember, when they struggled to close games against good teams, seemingly terrified of what everyone was going to say. That could be the team we see tomorrow, and if we do, the Mavs are the answer here.

But I think we see the new Heat, the Heat team that responds well to a bad outing. Don’t forget that Lebron James is the best athlete ever, the best package of talent we’ve seen. That should count for something. There’s no “the Decision” this summer, and lord knows he doesn’t want to hear about his failure to win the big one for an entire year (or until he does). He plays well in this one, and that gets the Heat a 3-2 series lead heading home.

I hope I’m wrong.

Miami Heat (+1) @ Dallas Mavericks (6/9)

Dallas Mavericks @ Miami Heat NBA Finals Game 2 Free Pick

Dallas Mavericks @ Miami Heat NBA Finals Game 2 Free Pick: It seems crazy to expect Dallas to win Game 2 after the Heat beat them up defensively in Game 1, the Mavs’ best player tore a tendon in his finger, and Miami forced Dallas into a Heat-style defensive battle. Neither team shot 39% from the floor as bricks became the fashion in Game 1 – except from LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, of course – those guys had great games for Miami.

Dwayne had a huge three late, and ended up with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks – just 3 turnovers, too. LeBron was 9 of 16, hit 4 of 5 from 3-point land, and tallied 9 rebounds and 5 assists along the way. Great game for the Big 2, while there wasn’t much to smile about in Game 1 for Dallas.

But I still think I’m right about this one. If Wade doesn’t hit a ridiculous step back 3 with a defender in his face, and LeBron just has a normal 3-point shooting night, the Mavericks might very well have walked away with a win in Game 1. It was certainly closer than the 8 point spread, as Miami closed it out down the stretch thanks to some poor shot selection by the Mavs.

Just look for Game 2 to be a little different. The Heat will have more turnovers than Dallas this time around. The Mavs will shoot a lot better, and if they watched film at all, Dallas will see their advantage in the post and spend more time beating the Heat up down low.

I expect the Mavs to even the series in Miami.

Dallas Mavericks (+4.5) @ Miami Heat (6/2)

Dallas Mavericks @ Miami Heat 2011 NBA Finals Game 1 Pick

Dallas Mavericks @ Miami Heat 2011 NBA Finals Game 1 Pick: The Heat are playing great basketball, but the Mavericks come in beating up on the best in the West, shutting down the Lakers in an epic sweep and ousting the young guns from Oklahoma in fine fashion. Like the Heat, the Mavericks performed admirably late in games, often coming into the final frame down big only to find a way to win anyway. This should be one heck of a series!

In the opener my money is on Dallas and the points. I expect close games throughout, as both teams have the offensive firepower to succeed in tight situations. Dallas has surrounded Dirk with perfect pieces, outside scoring, defensive post presence, and guards that can attack and penetrate. I expect Barea to have a solid series against a Heat team that struggles with dive and dish point guards.

Miami does a very good job of defending the perimeter, but I don’t know if they’ll be able to shut the Mavericks out from three-point land. Dallas can really shoot it, and with all the attention on Dirk, they’ll have their chances.

I’m not confident either way in this series, picking a winner I mean, but in game 1 the pressure has to be on the home team. If Dallas walks away down 1-0, it doesn’t mean much. If the Heat lose early, the media starts going crazy about the “Big 3” and how maybe they don’t fit perfectly together. Miami will need to hit a lot of jumpers against Dallas, and I’m not sure that’s their strong suit. We shall see, but I’ll take the road team in Game 1.

Dallas Mavericks (+5) @ Miami Heat

Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls Game 2 NBA Free Pick

Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls Game 2 NBA Free Pick: Here’s a crazy statistic for you stat-guys (and girls) out there – the Heat and Bulls have matched up 4 times this season and each game has ended with the Bulls getting a win and the Heat getting a loss. The regular season match-ups were all very close, 99-96, 93-89, and 87-86 – but Game 1 ended up with the Bulls on top of Miami by 21 big ones. Does this guarantee anything in Game 2? Nope, but in what is basically an even bet (favored by just a bucket), the Bulls have to be the percentage pick here.

I think falling behind two games to none will be terrible for the Heat, and I see them fighting like hell to even up the series in Game 2, but for the first time in while, the Heat aren’t the best defensive team on the floor, and it’s very possible that they don’t have the most important player on the floor either.

People play around with the idea of pressure, but there’s never a time where pressure is more evident than in this series. All the pressure in the world is on Miami, and Chicago’s been the better team all season long. If anything, LeBron James has shown that pressure can get to him a bit, and while I don’t expect him and Wade to struggle in Game 2 as much as Game 1, I do think that the Bulls’ defense will continue to keep them uncomfortable, and that could make the difference in this series.

I’ve said all year that Miami may have the most talent, the better players, but Chicago has the best team in the East. They ended up with the best record, and I think they’ll win this series. Winning this series starts by holding court in Game 2. I like Chicago to win against on Wednesday Night.

Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls (-2) (5/18)

Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics Game 3 Prediction & Pick

Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics Game 3 Prediction & Pick Everyone and their mom thinks the Celtics are done in this one. The new Big 3 is in town, and they’re looking for their crown – or something catchy and full of rhyme. But I’m not ready to crown them quite yet – you could say, I’m with Denny Green on this one. The Celtics, I don’t think they’ll let the Heat off the hook just like that.

Something different needs to happen, however, and all the Celtics’ old man injuries aren’t helping one bit. I think that Shaq’s presence down low might be just what the doctor ordered for the Celtics. He makes opposing offenses think twice about driving in, and more because of his size than his defensive ability. The Celtics need something, and he could be that something.

I also like Boston at home, because they are just flat out better there. Remember a couple years ago when they couldn’t win on the road in the playoffs to save their lives? Well, they’re going home to Boston, and the big headed Heat might start believing the “wrapped up” hype – and that can’t help.

The Celtics need some heroics, no doubt. Rajon Rondo has been playing very well, but they need more. Paul Pierce needs to give them something, come out with a little getty-up in his step instead of an Achilles limp. Whatever they need, I think they get it in Game 3 – I think they win in Boston.

Prediction: Heat 91 – Celtics 98

Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics (-3)

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies Game 3 Prediction

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies Game 3 Prediction: The Thunder evened up the series after the Grizzlies pulled the stunner in Game 1, outplaying Oklahoma all night and continuing their amazing playoff run. It’s not that surprising, however, as Memphis has a couple battle tested, defensive minded, tough-nosed players like Tony Allen and Shane Battier keeping their defensive together while Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol give opposing front courts all kinds of trouble. The Grizzlies are good, folks, it’s no fluke.

The Thunder got one hell of a game from their bench in Game 2, and that’s a huge reason why they came out well on top of the Grizz to even the series. 15 and 21 from Eric Maynor (3/4 from the three-point line) and James Harden was even nicer when added to Marc Gasol and Randolph teaming up to shoot 5 for 22 from the floor.

If I were the Thunder, I’d be ready for a battle on the road.

That being said, I still think the Thunder are the team to pick here. Unlike the Spurs, they aren’t at an athletic disadvantage against the Grizzlies, and I do believe they are the better team. With Perkins and Serge, they can match up pretty well against Gasol and Zach, and that makes a ton of difference.

Russell Westbrook is going to have a great game giving Mike Conley fits in Game 3, he’s just due. That will give the Thunder the advantage.

Prediction: Thunder 94 – Grizzlies 89

Oklahoma City Thunder (+3.5) @ Memphis Grizzlies (5/7)

LA Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks NBA Playoff Game 3 Pick

LA Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks NBA Playoff Game 3 Pick: Little has been said of the Lakers’ struggles down the stretch, but it was there to see if you looked. Their two losses to a New Orleans team that had no business beating anybody in the Western Conference playoffs was less of a fluke and more of an alarm clock going off to Laker fans everywhere. At least it should have been.

On the other hand, it’s very tough for me to go all out backing the Mavericks and bust the Lakers because Dallas stunk it up big time down the stretch as well. In fact, if any top seed looked like a possible 1st round upset in the making, it was the Mavs.

But one of these two teams has really turned it around. Dirk is playing out of his mind, hitting shots that would be tough in a game of HORSE, and he’s being guarded (kind of). I felt pretty good about this series coming in, meaning I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the match-ups and how the Lakers shouldn’t be as heavily favored as they were.

I like how the Mavs can match up on the defensive end with the Lakers’ bigs – at least as well as any other team in the league. Chandler is a solid defender with great length, and Haywood can come in and make it tough on either Bynum or Gasol. Then you have Dirk, and one of those two Lakers, or Lamar Odom, has to guard him – which pulls them away from the hoop and opens up stuff for the Mavs to drive, and then kick it out when the Lakers try to recover.

The Mavs have the length, and the Lakers are looking old. I don’t think games 1 and 2 were flukes, and I think the Mavs will come out ready and roaring at home in Game 3. I like them to go up 3-0.

Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks NBA Pick & Betting Preview

Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks NBA Pick & Betting Preview: The Bulls might very well be the best team in the East, but if they are, it hasn’t been by much. Chicago has played a lot of close games over their first handful of playoff games, and they sit tied with Atlanta at 1 game a piece headed to play on the road this Friday.

But I think they’re starting to figure it out, they are the better team, and they can really beat the Hawks up from a lot of different areas. Unlike Orlando, this Chicago team is great defensively, and they have more than one big man to guard the basket. Chicago’s rotations are fast, and their never give up defense causes opponents to shoot a lot of tough shots. That will help them in Atlanta.

Derrick Rose has shot pretty poorly over the first two games of this series, and I think that stops one of these nights – why not Friday in Atlanta? If Rose has one of his MVP type games, beating the Hawks is a given. If he shoots 10 for 27, misses just about every three he takes, and turns the ball over 8 times, well, they still have a chance – because that’s what he did in Game 2 and the Bulls ran away with that one.

Look for Carlos Boozer to be a little bigger focus in Atlanta, because if they aren’t going to use him to spread the floor with jumpers from the free throw line area, or post him up on the block, then what is he good for? The guy is brutal defensively. I expect the Bulls to win this one in 5 or 6 games – and I think they get back to even with the Hawks on Friday Night.

Prediction: Bulls 94 – Hawks 88

Atlanta Hawks VS. Orlando Magic – NBA Playoff Pick & Preview

Atlanta Hawks VS. Orlando Magic – NBA Playoff Pick & Preview: I don’t think they’re ever going to get it. The Atlanta Hawks are a match-up nightmare for Dwight Howard and company. Josh Smith and Al Horford both do well against whatever the Magic throw at them. Unless the Hawks get in a ton of foul trouble early, this game will continue to be a close, down-to-the-wire game where 8 points is just way too much to give up. I’m all about the dogs in this one!

The thing is, I’ve been this way since before the series started, putting everybody on watch for the Hawks to pull the upset… LOOK HERE! Now I didn’t flat out pick the Hawks to win the series, I actually thought the Magic might get it in 6, but I did label them “the best payout for an actual chance to win that you’ll get with an underdog.” If you were there to gamble, you’re looking pretty good right about now, with just under 5x your investment if the Hawks win any of the next 3 games. I like your (our) chances!

Right now, I’m looking for the Hawks to end this one on the road – and even if they don’t, a close game is most likely to take place. The Magic just don’t have that pull-away personality, and the Hawks play the right kind of ball to keep it close.

Stick with the points here, and the team that is currently 6-1 against the Magic over their last 7 games this season.

Atlanta Hawks (+7.5) @ Orlando Magic

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