Heat and Suns have to play better
By Doug Upstone
While the biggest story surrounding game two between Miami and Boston centers around the Kevin Garnett suspension, Heat players know the real issue involves shooting 39.8 percent, scoring 76 points and committing 22 turnovers. They do that again they jump into 0-2 hole they helped dig. At least Miami hasn't lost at home, something Phoenix can't say. The Suns players should have listened to local talk radio, as their fans assumed they would be mature and take the game to the short-handed Portland. Instead, they waltzed around and let the Trailblazers steal opening game. Two NBA teams, two NBA situations, the Heat and Suns must address.
Miami at Boston
The Heat knew what to expect against Boston, they had already lost to them three times this season, yet once again they failed to find the answer. Dwayne Wade can win a game or possibly even two with the right set of circumstances; however he can't go at it alone to win a series.
Boston strategy is to do the best they can with Wade defensively, but more importantly, don't let anyone else become a factor. Other than the former Marquette product, no other Miami player has scored 20 points this season against the Celtics and in series opener, Quentin Richardson was the only other player to reach double digits (15 points).
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said, "We just did not show a lot of composure. ... To play to that kind of pressure, a little bit of duress, a little bit of adversity, we did not respond well to it." His club is 6-19 ATS is road encounters revenging four or more losses to same opponent.
Boston will miss KG, but coach Doc Rivers will do what he does best, rally the troops for key moments.
"Kevin also facilitates a lot of offense. In the first game, a lot of our open shots came off Kevin being involved in the play. That's my biggest concern. You're losing 15 points and, more importantly, you're losing all the picks, all the postups where they had to trap. That's big. We're going to have to try to find some points somewhere." Rivers also talked about Garnett's defensive energy and will present this as challenge to Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace and others to pitch in.
Sportbet.com saw Boston go off as 4.5-point in the first matchup and took revenge and no Garnett into consideration and dropped the Celtics to two-point choice, with the wagering public taking it a step further. The Celtics are now listed as single point home favorites, with steady total of 179.
Boston has won six straight over Miami at home (3-3 ATS) yet is merely 13-26-2 ATS as a home favorite and 21-12 UNDER after they've covered the spread this season. The Heat is going to have to force the tempo and make shots. They are 8-0 OVER off a road loss scoring less than 80 points, winning by 7.8 points per game.
Portland at Phoenix
The clues were there and the intelligent sports bettor spotted them and played Portland in Game 1. Phoenix was an eight-point favorite with total of 204, suggesting the Suns should have won first round opening tilt 106-98. The score relating to the Trailblazers exactly matched their season total home and away. Phoenix however averages 110.1 points a game and over 112 at home. The numbers didn't add up and Portland got the upset.
Every typical flaw the Suns have was exposed by outstanding game plan by coach Nate McMillian.
Defensively they pressured Steve Nash early in the shot clock, making him yo-yo the dribble and eat up time. Phoenix prefers to get right into offense and most times they didn't get anything started until 15 or less seconds. They doubled Amare Stoudemire wherever possible and he needed 19 shots to accumulate 18 points.
On offense, Portland ran when given the opportunity and Andre Miller kept driving to the rim and Phoenix had no answer. This allowed Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge to score in deep. A 14-2 and 11-4-1 ATS close to the season meant nothing after four quarters of playoff basketball for coach Alvin Gentry's squad.
Nash was candid about how his team played, even if it seemed unusual. "We didn't quite have the spirit or the energy collectively that we had in the last few games of the regular season," Nash said. "Sometimes that happens."
When asked about the importance of this being playoff time he responded, "You can never predict. I mean, I thought we played hard. I just thought we didn't quite have that spark that we needed," he said. "I don't know biorhythms."
Phoenix' compelling season could be all but over with another loss and they are 8-1 ATS at home after a defeat by six points or less this season. The Suns are 8.5-point faves with total of 204.5 and they are 41-24 OVER revenging a same season failure the last three seasons.
Portland has the second best road record in the NBA at 25-17 (26-14-2 ATS) and is 18-6 ATS off a road win this season. It will be imperative for the Blazers to again contain the tempo as assuredly the Suns will want to play at more aggressive pace and they are 21-8 UNDER as visitors when the total is greater than or equal to 200.