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Charlie Grant
Celtics vs. Heat Game 6 Prediction: NBA Playoff Odds, Point Spread
One half of the NBA Finals is decided. The Los Angeles Lakers await the winner of the Eastern Conference final.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Celtics outscored the Heat 41-25 in the third quarter and waltzed to a 121-108 victory in Game 5. Boston still trials 3-2 in the series even though the club has been a point spread favourite in each game. Oddsmakers see the C’s as chalk in Game 6 as the Heat are getting 3.5 points.
The Heat shot just 7-for-36 from beyond the arc in Friday night’s performance. Starters Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder and Goran Dragic went a combined 1-for-15 from 3-point land. The Celtics are just showing off their regular season trait. Opponents shot a league-low 33.3 percent on triple attempts against Boston.
Miami is still a -200 favourite to win the series with the 3-2 lead. Implied probability means the Heat should win the series about two out of three times (66.7 percent). Boston is listed at +162 to complete the comeback in the series. That means a $100 bet on the C’s would pay $162 if they won the next two games.
Boston Celtics
Gordon Hayward’s contributions aren’t jumping off the box score sheet, but it’s clear he’s a positive factor for Boston since returning from a bad ankle sprain. The C’s are 2-1 since Hayward came back.
He’s allowed coach Brad Stevens to remove fringe players like Semi Ojeleye from the rotation. Having Hayward on the floor is also improving the ball movement for the C’s.
Miami Heat
Miami lives and dies with the 3-pointer, but the club will have to find another way to hurt the Celtics at the offensive end. Boston doesn’t have much protection in the paint. Dragic and Butler seem to be the only Heat players willing to drive to the rim often.
They’ll have to figure out a way to get better looks in Game 6. One way to do that would be to keep Jimmy Butler out of foul trouble. The All-Star wing missed much of the action in the third quarter with Boston building its lead.
He hit the bench after picking up his fourth personal foul. Dragic did a good jump leading the offence in Jimmy’s absence, but Miami’s defence had no answer for the Celtics.
BOS
MIA