NBA- (8:00 Et, Espn) Indiana At Miami
After a horrendous losing streak all but ended their season, Indiana is doing what they can to hang on and possibly snag the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
2007-04-13
After a horrendous losing streak all but ended their season, Indiana is doing what they can to hang on and possibly snag the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. First the players must be focused enough to put aside the temptations of South Beach and be mentally prepared for a test with Miami. The Pacers are looking up one game behind Orlando for the coveted playoff position and can ill afford another loss.
From February 23 until March 30, Indiana tumbled harder and faster then watermelon from the top of the CBS building during a David Letterman gag. The Pacers lost 17 of 19 (4-13-3 ATS) and fell out of the playoff picture. Somehow they have managed to apply the tourniquet and are 4-2 in April. Indiana needs only to catch the Magic, as they hold the all important tiebreaker. "We're the hunters," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "We're trying to stay in this thing and it's not going to be easy." Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger have been the two players that have helped this club the most in its pursuit and will be called upon tonight to be major players.
Miami had been giving maximum effort for a long period of time and played well enough even without Dwayne Wade to take the lead in the Southeast Division. Unfortunately any team has limitations when its best player is out of the line-up and it shows for the Heat who are 7-7 in last fourteen games (5-9 ATS). Wade has returned, thou not the same player before the shoulder injury and he is clearly laboring averaging 14 points a game and committing almost six turnovers a contest. With Miami having failed to cover the spread in last four games, they have not been helped with the absence of Shaquille O’Neal, who was away for the funeral of his grandfather, he is expected to return tonight.
Indiana holds a 2-1 edge this season between these Eastern teams, winning both times on the home floor. Miami is just 5.5-point home favorite at Sportsbook.com in part because despite a winning record (3-2) against the Pacers, they’ve failed to cover the oddsmakers number is last five attempts at home.
A couple of coaching angles pop up on tonight’s encounter that are noteworthy. Carlisle is 18-6 ATS in road games after a win by 6 points or less as the coach of Indiana. Pat Riley has spent enough time coaching Miami to be a meager 4-14 ATS revenging a road loss vs. opponent of 10 points or more, winning by just 2.5 points a game.
The totals aspect of this contest should draw attention since these teams have played Over 17 of 23 times in Miami. Indiana fits the mold to go Over 185 points with 42-22 Over record in road games after playing a game as a road favorite. The Heat does not suggest they will go past the posted total, having played Under in 8 of last 10 as a favorites.
The answers to all these questions will unfold on ESPN starting at 8 Eastern. A large scary NBA card is available for perusal at the Live Odds page on Friday the 13th.
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