NBA Basketball
2013-02-06 - Houston Rockets at Miami Heat
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Wednesday 6 February 2013 - Tip Off 7:30pm
12:30am (British Time)
Preview
The Miami Heat (31-14) have made it clear that they are not overly concerned about winning the Number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference as they have reached the NBA Finals when finishing outside that position before. Miami are likely more concerned with their own defensive efforts in some recent games and it won't get any easier against a team coming off an almost perfect performance.
The Houston Rockets (27-23) beat up on the Golden State Warriors last night and tied the NBA record for the most threes hit in a single game. That means they are still in control of the final Play Off place in the Western Conference in what looks like being a tight race through to April.
Houston have now won 5 of their last 6 games and have plenty of momentum after scoring 140 points in their last game, the most they have put up in almost 20 years when they scored 149 points in 1993. Jeremy Lin had a huge game for the Rockets with 28 points scored, while they keep getting contributions from the likes of Chandler Parsons.
James Harden is the star player and has helped propel the Rockets to averaging 117 points per game in their last 6 games. One concern for Houston is that they are likely missing Carlos Delfino again.
While Miami have struggled defensively, this game may be more to their liking as it is one that should allow them to make a number of fast break points. The Heat have won 6 of their last 8 games, while LeBron James is playing at an even higher level than the usual standard he sets for the rest of the League.
LeBron has also dominated against Houston since joining the Heat and has averaged over 30 points per game in 4 games against them. All season, the one element of James' game that has surprised most is his field goal percentage, which has him in the top ten in that category in the NBA. However, recent games have been even more impressive as James is going at 60% from the field in the last 11 games he has played.
Head to Head
Miami have dominated the recent series by winning 6 in a row against Houston and they are also 4-2 against the spread in that run.
The Heat have won 3 in a row at home against the Rockets.
Prediction
It is incredibly hard for a team to back up a perfect performance- last night, the Rockets hit everything they tried and also won every quarter against the Golden State Warriors and it will be hard to replicate that against the Miami Heat.
There is also every chance that Houston could be a little flat after such a performance and with 'more important' games against Western Conference rivals surrounding this one.
Miami have dominated the recent series and I think they will win and cover in a high-scoring game.
The Pick :
Miami Heat 118-108 Houston Rockets
