NBA Basketball
2013-05-06 - Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball Play Offs
Monday 6 May 2013 - Tip Off 7pm
Midnight (British Time)
Preview
This is probably not the series the Miami Heat would have wanted in terms of ability that their opponent's possess, but the Heat are also fairly comfortable in themselves. There is no way the reigning NBA Champions are scared of playing any team in the League, but they would have been impressed with what kind of heart the Chicago Bulls showed to get through their First Round series.
Unlike the Heat, the Bulls haven't had a big turnaround from winning their First Round series and beginning the Conference Semi Finals. Miami have been able to give their players over a week off, but Chicago only completed Game 7 against the Nets on Saturday and arrived on South Beach yesterday.
There is no love lost between the teams, but that is hardly a surprise as both have been amongst the leading contenders in the Eastern Conference over the last three seasons. Miami will also remember that it was the Bulls that stopped their 27 straight winning run in the regular season and clearly facing Chicago will motivate them.
Injuries continue to affect the Bulls roster and it seems unlikely that they will be able to call on Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng in this first game of the series. Obviously there is still no open change in the Derrick Rose status, although Miami are preparing with the thought that Rose could make his return in this series.
Dwyane Wade is possibly going to have to sit for Miami in this first game, although he has been practicing since missing the Game 4 sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks. Wade has been urging his team to forget about the fact that the Bulls snapped their second longest winning streak in NBA history and just focus on the series and getting to four wins.
Head to Head
Miami and Chicago split the regular season series 2-2 and the Heat were 1-1 in games here.
The Heat are actually 10-2 in their last 12 home games against the Bulls and they are 6-4 against the spread.
Prediction
I expect most of the games in this series to be tough ones, but I have a inkling that the first will not be so close and the Heat can pull away from the win.
Chicago are just off an emotional series win over Brooklyn and put a lot of effort into that Game 7 victory on Saturday while being short-handed on the roster.
Trends also point to the home teams in this current spot and I'll take Miami on the big spread.
The Pick :
Miami Heat 104-90 Chicago Bulls
