Posted on
1/21/2008 5:41:30 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Cleveland at Miami
By Charles Jay
The Miami Heat (8-32 SU, 14-26 ATS) are nearing the point of hopelessness, but they will try to end their 14-game losing streak on Monday night when play host to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (21-18 SU, 17-22 ATS) in NBA action at the American Airlines Arena. Tipoff time is 8 PM ET.
In the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, the Cavs are listed at -4.5, with the total posted at 186 points.
In the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds:
* CLEV has covered five of the last seven meetings
* MIA has won eight of the last 12 meetings SU
* Four of the last five meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has won the last five meetings SU as the home team
* The last five meetings held in Miami have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings
* CLEV has made more three pointers in five of the last six meetings
Cleveland has not shot the ball particularly well all season long, hitting just 43.4% of its shots. The Cavs average 7.8 steals per game and pull down an average of 13.2 offensive rebounds. Also:
* CLEV has won seven of its last eight games SU
* CLEV has covered four of the last six games
* CLEV has played 10 of its last 13 games UNDER the total
* CLEV has won and covered four of its last six road games
* CLEV has played five of its last six road games UNDER the total
Miami ranks last in the NBA in rebounding, with just 38.6 a game. The Heat has shot 40% or lower in three of its last five games, and has hot just 4.8 three-pointers per contest. Also:
* MIA has lost its last 14 games SU
* MIA has covered two of its last 19 games
* MIA has played four of its last six games OVER the total
* MIA has lost its last five home games SU
* MIA has covered one of its last 11 home games
* MIA has played five of its last seven home games OVER the total
Right now Pat Riley is about to throw in the towel. Speculation around Miami is that if Miami can't win one of its next four games, he may step down and hand the reins over to someone else. The Heat is playing uninspired basketball, and even though Shaquille O'Neal; is back in the lineup, and Dwyane Wade has been relatively consistent (24.4 ppg), there is no supporting cast. No one, save for Shaq, is attacking the hoop. And Miami can't hit its free throws either (just 70.5%, 29th in the NBA).
Riley and the Heat are unfortunate in that they catch Cleveland at just the wrong time. The Cavaliers have now won seven out of eight, including an impressive win at San Antonio four nights ago. Anderson Varejao is contributing more (18 rebounds against Charlotte, 14 against the Spurs). And LeBron is averaging 35 ppg over his last four.
With the Heat having covered just one of its last 11 at home, and Riley losing interest, there's just no evidence to support the
Heat at this time. We'll lay the points with Cleveland, the 4.5-point favorite in the BetUS basketball betting odds.
BetUS NBA betting odds: CLEVELAND -4.5, Total 186
JAY'S PLAY: CLEVELAND
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)