PREMIUM
Rogers' TOTAL DOMINATION
(NBA) Miami vs. Philadelphia,
Total: 212.50 | -111.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 212.50 | -111.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Philadelphia 76ers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. "The Process" has been roundly mocked in recent years, as the 76ers entered the 2017-18 season having won 19, 18, 10 and 28 games the previous four seasons. However, behind the play of All-Star center Joel Embiid (22.9 & 11.) and ROY candidate Ben Simmons (15.8-8.1-8.2, the 76ers finished this year's regular season 52-30 to earn the East's No. 3 seed. They will open postseason play tonight at home, on the heels of a franchise-record 16-game winning streak. Philly's opponent, the 44-38 Miami Heat, earned the No. 6 seed after just missing out on the postseason last year when the team's 41-41 record lost out in a tie-breaker to the 41-41 Chicago Bulls. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra has now led his squad into the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 seasons. "We feel we're battle-tested," Spoelstra told reporters. "I don't know if there's a team right now in the league more battle-tested than us in close games." Miami ended the regular season winners of five of eight.
Miami: All-Star point guard Goran Dragic missed the regular-season finale with a bone bruise in his right knee but indicated that he expects to be in the lineup for Saturday's opener. Dragic leads in scoring (17.3) and assists (4.8) and his fitness will be crucial as he will be called on to slow down standout Philadelphia rookie Ben Simmons. Miami's strength is that the heat can throw a pair of stout centers at their opponents. Hassan Whiteside (14.0 & 11.4) is one of the league's best defenders and rookie Bam Adebayo (6.9 & 5.5 in less than 20 PG) is one of the league's best rebounders per 48 minutes. 76ers head coach Brett Brown noted about Miam's two centers, "They are tremendous rim protectors. You better go to jump or you better find perimeter shooters, because anything soft or non-purposeful is very difficult with those two bodies in there."
Philadelphia; Simmons recorded 10 or more assists on 10 occasions during Philadelphia's 16-game winning streak. He recorded 12 triple-doubles, second all-time among rookies behind legendary Oscar Robertson (26 in 1960-61) and either Simmons or Utah guard Donovan Mitchell will win Rookie of the Year honors. The 76ers have surprsied all by winning all eight games in which Joel Embiid has missed since he broke an orbital bone. It's been confirmed that Embiid will miss the beginning of the playoffs as he recovers but that is doing little to dampen Philadelphia's spirits."We prepare the same way we've been preparing the last seven or so games without him," said Simmons, who has averaged a triple-double over the last month. "Stick with our defense, stick with our offense. We're ready to play; I love stepping up and playing against the best competition."
The pick: The two teams split their four regular season games, with all taking place during a five-week stretch from early February to early March. Philadelphia won at home, 103-97, on Feb. 2, followed by a 104-102 Miami road win on Feb. 14. The teams met again two weeks later in Miami, with the 76ers scoring a 102-101 win and then the Heat closed out the season series with a 108-99 home win on March 8. Doing some quick math, the four contestes averaged 20.4.0 PPG, which is about a 'TD' lower than this over/under. Philly figures to be tight in the team's first playoff game since 2011 and I'm making the Under an 8* play.
Miami: All-Star point guard Goran Dragic missed the regular-season finale with a bone bruise in his right knee but indicated that he expects to be in the lineup for Saturday's opener. Dragic leads in scoring (17.3) and assists (4.8) and his fitness will be crucial as he will be called on to slow down standout Philadelphia rookie Ben Simmons. Miami's strength is that the heat can throw a pair of stout centers at their opponents. Hassan Whiteside (14.0 & 11.4) is one of the league's best defenders and rookie Bam Adebayo (6.9 & 5.5 in less than 20 PG) is one of the league's best rebounders per 48 minutes. 76ers head coach Brett Brown noted about Miam's two centers, "They are tremendous rim protectors. You better go to jump or you better find perimeter shooters, because anything soft or non-purposeful is very difficult with those two bodies in there."
Philadelphia; Simmons recorded 10 or more assists on 10 occasions during Philadelphia's 16-game winning streak. He recorded 12 triple-doubles, second all-time among rookies behind legendary Oscar Robertson (26 in 1960-61) and either Simmons or Utah guard Donovan Mitchell will win Rookie of the Year honors. The 76ers have surprsied all by winning all eight games in which Joel Embiid has missed since he broke an orbital bone. It's been confirmed that Embiid will miss the beginning of the playoffs as he recovers but that is doing little to dampen Philadelphia's spirits."We prepare the same way we've been preparing the last seven or so games without him," said Simmons, who has averaged a triple-double over the last month. "Stick with our defense, stick with our offense. We're ready to play; I love stepping up and playing against the best competition."
The pick: The two teams split their four regular season games, with all taking place during a five-week stretch from early February to early March. Philadelphia won at home, 103-97, on Feb. 2, followed by a 104-102 Miami road win on Feb. 14. The teams met again two weeks later in Miami, with the 76ers scoring a 102-101 win and then the Heat closed out the season series with a 108-99 home win on March 8. Doing some quick math, the four contestes averaged 20.4.0 PPG, which is about a 'TD' lower than this over/under. Philly figures to be tight in the team's first playoff game since 2011 and I'm making the Under an 8* play.
