Boston Celtics are getting to that age: Lebron dunks past Paul Pierce

The Eastern Conference Finals are on and going as Game 2 commences tonight with the Miami Heat leading 1-0. The Heat's fast pace young looking b-ball is just way to much for the old, washed up champs. The defense alone that Miami is bringing to the table is taking over games and the Celtics are tasting a re-run like episode of last year when the Heat cleaned up house with Boston falling. We will see if they can out play the White Hot Heat, highly doubt it though.

Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks Preview: Time to step it up

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat
Thursday, 3/29/12, 8:00 PM EST, TV:  TNT
Opening Point Spread:  Miami -8.5
Current Betting Line:  Miami -8
Opening Total:  189
Current Total:  188.5
                                                                                                                                                                 

Dallas enters tonight’s 2011 NBA finals rematch on a two-game win streak that includes a 90-81 win over the Houston Rockets as seven-point home favorites on Tuesday night. The Mavericks will be looking to gain revenge from dropping a 105-94 decision as 4.5-point home underdogs to the Miami Heat in their season opener on Christmas Day.  “A bad taste in our mouth,” commented Mavericks guard Jason Terry about that result. The franchise has still managed to win 14 of the last 15 regular-season meetings in the series. Dallas is 10-5 ATS as an underdog this year and the “under” is 8-7 in that situation.

The Mavericks are still led by the offensive play of All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 21 points versus the Rockets and leads the team in averaging 21.0 points per game. Dallas has registered a dismal 10-14 record on the road this season, but is 3-2 in that situation against Eastern Conference opponents. There’s no question that head coach Rick Carlisle is going to mention the previous meeting between these two NBA heavyweights before taking the floor tonight. “We’ve got to think back to Christmas Day because that was a miserable experience for us,” Carlisle stated earlier this week.

Miami returns home after dropping the last two games on a three-game road trip, including a 105-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers as 3.5-point favorites last time out. The Heat have gone “under” the total in five of their last six games, as the offense has sputtered. Since March 2, the team ranks 25th in the league in averaging just 93.1 points per game, which is far off from its 103.8 points it averaged before that point in time during the 2011-12 campaign. Miami is 4-1 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points this year.

The Heat will still have revenge on their minds from losing in the finals last year to the Mavericks despite winning the first meeting this year. Miami is 20-2 overall when playing at the AmericanAirlines Arena this year, including a spotless 5-0 mark versus Western Conference teams.  Star forward LeBron James will be playing with a minor injury to his non-shooting hand, as he dislocated the ring finger on his left against the Pacers.

Bettors will likely back the Mavericks due to their 13-3-1 ATS mark in Miami, while the Heat are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

Article courtesy of http://www.madduxsports.com
Image manipulation and restoration courtesy of Alex T Design

The boys have had a few bad games, probably a bad couple of weeks. Since All-Star break the team hasn't been seen to their full potential, tonight would be the perfect launch to get back where they belong, beating the defending champs. Tonight is the night!! ~ A.T.

Where Amazing Happens: MVP Lebron James runs over Portland

LeBron James just loves his visits to Portland, and after scoring 38 in another Miami Heat double digit win, he has an average of 38.8 points in his last five visits to face the Blazers. Combined with Dwyane Wade’s 33, the Heat rolled to their ninth straight double digit victory, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 107-93.

Chris Bosh wasn’t present, so the Heat’s remaining big two just stepped up. James finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals, becoming the first player since individual turnovers have been recorded to finish with at least a 35-10-5-5 and no turnovers. But it wasn’t just his numbers in another MVP like performance, this time without the ass-slapping that followed like last year in the midst of all the jeers.

James guarded everyone, including Marcus Camby early on, showing just how far he’s come as a defensive player, and how much the All-Star BS hasn’t affected him. When James and Wade are this good, there’s no real need for anyone to show his crunch time skills. Now, the Heat are one double digit win shy of tying the NBA record of 10 such wins, something which has been done three times, most recently by the Houston Rockets in the 2007-2008.

For the Blazers, who have been continuing to slip recently, it’s turned into an 18-18 season, and watching how much better the Heat were makes you think of bad luck and how LaMarcus Aldridge, as good as he is, finishing with 20 points, was a bit too soft in a game the Blazers needed extra toughness while Camby struggled to show any kind of dominance in the paint. A un-retired Brandon Roy, an un-cursed Greg Oden. Things could have been different. But Portland’s problems of being unable to breakout of mediocrity shouldn’t trouble the Heat. They’re on a mission of winning the title, and their ability to overcome the setbacks or injuries this season, which have plagued to some degree each and every one of their three gems, just might mean they’ll be stronger come the playoffs.

They had quite a few rough patches last season, even before the fourth quarter collapses in the finals. The inability to beat the Bulls, the losing streaks mid-season seemed oh so tragic about a year ago. They aren’t happening now because the Heat learned from that, and they’re simply a better team. With Dwyane Wade back in expected form, it’s hard to argue they are the best in the league right now.

Article courtesy of  http://sportige.com
Image courtesy of Alex T Design