NBA Playoff Picks 5/6 – New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
by Thomas Quaynor, analyst for Wannamakeabet.com
The New York Knicks are on the road facing the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals this afternoon on ABC. The series is tied 1-1 after these teams split the first two games in New York. Miami and New York have a heated postseason history as they met four straight times from 1997 through 2000 with New York winning three of four, and a fifth time in 2012 where Miami won 4-1. Miami is a 4-point favorite and the total is 209.5.
HOW BOTH TEAMS GOT HERE
The 8 seed Miami Heat stunned the top seed Milwaukee Bucks in just 5 games to advance to the second round. It was only the sixth time in NBA history that a No. 8 seed beat a No. 1 seed. Despite losing third leading scorer Tyler Herro (20.1 ppg) and reserve Victor Oladipo to injury early in the Milwaukee series, a couple of herculean efforts from Jimmy Butler has carried Miami to this point. Jimmy Butler is averaging 35.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals in 6 postseason games. Against Milwaukee in round one, Butler scored 56 points in Game 4 and followed it up with a 42-point effort in Game 5 to close out the series. Butler averaged a Jordan-like 37.6 point per game in the series. Butler injured his ankle late in Miami’s Game 1 win in New York, the injury prevented him in playing in Game 2, he’ll be back for this afternoon’s game.
Another key to Miami’s postseason success has been the play of part-time starter Gabe Vincent, he raised his scoring average from 9.4 in the regular season to 15.0 in the playoffs and has scored 20+ points in three straight games. Vincent done a fantastic job filling in for Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, who are both likely out for the rest of the playoffs.
The New York Knicks dispatched of the higher seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs and advanced to the second round for the first time since 2013. Jalen Brunson dominated Cleveland in round 1 and is averaging 25 points, 4.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals through 7 games. The Knicks signing Brunson in the offseason has turned out to be one of the most impactful decisions in franchise history when you look at Brunson’s elite level of play and the team’s turnaround this season.
New York’s All-Star forward Julius Randle re-aggravated an ankle injury in the Cleveland series which has caused a dip in his postseason numbers (25.1 ppg down to 16.2 ppg) and forced him to miss the Game 1 loss to Miami. Randle made a strong return in Game 2, finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists as New York held off Miami. RJ Barrett is averaging 25 ppg and 6 rebs in this series against Miami and he’s scored at least 20 points in four straight games
THE PICK
This one is simple to analyze, Jimmy Butler is playing today so Miami wins, Lay the 4 points!
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