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Heat vs Celtics SGP Best Bets: Bet $10 Win $45

05/17/2023

Find 4 best bets for Game between this year’s Eastern Conference finals matchup between the Heat and Celtics below. Each bet constitutes a different leg in a same game parlay, allowing individuals to place a +450 bet on tonight’s game.

The Eastern Conference side of the playoffs has been about as chaotic as you could ask for. The championship favorite Boston Celtics had to get pushed to a game seven against a hobbled 76ers squad while the Miami Heat have continued their dream run as the eighth seed after skating past both the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks. They now face off against each other in what should be a gauntlet against two elite defenses.

Heat vs Celtics SGP Best Bets

With the NBA action dwindling to a game a night, let’s dive deep into the matchup and muster up a SGP off of how I think the game script will go. The Celtics opened up as a massive favorite on the series moneyline, as well as currently sitting as the championship favorite. They host the Heat in game one, getting home court advantage as the top seed remaining in the east.

Miami Heat +8.5

The Celtics looked as vulnerable as a title favorite could look, seemingly not being able to figure out how to stop the 76ers slashing scheme across the middle. That was until game seven, holding the Sixers scoring to minimal after halftime while the Celtics offense exploded to a 20-point lead.

Still, it’s a game of runs and I will back the Heat at anything higher than +8 as their offense should be able to find the same success that the Sixers managed. James Harden ran the offense through his drives across the middle, the same way that Jimmy Butler did against the New York Knicks.

Not only will Butler be able to scramble the Celtics defense at will, but Bam Adebayo will also have an advantage in the interior as a more mobile scoring big man. Al Horford struggled against Embiid, needing doubles on the help side with Robert Williams in an attempt to slow him down. Expect more of the same against Bam, leaving the Celtics exposed and unable to stretch out against the Heat.

Heat Team Total o100.5

If the Heat are going to cover the spread, then they are going to have to keep up with the Celtics scoring pace. The Celtics are second in Offensive Efficiency per TeamRankings and are coming off an offensive explosion behind Jayson Tatum’s monster game.

The Celtics offense has struggled at times, but their defensive play has been especially alarming. They looked lost at times on how to slow down Harden’s drives to the middle, failing to successfully switch over on screens on the perimeter.

Miami will look to replicate the same success with Vincent and Butler getting freed up at the line, gashing the Celtics anemic defense for high quality looks at the rim. Should their threes fall off the extra pass then the Heat should have no issue in clearing this over.

Jayson Tatum o4.5 Assists

While the offensive revitalization has propelled the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals, it’s their stout defense that has routinely given opposing offenses fits. A suffocating style of play that is more than capable of slowing down Jayson Tatum who has disappeared at times throughout the playoffs.

While Tatum has struggled in the scoring department from time to time, his efforts elsewhere have remained consistent as he has improved as a facilitator. Especially if Jimmy Butler picks him up as his defensive assignment, now having to deal with one of the best on-ball defenders in the league.

This is a sharp difference from the Sixers defense, lacking a true game changing perimeter defender. With Butler face guarding, Tatum’s drives to the rim will result in more potential assists than scoring opportunities as help side coverage collapses and a Celtics shooter on the outside gets a high-quality look at the rim.

Bam Adebayo Double-Double Yes

As previously mentioned, Bam Adebayo should have a scoring advantage in the interior. Al Horford has struggled with singular coverage as the lone defender, now having to deal with the athletic Adebayo who has steadily improved as a scorer off the block.

With the points expected to clear with ease, it’s the rebounding that makes or breaks this part of the SGP. Rebounding has played a crucial role in thwarting the Bucks and Knicks, now expecting more of the same as they ramp up their aggression on the boards against the lackadaisical Celtics.

Especially if the Celtics continue to opt in the idea of giving Robert Williams more starting time, having to battle against the big man to extend their positions and limit the Celtics second chance scoring opportunities.

Four-leg SGP Betting Card

  • Heat +8.5
  • Heat Team Total o100.5
  • Jayson Tatum o4.5 Assists
  • Bam Adebayo Double-Double

Full SGP Odds: +450 ($10 wins $45)

By www.lineups.com