The Boston Celtics try to even the Eastern Conference Finals with the Miami Heat in Game 2 on Thursday.
Game 2 Key: Jimmy Butler vs. the Celtics
Jimmy Butler’s game levels up in the playoffs and the Heat goes as he goes. You can’t measure how much Butler helps them at both ends of the floor. Butler hasn’t faced a group of perimeter defenders like the Celtics have and in Game 1 he was the difference-maker.
Jimmy Butler in Game 1: 41 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, three blocks (63.2 percent shooting)
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra: “Jimmy Butler is an elite competitor. There’s a lot of guys in this league that are playing basketball. He’s competing to win. That’s a totally different thing and he does that as well as anybody in this league.”
Jimmy Butler: “I think it’s a blessing to play basketball at the highest level… I enjoy going to battle with the guys that I got.”
X-Factors for Both Teams
Tyler Herro can be the difference in Game 2. Herro was Miami’s best offensive player in the regular season but he has not been as consistent in the playoffs. The Heat need Herro’s best version on Thursday. He had 18 points in 27 minutes off the bench in Game 2 but he was just 1 of 5 from beyond the arc.
The Heat will struggle to keep up with the Celtics if their aggressive defense targets him in Game 2 and he can’t handle it.
Derrick White is the player to watch for the Celtics on Thursday. White moves the ball well and is a great defender, the problem is that he’ does not score as much as he could. In Game 1 the Celtics didn’t have Marcus Smart and White got the start but he scored just three points on 1 of 4 shooting in 29 minutes.
This can’t happen again in Game 2. He has to make plays and provide more scoring while playing big minutes. If he gets his shots to go down it will give the Celtics a massive boost.
DafaNews Picks
Team to Win (Regular Time)
• Boston Celtics: 2.48
• Miami Heat: 1.60
Spread
• Boston Celtics: +4.5 (1.86)
• Miami Heat: -4.5 (1.95)
Total
• Over 207.5 (1.88)
• Under 207.5 (1.93)
Betting Trends
The Over is 8-2 in Boston’s last 10 games against a team with a winning straight up record, 9-4 in Boston’s last 13 road games, 7-1 in Miami’s last eight games against a team with a winning straight up record, 23-11-1 in the last 35 meetings in Miami and 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Projected Leaders
For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum is projected to finish with 31.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists, making 10.0 field goals in 24.6 attempts.
For the Heat, Jimmy Butler is expected to score 24.5 points with 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists, making 7.1 field goals in 17.5 attempts.
Analyst’s Pick
Over 207.5 (1.88).
Three-star (out of four) AccuScore hot trend pick on the total in this one. Average score in simulations is Boston Celtics 106 to Miami Heat 105.5.
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