With so much football action on the docket, many people forget that the 2014 NBA Basketball season is just a few short days away.  Here at Bankroll Sports, we are very excited for the upcoming season and look forward to bringing you lots of free NBA picks and basketball handicapping advice.

Listed at the bottom of this article/page you will find the current odds to win the NBA finals in 2014 from some of the best sportsbooks on the web.  As sports betting enthusiasts who get to speak with very sharp handicapping wiseguys daily, such as the Bankroll Sports expert, we wouldn’t feel like we were doing our part if we didn’t offer you some sensible advise before displaying the full list of NBA Championship odds for 2014.

It’s obvious that the Miami Heat are the obvious and clear cut favorites this year, the casual bettor may look at the list of teams and assume there isn’t any value anywhere else.  Some squares may actually assume that the three-peat is inevitable and may actually take the Miami Heat’s NBA finals odds at 2 to 1 (@ Diamond Sportsbook).

The truth is that the 2 to 1 price on the Miami Heat is basically the sportsbooks sending a message that says; “We took a bath on the Heat last year & we’re not letting that happen again”.

Last season, the heat went off at 6 to 1 to win the NBA Finals and the Vegas sportsbooks tried to lure the sports betting public into playing them.  They paid the price for it.  This year, they aren’t feeling so generous after LeBron James & Dwyane Wade made a mockery of the entire league last season.  While the Heat’s chances of winning the NBA finals look extremely high, they aren’t without some flaws and a 50% chance (which is what 2 to 1 truly is) is a little higher than it should be.  When you account for possible freak injuries and unforeseen circumstances, the 2 to 1 number starts to appear a bit ridiculous.  Therefore, if you are going to make a future bet for someone to win the NBA 2014 NBA Championship, we advise you to look for value elsewhere.

Our advice is look at the teams that were almost there last year and might push themselves over the hump in 2014. Always remember when betting futures that if the favorite is absurdly high, you can usually find a lot more value down the board.  There are a some other contenders that we feel have some value.

We feel that the Los Angeles Clippers are worth taking a serious look at.  You’ll find the Clippers at a very lofty 10 to 1 or higher at a lot of books.  The Clips re-inked their superstar point guard in Chris Paul and look to be trying to add more experienced role players rather than star power.  There were some rumors that that Clippers were looking to trade Blake Griffin, but we believe the team was just doing their due-diligence and testing the market to see what they could get in return.  It goes without saying that Blake Griffin along with DeAndre Jordon currently make up one of the best front-courts in the league.  They also needed a bit more experience out of the guards in 2013 and want to add a solid three-point shooter.  They got just that in guards, JJ Reddick and Jared Dudley. When you add in their acquisition of Doc Rivers, who is no stranger to playoff success, we feel that 2014 may be the year that the Clipper find their groove and make a run at a Championship.  If the Clippers get hot early, those 10 to 1 odds could seem like a gift.

There was no NBA team more exciting than the Golden State Warriors who rallied their fan base last season.  They showed that they might have the best guards in the NBA.  Stephon Curry may be the best shooter in the game and his side-kick, Klay Thompson makes them a matchup nightmare.   Their post players in Andrew Bogut along with David Lee aren’t the league’s best, but they compliment the guards well.  They showed a lack of defense in 2014, but if you factor in their off-season signing of Andre Iguodla & new head coach Mark Jackson, sports fans in the Bay area may have reason to be excited for the NBA basketball playoffs again in 2013.  At around 30 to 1 to win the NBA Finals next year, the Warriors offer a very lofty price and may be worth a small play.

Current Odds To Win The 2014 NBA Finals @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 10/22/13)
(Get a AWESOME 100% Sportsbook Bonus at JustBet.cx When Using This Link)

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: 725 to 1
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: 1000 to 1
MILWAUKEE BUCKS: 450 to 1
CHICAGO BULLS: 9 to 1
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: 80 to 1
BOSTON CELTICS: 175 to 1
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: 13 to 1
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: 33 to 1
ATLANTA HAWKS: 215 to 1
MIAMI HEAT: 2 to 1
UTAH JAZZ: 175 to 1
SACRAMENTO KINGS: 180 to 1
NEW YORK KNICKS: 27 to 1
LOS ANGELES LAKERS: 60 to 1
ORLANDO MAGIC: 950 to 1
DALLAS MAVERICKS: 75 to 1
NEW JERSEY NETS: 13 to 1
DENVER NUGGETS: 55 to 1
INDIANA PACERS: 10 to 1
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: 130 to 1
DETROIT PISTONS: 130 to 1
TORONTO RAPTORS: 450 to 1
HOUSTON ROCKETS: 12 to 1
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: 11 to 1
PHOENIX SUNS: 650 to 1
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: 6 to 1
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: 150 to 1
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: 85 to 1
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: 23 to 1
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: 125 to 1

We aren’t exactly firm believers that the San Antonio Spurs are going to be in the thick of things once again next season. There are a bunch of teams in the Southwest Division that could overtake them, and that could leave the door open once again for the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA Finals Odds: 6 to 1 @ JustBet Sportsbook). F Kevin Durant wasn’t able to get to the NBA Finals for the second straight season, but the fact of the matter is that he challenged one of the best teams in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies essentially all by himself. G Russell Westbrook will be back in the saddle after getting hurt in the playoffs.

List Of Past NBA Finals Champions
2013 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2012 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks
2010 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2009 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2008 NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
2007 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2006 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2005 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2004 NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons
2003 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2002 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2001 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2000 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers

As for the longshots, some may think it may be worth it to put a small play on Cleveland Cavaliers (Odds To Win 2014 NBA Championship: 120 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook). Kyrie Irving is one of the best young guards in the NBA.  The Cavs are building a core of players that can compete in the Eastern Conference. While it’s clear there aren’t that many great teams in the Eastern conference, a good young team like the Cavs could surprise some people and make a run. If the Pacers were able to get the job done in the Central Division this past year, Cleveland could easily do it in 2013. Obviously we’re not saying that we actually believe Cleveland is going to win the NBA title in 2012. However, this is a team a we feel offers great value in their 2014 futures odds.

Up To Date List of 2014 NBA Finals Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 10/22/13)
(Get a 50% Deposit Bonus @ 5Dimes Sportsbook & Casino When Using This Link)

Miami Heat – 1.75 to 1
Oklahoma City Thunder – 6 to 1
Chicago Bulls – 8 to 1
Brooklyn Nets – 11 to 1
Los Angeles Clippers – 12 to 1
Indiana Pacers – 13 to 1
San Antonio Spurs – 13 to 1
Houston Rockets – 14 to 1
Golden State Warriors – 23 to 1
New York Knicks – 29 to 1
Memphis Grizzlies – 32 to 1
Los Angeles Lakers – 44 to 1
Denver Nuggets – 58 to 1
Dallas Mavericks – 70 to 1
Cleveland Cavaliers – 120 to 1
Atlanta Hawks – 175 to 1
Minnesota Timberwolves – 175 to 1
Utah Jazz – 200 to 1
Detroit Pistons – 200 to 1
Portland Trail Blazers – 205 to 1
Boston Celtics – 210 to 1
New Orleans Pelicans – 210 to 1
Washington Wizards – 210 to 1
Milwaukee Bucks – 350 to 1
Sacramento Kings – 350 to 1
Toronto Raptors – 475 to 1
Philadelphia 76ers – 575 to 1
Phoenix Suns – 575 to 1
Charlotte Bobcats – 600 to 1
Orlando Magic – 600 to 1

The NBA playoff odds are posted all over the internet, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be taking an updated look at the Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat series. We’ll go game by game and updated all of the NBA odds and final scores for each of the series, so be sure to join us throughout this series, as we will be keeping this and all of the posts up to date for the NBA playoffs.

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat NBA Playoff Schedule

Heat Win Series 4-3

Game 1: Indiana Pacers 102 – Miami Heat 103 (OT)
Game 2: Indiana Pacers 97 – Miami Heat 93
Game 3: Miami Heat 114 – Indiana Pacers 96
Game 4: Miami Heat 92 – Indiana Pacers 99
Game 5: Indiana Pacers 79 – Miami Heat 90
Game 6: Miami Heat 77 – Indiana Pacers 91
Game 7: Indiana Pacers 76 – Miami Heat 99

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat Series Odds at
Wager Web Sportsbook
Indiana Pacers +300
Miami Heat -360
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Pacers vs. Heat Series Updates
Game 1: Head Coach Larry Vogel is going to be questioned for this one for the rest of his coaching career. The Pacers had a chance to steal Game 1 of this series if it could have figured out how to stop the Heat on their last possession on one of two occasions. On one opportunity, Chris Bosh knocked down the shot that sent the game to OT, and in the other, with Roy Hibbert sitting on the bench, LeBron James drove to the hoop for a rather uncontested layup that won the game in the extra frame. It’s a shame too, because Indiana palyed as well as it really could have. Hibbert scored 19 points and pulled down nine boards, while Paul George and David West combined to put up 53 points. Still, it was a day for the King. King James scored 30 points and had 10 boards and 10 assists for his first triple-double of the playoffs. C Chris Andersen scored 16 points off of the bench in his biggest game as a member of the Heat. Heat 103 – Pacers 102 (OT) (Heat Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: The second verse was largely the same as the first for the Heat and the Pacers. Miami couldn’t figure out how to get into an offensive rhythm in this game, and it ultimately paid the price. No one outside of LeBron James as all that memorable for the Heat. King James scored 30+ points for the second straight game in this series, but the team around him really gave him no help whatsoever. Roy Hibbert scored 29 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the way for Indiana, and he was really a difference maker on both sides of the court. If the Heat aren’t going to be able to contain him, there is a real chance that this series could be in some serious jeopardy when push comes to shove. Pacers 97 – Heat 93 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: Had you told Head Coach Frank Vogel that his team was going to be +12 on the offensive glass and hold the Heat down to just six fast break points in Game 3, he probably would have told you that his team was going to be ahead 2-1 in this series going into this week. However, the Heat shot the ball incredibly well, knocking down 54.5% of their shots from the field and 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. LeBron James was relatively quiet with just 22 points, but the rest of the team around him was awesome. Chris Andersen went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field again, and Udonis Haslem had his best game of the postseason by shooting 8-of-9 and scoring 17 points. The Pacers allowed a season-worst 70 points in the first half against Miami, and now, they are in a 2-1 series hole and face what, for all intents and purposes, is a must win Game 4 on Tuesday night. Heat 114 – Pacers 96 (Heat Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: Indiana is back on terms, and it is back on terms in a game in which Mario Chalmers was seemingly unstoppable. Chris Bosh is still nowhere to be found for the Heat, as he only shot 1-of-6 from the field and didn’t hit a single shot from inside the arc. All of the regulars did their thing for the Pacers, as all five starters scored in double digits, including another remarakble game with 23 points and 12 boards by Roy Hibbert, who is dominating this series in the low blocks. The Pacers shot 50.0 percent from the field, and in spite of the fact that they only knocked down three triples for the whole game, they walked away with a relatively easy win. Pacers 99 – Heat 92 (Series Tied 2-2)

Game 5: The King has answered the call. LeBron James scored 30 points, and he really took over in a third quarter in which the Heat went from down four to up 13 to put Game 5 away for all intents and purposes. It was the first game in which Miami didn’t get crushed on the glass, as the Heat only lost the rebounding battle by one. They also shot the ball incredibly well for the game, knocking down 50.7 percent of their shots. Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen combined to shoot 10-of-11 from the floor in this one, though Andersen could be facing some discipline from the league for inexplicably shoving Tyler Hansbrough. Paul George had his best statistical game of the series, scoring 27 points with 11 boards and five assists, but it wasn’t enough to get over the hump. Heat 90 – Pacers 79 (Heat Lead Series 3-2)

Game 6: You have to give the Pacers all sorts of credit in this series. Every time the Heat look like they are going to deliever a haymaker and finish this series, Indiana just keeps coming right back and pushing even harder. It wasn’t the prettiest game in the world, but the Pacers fended off the fact that Miami knocked down its first six three-point attempts to ultimately win by double digits. Frustration is written all over the faces of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who combined to shoot 4-of-19 from the field in this one. LeBron James scored his 29 points, but an offensive foul against him in the fourth quarter took away any chances of a comeback, especially when he committed a technical foul after the play. Three members of the Pacers logged at least 11 boards, the second time in this series that they have pulled off that feat. Paul George and Roy Hibbert continued their awesome series, as they scored 52 points between them in the win. Pacers 91 – Heat 77 (Series Tied 3-3)

Game 7: The Heat officially took this series over once and for all in the second quarter of Game 7 when they outscored Indiana 33-16. Miami went on to walk away from the Pacers, and it did so by actually dominating on the boards for the very first time in this series and forcing a whopping 21 turnovers. The Pacers only got seven points out of Paul George, who battled foul trouble the whole night, and that proved to be their ultimately demise. LeBron James attempted 16 free throws, only four fewer than the entire Indiana team, and he scored 32 points to lead the way. Dwyane Wade added 21 and nine boards in his best game of this series as well. Heat 99 – Pacers 76 (Heat Win Series 4-3)

2013 Pacers vs. Heat Series Preview

The Heat were more troubled by the Pacers last year in the playoffs than by any other team in the second season, and though they ultimately triumphed in the series, they were surely tested for the full six games that were played. Now, the two teams meet again, but this time, it’s in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the stakes are a heck of a lot higher.

The scariest part about this postseason to the Heat is that they really haven’t seemed to even remotely break a sweat in the playoffs yet. F LeBron James has averaged over 39 minutes per game, but no one else has been good for even 33 minutes. James is also the only man on the team averaging more than 14 points per game. He knows that he is going to have to do more than that here in the playoffs, as will G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh. Wade is going to be happy to have basically a week off to rest his sore knee after putting away the Chicago Bulls. G Norris Cole is knocking down nearly 70% of his shots from the outside in these playoffs, and that’s really helping matters as well, and against an Indiana team that tries to force you to take outside shots, that’s of paramount importance.

The Pacers don’t have F Danny Granger this year, but they have figured out how to get the job done without him. They are almost at the point that they want to be at, but they still have one more huge hurdle to get over here in the form of the Heat. The statistics haven’t been overly pretty for Indiana in the second season thanks to the fact that its defense has locked down for the whole playoffs, but that has been the calling card for the team all season long. F Paul George has averaged 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game here in the second season, while we have really seen G George Hill, F David West, and C Roy Hibbert all come into their own, averaging at least 14 points per game apiece. G Lance Stephenson had the huge game in the close out game against the New York Knicks, and even he is averaging 9.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the playoffs as well.

The regular season this year was one for the Pacers. Indiana won and covered two of the three games in this series, and the one loss came when the Heat were playing out of their minds during their 27-game winning streak. Five of the past six meetings have gone past the ‘total’ as well. That being said, we think that the Heat are the better of these two teams by a country mile, and we think that they are going to ultimately going to win this series going away. This is going to be at best a five-game series, though we think that this is going to end in an ugly sweep.

Pacers vs. Heat Series Prediction: Miami Heat in 4

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The 2013 NBA playoffs are set to continue, and today at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be keeping a close eye on the series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies. These two should be going at it in a great set of battles, and we are going to have our NBA playoffs predictions and scores update on a nightly basis for this and all of the great series throughout the playoffs. Check back to this page often, as we will be updating our final scores and our series analysis so you can make the most informed NBA picks every step of the way in this series.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoff Schedule

Spurs Win Series 4-0

Game 1: Memphis Grizzlies 83 – San Antonio Spurs 105
Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies 89 – San Antonio Spurs 93 (OT)
Game 3: San Antonio Spurs 104 – Memphis Grizzlies 93 (OT)
Game 4: San Antonio Spurs 93 – Memphis Grizzlies 87

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Odds at
GT Bets Sportsbook
Memphis Grizzlies +1450
San Antonio Spurs -2750
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Grizzlies vs. Spurs Series Update
Game 1: One of these teams clearly had a heck of a lot of experience. One of these teams looked shellshocked. The Grizzlies were hoping for better in their first ever game in the Western Conference Finals, but they fell behind by 17 points in the first quarter and never had a shot of getting back in the game. F Zach Randolph only scored two points for the night, while he and C Marc Gasol both ended up with just seven rebounds. San Antonio had 14 three-point shots, and in spite of the fact that the tempo was played at the pace that Memphis would have wanted, San Antonio still dropped gobs of points on the board. Five players scored in double figures for the Spurs, led by G Tony Parker’s 20. Spurs 105 – Grizzlies 83 (Spurs Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: Once again, the Grizzlies played the game that they wanted to play in Game 2 of this series, but they just weren’t able to do enough to get the win in OT. San Antonio only managed 24 points in the first and fourth quarters combined, and it coughed up a 12-point lead in the fourth before ultimately finishing the job in OT. The Grizzlies pulled down 60 rebounds in the game, but they only shot 34.0 percent from the floor. All five starters for San Antonio scored in double figures. G Tony Parker had 15 points and a whopping 18 assists, the most that any player has had in a single postseason game. He also only had two turnovers. Spurs 93 – Grizzlies 89 (Spurs Lead Series 2-0)

Game 3: Turnovers. Get used to hearing that word. San Antonio turned the ball over a ton in the first quarter, and in an interview between stanzas, Head Coach Gregg Popovich literally only used the word “turnovers” twice, and they were the only two words out of his mouth in the entire interview. Alas, those turnovers went away over the course of the next 20 minutes of game time or so, and as a result, the Spurs took a 17-point deficit in a game that could have gotten away from them and turned it into a lead. The Grizz fought back in the final few minutes of the game to force overtime, but for the second straight game, the defense for San Antonio clamped down and the nerves were too much for Memphis to overcome. This young team just doesn’t have the goods to beat the big boys. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan combined for 50 points, while Manu Ginobili came off of the bench to score 19 for the Spurs. Mike Conley had 20 to lead all scorers for the Grizzlies, but after the first quarter, he cooled off dramatically, and he ended the day with five turnovers and just 8-of-21 shooting from the field. This series is all over but the crying. Spurs 104 – Grizzlies 93 (OT) (Spurs Lead Series 3-0)

Game 4: The Spurs had to think that they were going to be in a bit of a fight from the Grizzlies in Game 4 of this series, but alas, Memphis looked like a team that had it right out of the blocks. San Antonio won the first quarter by 10 points, it scored at least 20 points in all four quarters, and it held down the Grizzlies to just 14 points in that opening quarter. It all wasn’t enough for Memphis. It was a magical season for sure, but the only man that really overachieved was Quincy Pondexter, who scored 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Zach Randolph was rather MIA, and he and Marc Gasol only shot 9-of-25 between them. Tony Parker starred for the Spurs, knocking down 15-of-21 shots from the field and all six of his free throws to tally a game-hugh 37 points. Everything else fell into place for the Western Conference champs to move onto the Finals for the fifth time in the Tim Duncan era. Spurs 93 – Grizzlies 86 (Spurs Win Series 4-0)

2013 Grizzlies vs. Spurs Series Preview

If you like your defensive basketball, you’re coming to the right place. The San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies are going to be going to battle, and they should be playing some awfully low scoring series. The two know that this is going to be a brutal set of up to seven games, and NBA betting fans should know just how great of a series this has the potential to be. Even the oddsmakers, who have San Antonio as a -145 favorite on the NBA series odds, know how great this series will be.

The Grizzlies are almost like the bastard children of these playoffs. They don’t play flashy basketball, and they don’t have any care in the world about it. The team is allowing 92.4 points per game in the playoffs, and that number came down to 89.6 points per game in the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were one of the best teams in the league offensively this season. Granted, we know that Memphis has gotten some help, as men like G Chris Paul, F Blake Griffin, and most importantly, G Russell Westbrook have gotten hurt along the way. However, this is a team that has most certainly earned its way to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. Remember that Memphis traded F Rudy Gay during the regular season as well. Just that alone is a wow factor that will not be forgotten. F Zach Randolph and C Marc Gasol took over in the second round against Oklahoma City. They are now averaging 38.0 points and 17.2 rebounds per game between them in the playoffs. G Mike Conley Jr. was good for nearly a triple-double every single night in the second round, and he is now averaging 17.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in the playoffs.

The Spurs had no troubles whatsoever getting past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, but they had a significantly harder time getting through the Golden State Warriors in the second round. We don’t know whether it was a matter of coming out flat or a matter of getting used to the pace of this series, but in the second round, Golden State held the control of the tempo in those first two games. When the series shifted back to Oakland though, Head Coach Gregg Popovich almost seemed like he “figured it out,” and when that happened, the series was over with. G Tony Parker and F Tim Duncan are combining to score 41.1 points per game in the playoffs, and that’s after basically never having to play in the last six minutes of any game in the first round against LA. San Antonio is calling upo nine difference players to play at least 11 minutes per game in these playoffs, and Popovich is going to continue to utilize his entire bench to get the job done.

This has been a heck of a series all season long. Two of the four games went to overtime and the most recent meeting in the beginning of April was decided by a single bucket. The home team went 4-0 SU in the four games this year, but the hosts also only went 2-2 ATS in those outings. We do think that the Grizzlies are going to be able to steal a game in this series in San Antonio, but we don’t think that the Spurs are ultimately going to be denied. We think that this series will play out just like the second round series against Golden State when the Warriors won a game in San Antonio and then ultimately ran away with the series.

Spurs vs. Grizzlies Series Prediction: San Antonio Spurs in 6

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Consider this page your one stop shop for all things related to the Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA playoffs series! These two teams are going to be squaring off in what should be a fantastic second round playoff series, and regardless of whether you are looking for a series preview, our Warriors vs. Spurs predictions, the NBA playoffs series prices for the Warriors and Spurs, or just an up to date listing of all of the final scores with recaps of all of the games, you’ve come to the right place. Be sure to bookmaker this page if you’re a fan of either of these teams, or if you’re just a generic NBA fan, but this is your official handicapping home of the Warriors vs. Spurs series.

Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoff Schedule

Spurs Win Series 4-2

Game 1: Golden State Warriors 127 – San Antonio Spurs 129 (2 OTs)
Game 2: Golden State Warriors 100 – San Antonio Spurs 91
Game 3: San Antonio Spurs 102 – Golden State Warriors 92
Game 4: San Antonio Spurs 87 – Golden State Warriors 97 (OT)
Game 5: Golden State Warriors 91 – San Antonio Spurs 109
Game 6: San Antonio Spurs 94 – Golden State Warriors 82

Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Odds at BetRevolution Sportsbook
Golden State Warriors +575
San Antonio Spurs -850
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Warriors vs. Spurs Series Update
Game 1: There were 205 total shots from the field. There were 56 shots from beyond the arc. There were 100 total rebounds. There were 49 total assists. There were 50 total fouls. And when the dust settled, it was G Manu Ginobili who won it for San Antonio with a bomb of a three to steal Game 1. The Warriors were up 16 points with four minutes to play before Spurs went on an 18-2 run to force overtime. G Stephen Curry did everything he knew to try to win this game, as he played all but four seconds of the game and scored 44 points with 11 assists. G Tony Parker led the way with 28 for the Spurs, and he had a lot of help as well. Five players scored at least 16 points in what turned out to be a prototypical well coached, level headed game by Head Coach Gregg Popovich. This might not have been a cover for San Antonio, but a win is a win, and it might be the victory that ultimately proves to get this team on fire for the rest of the postseason. Spurs 129 – Warriors 127 (2 OTs) (Spurs Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: We’ve been asking the question for the last three weeks as to what would happen to the Warriors in the event that G Stephen Curry had a bad game. Curry didn’t play terribly, scoring 22 points, but he also only shot 7-of-20 from the field. The man of the hour? G Klay Thompson, who hit 8-of-9 from long range and led all scorers with 34 points. It wasn’t a thrilling day for the Golden State offense, particularly in the second half when a 62-43 halftime lead started to evaporate. The fact that the Spurs were challenged for the second straight night in spite of the fact that they got 23 from F Tim Duncan, 20 from G Tony Parker, and a double-double from F Kawhi Leonard is scary to say the least. This is a series that is inevitably going to be a long one. Warriors 100 – Spurs 91 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: In a way, order has been restored for the Spurs. They were able to go on the road right away, seize control of the first game in this series played at Oracle Arena, and ultimately hold on tight to win by 10. G Tony Parker and F Tim Duncan combined to score 55 points for the Spurs, but the story was the San Antonio defense. This unit did a nice job holding down both G Klay Thompson and G Stephen Curry in this one, as those two went just 12-of-37 combined from the floor, scoring a total of 33 points. The Spurs now know that this is a series that they really should win, though it is far from over at this point. Spurs 102 – Warriors 92 (Spurs Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: With five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Warriors were down eight points, and they had to feel as though they were as good as finished. G Stephen Curry was playing on a bum ankle, shots weren’t falling, and the Spurs looked like they were coasting to another double-digit victory. Alas, some more Golden State magic was in the cards, and the team outscored San Antonio by 18 the rest of the way to ultimately win by 10 in OT. Curry ended up with 22 points on the night, and for the first time in a long time, he was picked up by teammates who weren’t named Klay Thompson. G Jarrett Jack, who long wondered if he was going to have to start this game in place of the banged up Curry, scored 24 points, while rookie F Harrison Barnes came up with the biggest performance in his career with a game-high 26. G Manu Ginobili did what he could do for the Spurs, but his 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc wasn’t enough. Take our the Argentine, and San Antonio shot just 25-of-75 from the field and 2-of-17 from long range. That’s why this turned out to be an ugly offensive game. Warriors 97 – Spurs 87 (OT) (Series Tied 2-2)

Game 5: The Warriors are showing the fact that they are mortal, and they are now up against the wall known as elimination. G Seth Curry and G Klay Thompson both had atrocious games, as they shot a combined 6-of-22 from the field and scored just 13 points. It happens to be that the rest of the team played tremendous basketball for the full 48 minutes, but it just wasn’t enough without the stars shining. This was the game where the Spurs flexed their muscles and proved that they are the superior team in this series. The NBA Finals are just five wins away for San Antonio, and after another 25-point game out of G Tony Parker, it seems like it’s only a matter of time until the Spurs get within four wins of that goal as well. Spurs 109 – Warriors 91 (Spurs Lead Series 3-2)

Game 6: Game 6 was a relatively boring game for the Spurs and the Warriors, and that’s just the way that San Antonio wanted it. The Spurs actually only took 73 shots from the field, by far the lowest in any game in this series, but that was more than enough to get the job done. G Stephen Curry did everything that he could, scoring 22 points on the night, but his bum ankles really held him back. Golden State never had the chance to explode from the perimeter as it has in the past in these playoffs, and that ultimately led to its demise. The Spurs held the Warriors to just four three-point shots for the game, and they had all five of their starters score in double figures to lead to the series clinching win. Spurs 94 – Warriors 82 (Spurs Win Series 4-2)

2013 Warriors vs. Spurs Series Preview

Many think that the San Antonio Spurs are set to romp right through to the NBA Finals at this point, as they clearly looked like the best team in the Western Conference when they stormed past the Los Angeles Lakers in four games in the opening round of the series. However, they might have their work cut out for them when they take on the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. Golden State was able to pull off one awesome upset against the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs, and it might be able to pull this one off once again.

Golden State is really only going to go as far as G Stephen Curry takes it. This young man really is becoming a superstar before our eyes. He shot 43.4 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 24.3 points and 9.3 assists per game in the opening series, but he had a heck of a lot of help. G Jarrett Jack, F Harrison Barnes, and G Klay Thompson all averaged at least 14.7 points per game, and F Carl Landry was good for 12.8 points per game. It was unfortunate to lose to F David Lee for the rest of the playoffs to an injury though, and that might ultimately be the demise of the team. That being said, Golden State was able to essentially win all four games without him against a very good Denver outfit, and it was able to win games both at home and on the road, and both in wild skirmish games and in some relatively big defensive spots as well.

San Antonio didn’t just win its first four games, but it won all of those games by at least a dozen points. The average margin of victory against the was 16.3 points per game, and there wasn’t a team that was more impressive. Granted, we know that the Lakers had a team that wasn’t good enough to be in the playoffs, but they did their job nonetheless and took care of business like good teams should. Head Coach Gregg Popovich has a full deck of players to work with, as the only players that are still listed on the injury report heading into this series are C Boris Diaw and C Tiago Splitter, who both figure to be able to play at some point. In typical Spurs fashion, 10 players averaged at least 4.5 points per game, and all of them averaged at least 11 minutes per game. G Tony Parker led all scorers at 22.2 points per game, and he was also the lead assist man as well at 6.5 dimes per night. F Tim Duncan averaged 17.5 points per game, and he looked a lot like the man that has already led this team to numerous titles in his Hall of Fame career.

The home team won all four games this year, and the Warriors covered three of the four games. There is a real chance for Golden State to stick around in this series, but we think that the coaching abilities of Popovich are going to shine in this one, and this will ultimately be a relatively short series. The Warriors will win one on the back of Curry, but he won’t be able to single-handedly win this series the way that he did against the Nuggets.

Spurs vs. Warriors Series Prediction: San Antonio Spurs in 5

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The 2013 NBA playoffs are set to continue, and today at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be keeping a close eye on the series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. These two should be going at it in a great set of battles, and we are going to have our NBA playoffs predictions and scores update on a nightly basis for this and all of the great series throughout the playoffs. Check back to this page often, as we will be updating our final scores and our series analysis so you can make the most informed NBA picks every step of the way in this series.

Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks NBA Playoff Schedule

Pacers Win Series 4-2

Game 1: Indiana Pacers 102 – New York Knicks 95
Game 2: Indiana Pacers 79 – New York Knicks 105
Game 3: New York Knicks 71 – Indiana Pacers 82
Game 4: New York Knicks 82 – Indiana Pacers 93
Game 5: Indiana Pacers 75 – New York Knicks 85
Game 6: New York Knicks 99 – Indiana Pacers 106

Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Series Odds at
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Indiana Pacers -400
New York Knicks +300
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Pacers vs. Knicks Series Update
Game 1: Home court advantage has already flipped hands. The Pacers outscored New York 59-38 in the second and third quarters combined, and the Knicks simply had no answer whatsoever. G DJ Augustin came off the bench and knocked down four threes, scoring 16 points. The five starters for Indiana also scored at least 11 points apiece. Not surprisingly, when the Knicks lose, F Carmelo Anthony and G JR Smith just didn’t shoot the ball well. These two went just 14-of-43 between them. That won’t cut it against this Indiana team, which is a heck of a lot better than the recently banished Celtics. Pacers 102 – Knicks 95 (Pacers Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: Believe it or not, Game 2 was a relatively close game until the Knicks went on a 30-2 run to put things away in the fourth quarter. New York ended up outscoring the Pacers by 20 in the final stanza, and things could have been a heck of a lot worse had that run come earlier in the game. F Carmelo Anthony played an efficient game, as he shot 13-of-26 from the field and scored 32 points. G JR Smith still struggled, but Indiana just couldn’t get things going. The team uncharacteristically only pulled down 35 boards (largely thanks to New York shooting 49.4% from the field), and it turned it over 21 times. The telling stat of the game? Indiana had 66 shots. The Knicks had 89 shots. You’re not going to win games when you don’t shoot the basketball as many times as your opponents. Knicks 105 – Pacers 79 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: If you didn’t believe in how good the Pacers were defensively before, you certainly do now. It feels like the whole shot chart has been littered with bad shot selection for New York, but the Knicks are only taking what the Pacers are giving them looks at. New York shot just 35.2 percent from the field, and though Indiana didn’t do any better at 35.0 percent, it had 13 more rebounds, thus nine more shots from the floor. C Roy Hibbert scored 24 and pulled down 12 boards to lead the way for Indiana. The Knicks only had one double digit point scorer, and that was F Carmelo Anthony with 21. Pacers 82 – Knicks 71 (Pacers Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: It’s more of the same story for the Knicks and the Pacers in this one. Indiana has figured out how to dominate on the defensive side of the court, and New York hasn’t figured out how to counter that. G JR Smith only scored 19 points, and it took 22 shots for him to do that. F Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points, but that took 23 shots to accomplish. G Iman Shumpert, F Kenyon Martin, and G Jason Kidd combined to shoot 0-for-11 from the field. Meanwhile, the Pacers weren’t fantastic offensively, but they won because they dominated on the boards, they only turned the ball over 12 times, and they took advantage of their opportunities. Getting 26 points from G George Hill didn’t hurt either. Indiana is on the verge of a date with the Heat. Pacers 93 – Knicks 82 (Pacers Lead Series 3-1)

Game 5: At least for one more night, the Knicks have survived. With G George Hill out with a concussion, G DJ Augustin was forced into the starting lineup for the Pacers, and though he knocked down three triples in the game, he wasn’t the most effective player in the world. Instead, F Paul George led the way with 23 points, but he didn’t get a heck of a lot of help from anyone else on his team. F Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points on 12-of-28 shooting, and though that was far too many shots for that many points, the team picked up the slack on the defensive side of the court by forcing 19 turnovers. The Pacers were just a mess offensively, and they are going to have to play better ball than this if they want to win this series still. Knicks 85 – Pacers 75 (Pacers Lead Series 3-2)

Game 6: The Knicks had one of their best quarters of basketball in the third quarter when they really needed it, scoring 34 points and drawing level in a game that they had to win. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t end up capitalizing on it. G Raymond Felton didn’t hit a single shot from the field, and G JR Smith hit just 4-of-15 to kill New York’s chances. G George Hill was back in the lineup, and even though he only shot 2-of-10 from the field, the game looked a lot more normal for the Pacers. G Lance Stephenson led the way with 25 points, while F Paul George had 23, and C Roy Hibbert scored 21 with 12 boards and five blocks. Indiana hit 34 foul shots in the game and turned the ball over just nine times. New York didn’t have a single fast break point in what turned out to be its last game of the season. Pacers 106 – Knicks 99 (Pacers Win Series 4-2)

2013 Pacers vs. Knicks Series Preview

The Knicks and the Pacers both struggled just a bit in their opening round series against the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks respectively. Both took big series leads. New York was up 3-0 and ended up needing six games to finish off the Celtics, while the Pacers were up 2-0 on the Hawks before ultimately needing six games to get the job done.

New York played some fantastic defensive ball in this opening round series against Boston, particularly early on. The team held the Celtics down to just a total of 54 points in a span of four quarters of basketball from the third period of Game 2 through the second quarter of Game 3. However, when the defense started to slip, the offense started to get a bit more erratic. F Carmelo Anthony and G JR Smith tried to literally do everything, and the end result is that both ended up shooting just 38 percent from the field for the series. Both put up good scoring numbers, especially Anthony and his 29.2 points per game. However, it all isn’t going to mean anything if the rest of the supporting cast can’t help out. G Raymond Felton had a good first series, averaging 17.2 points per game, but aside from him, there wasn’t another supporting player that averaged more than the 9.0 points per game of G Iman Shumpert and the 6.0 points per game of G Pablo Prigioni. Look for F Amare Stoudemire to come back in this series at some point, perhaps as early as Game 3 in Indianapolis.

The Pacers didn’t play all that well on the road all season long, and that stayed the case in the postseason as well. The team was beaten badly in the first two games at Phillips Arena before finally figuring out how to finish the deal in Game 6 on the road. F Paul George had himself a great opening series, averaging 18.7 points, 9.5 boards, and 5.0 assists per game, and he started off with a triple-double in the opening game of the set. Four players averaged at least 14.7 points per game, but more importantly, three averaged at least 8.0 rebounds per game as well. Indiana continued to move the basketball all over the court, and if it keeps that up here in the second round, it will have a shot of winning this series.

The home team won the last five games in this series dating back to last year, and it is 4-1 ATS in that stretch as well. The Pacers have come up with some huge efforts at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the years, and we think they will ultimately find a way to win this series in six games. There will be too much of “I before Team” basketball in the Big Apple, and Melo and Smith will ultimately be the death of this team once the Pacers figure things out.

Knicks vs. Pacers Series Prediction: Indiana Pacers in 6

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The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies will be playing in what should be a tight series in the Western Conference Semifinals. Join us here at Bankroll Sports, as we look at the Grizzlies vs. Thunder series schedule, as well as many our series predictions for what should be one of the top series to pay attention to in the second round of the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Playoff Schedule

Grizzlies Win Series 4-1

Game 1: Memphis Grizzlies 91 – Oklahoma City Thunder 93
Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies 99 – Oklahoma City Thunder 93
Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder 81 – Memphis Grizzlies 87
Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder 97 – Memphis Grizzlies 103 (OT)
Game 5: Memphis Grizzlies 88 – Oklahoma City Thunder 84

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Series Odds at
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Memphis Grizzlies -765
Oklahoma City Thunder +515
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Grizzlies vs. Thunder Series Updates
Game 1: The Grizzlies had every chance in the world to get the first game of this series, but it was F Kevin Durant that managed to take over and win the game in the fourth quarter. Memphis blew a 10-point lead in the second half, and that isn’t going to cut it in this series. Durant scored 35 points with 15 boards and six assists, and though the rest of the team only had seven assists in total, getting 25 points from G Kevin Martin really helped. Both F Zach Randolph and C Marc Gasol had double-doubles for the Grizz, but it wasn’t enough in the end. G Quincy Pondexter missed the first of three free throws that would have sent the game to overtime, and he was forced to miss the third foul shot to try to tie the game, but Memphis wasn’t able to get another shot off. Thunder 93 – Grizzlies 91 (Thunder Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: For the second straight game, the Thunder and the Grizzlies came right down to the wire, and the end result was a very close game that could have gone either way. This time around though, it was G Mike Conley Jr. who came through in a huge way, scoring 26 points with 10 boards and nine assists to lead the way for the Grizz. Memphis continues to have its way on the glass, winning that battle 43-35 on the day, including going +8 on the offensive boards. Oklahoma City turned the ball over 21 times in the game as well, and that really erased the fact that F Kevin Durant scored 36 points with 11 rebounds and nine dimes. Grizzlies 99 – Thunder 93 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: Though the Thunder ultimately lost by six points and didn’t cover the NBA odds in this one, they really were unlucky to not win this game. Oklahoma City didn’t score a single point in the final two and a half minutes of the game, and F Kevin Durant went the final three and a half minutes with a score. Durant once again got his points with 25, and he led the team in rebounds (11) and assists (5). However, the rest of the team had a total of just five assists, and as we have said all postseason long since G Russell Westbrook got hurt, that isn’t going to cut it. There weren’t any truly flashy stats for the Grizz in this one, as their leader was C Marc Gasol with 20 points and nine rebounds. However, in the end, the shots were falling for Memphis, and they weren’t for Oklahoma City. It was a great defensive game that could have easily gone either way. Grizzlies 87 – Thunder 81 (Grizzlies Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: This is most certainly the one that the Thunder let get away. They were up 17 points in the second quarter of Game 4 on the road, and those are the types of games that you just can’t let slip in a best-of-seven series when you have already let home court advantage get out of your hands. The Thunder just couldn’t buy a shot in the second half and in overtime, and they scored jsut a total of 41 points in the final 29 minutes of the game. F Kevin Durant had 27 points, seven assists, and seven boards, and the difference in this one is that the team actually helped him out a bit. Four others scored in double figures, and G Reggie Jackson even had eight assists to go with his 15 points. Still, it was the power of the “big three” for the Grizzlies that got the job done. C Marc Gasol and F Zach Randolph both scored 23 points and had double-doubles, while G Mike Conley Jr. scored 24 to lead the way for Memphis. Now, the Grizzlies are a win away from the Western Conference Finals. Grizzlies 103 – Thunder 97 (OT) (Grizzlies Lead Series 3-1)

Game 5: For the first time in the playoffs, F Kevin Durant had a bad game, and the end result was his team’s elimination from the playoffs. Sure, Durant scored 21 points, but he only shot 5-of-21 from the field, and he didn’t make a three-point basket all game long. Oklahoma City shot just 36.9 percent from the field, and it ended up committing 25 fouls over the course of the game as well. Meanwhile, it was more of the same for the Grizz. F Zach Randolph had 28 points and 14 boards, while G Mike Conley Jr., in spite of his bad shooting night, still had 13 points, 11 assists, and seven boards. Memphis is off to its first conference finals in team history, and for the second time in these playoffs, it has a four-game winning streak. Grizzlies 88 – Thunder 84 (Grizzlies Win Series 4-1)

2013 Grizzlies vs. Thunder Series Preview

Had you told an NBA expert handicapper two weeks ago that the Thunder would be underdogs in the Western Conference Semifinals, they would have told you that you were insane. After all, Oklahoma City was up 3-0 against the Houston Rockets and looked poised to move onto this round with ease. However, what we found out over the course of these last few games is that the team isn’t ready to win a title without G Russell Westbrook in the fold.

Westbrook is now out for the rest of the playoffs after going through some knee surgery just before Game 3 against the Rockets. Perhaps Houston was a better team than we all gave it credit for, but the truth of the matter is that F Kevin Durant isn’t a point guard. He is trying to do the job, as he led the team in assists in the first round, averaging 7.0 per game. Of course, he was also second on the team in rebounding at 7.8 boards per game and easily the leading scorer at 32.5 points per game as well. The question is going to be whether G Reggie Jackson can make up for what Westbrook is no longer bringing to the table. We do give credit to Jackson for averaging 14.0 points per game in the opening round and shooting 46.2 percent from the field, but he hasn’t been a key ball distributor, and that’s what the team really needs at the moment.

Memphis is actually the slight favorite for the time being, and many think that it might not just win this series, but win it with ease. The club actually won the final four games of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the favored Los Angeles Clippers, though we do have to recognize the fact that three of those four games were at home at the FedEx Forum. The Grizz play suffocating defense, and they held the Clips down to just 91.0 points per game in the last five games of the series. It was the offense that shined that was a bit shocking. Memphis only scored triple digits in one of its 13 games prior to Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs. In the last three games though, the team scored 104, 103, and 118 points. F Zach Randolph, G Mike Conley, and C Marc Gasol all averaged at least 17.3 points per game for the team this year, and if that’s the way that these three are going to play for the whole postseason, the Grizzlies might be legitimate contenders to win the whole enchilada.

Recent history is on the side of the Grizzlies. They have won three of the last four meetings, though they only went 2-2 ATS in those games. The one failure came in March when they won 90-89 in overtime as a 1 ½-point favorite. Remember that all of those games came with both Durant and Westbrook in the fold. We might be overreacting to what we saw in that series against Houston, but the argument could have been made that the Thunder should have been beaten 4-1 in that first round series. We think that will be approximately the final score of this series as well. We want the Grizzlies on our side, even as the short favorites against a team that won 60 games in the regular season.

Grizzlies vs. Thunder Series Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies in 5

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The NBA playoff odds are posted all over the internet, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be taking an updated look at the Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat series. We’ll go game by game and updated all of the NBA odds and final scores for each of the series, so be sure to join us throughout this series, as we will be keeping this and all of the posts up to date for the NBA playoffs.

Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat NBA Playoff Schedule

Heat Win Series 4-1

Game 1: Chicago Bulls 93 – Miami Heat 86
Game 2: Chicago Bulls 78 – Miami Heat 115
Game 3: Miami Heat 104 – Chicago Bulls 94
Game 4: Miami Heat 88 – Chicago Bulls 65
Game 5: Chicago Bulls 91 – Miami Heat 94

Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat Series Odds at
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Chicago Bulls +35000
Miami Heat -100000
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Bulls vs. Heat Series Updates
Game 1: Even the most staunch Chicago fan couldn’t have seen this one coming! In spite of the fact that the Bulls didn’t have either F Luol Deng or G Kirk Hinrich, they still were able to lock down defensively and hold the sluggish Heat to just 86 points, including only 37 in a very suspect first half that has to concern the champs. F LeBron James, G Dwyane Wade, and F Chris Bosh, who are used to combining for at least 60 points on a nightly basis, had just 47 between them on Monday, and that really was the difference in the game. Chicago used G Marco Belinelli and F Jimmy Butler for a total of 95 minute between them, and that was the difference in the game. Butler scored 21 and had 14 boards. G Nate Robinson scored 27 and had nine assists. Bulls 93 – Heat 86 (Bulls Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: There was no G Kirk Hinrich and no F Luol Deng for the straight game in this series, yet this time around, the Bulls absolutely got their butts kicked, particularly in a stretch of 20:15 when the game went from 42-38 to 104-58. The de facto 62-20 run was one of the most impressive things that we have seen in our time of watching basketball, and we have seen some pretty darn impressive things. The Heat never really had to break a sweat in this one, as it was over from the get go. Six players logged double-digits of points for Miami, and those six outscored the entire Chicago team by 19 points. Forget about the others who tallied another 18. This could have been a 50-point game if the Heat had wanted it to be. Heat 115 – Bulls 78 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: Once again, all of the players for the Bulls that we have been mentioning as players that have been sitting sat in Game 3, and the end result once again didn’t go Chicago’s way. It was another game littered with technical fouls, and C Nazr Mohammed was ejected after he shoved F LeBron James. Needless to say, that wasn’t what Head Coach Tom Thibodeau needed, knowing that he was already going to play four players at least 42 minutes in this game. The Bulls simply ran out of gas in the final stanza of this one, as they were level going into the fourth quarter and were unlucky to at least not cover the spread. C Chris Bosh scored 20 and brought down 19 rebounds to lead the way in a game in which Chicago really had just about everything going the way that it wanted. Miami helped salt the game away by shooting 26-of-30 from the charity stripe. Heat 104 – Bulls 94 (Heat Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: The white flag isn’t quite in the air yet, but we’re hearing a fat lady starting to sing, and we think that she’s located in South Beach. G Dwyane Wade tweaked his knee again in Game 4, but that was about the only bit of bad news for Miami in this one. F LeBron James did his thing, scoring 27 points with eight assists and seven boards, while F Chris Bosh was the only other double-digit scorer on the team with 14 points. The impressive stats all came on the other side of the court. The Bulls were held to just 19 field goals for the game, and they had only 42 points through three quarters before scoring 23 in the fourth. G Nate Robinson shot just 0-of-12 from the field, and even if you take that out, the rest of the team only shot 30.6%. There’s nothing left that Chicago can do to stop its pending extinction this season. Heat 88 – Bulls 65 (Heat Lead Series 3-1)

Game 5: We’ll say this about Chicago: It never gave up. The Heat threatened early to blow Chicago out of the water for the fourth straight game. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and company erased a 17-point deficit though, and the Bulls ultimately build a double-digit lead of their own late in the third quarter. There just wasn’t enough gas left in the tank though, as Miami outscored Chicago 28-14 over the course of the last 14 minutes of the game to win by three. Four players scored at least 15 points for the Bulls in defeat. F LeBron James scored 23 points in spite of his 5-of-14 shooting performance. G Dwyane Wade, playing on a bad knee, scored 18 and had six assists and five boards. Now, the Heat will have at least three days off, and potentially as much as a week off to rest to get ready for the Eastern Conference Finals. Heat 94 – Bulls 91 (Heat Win Series 4-1)

2013 Bulls vs. Heat Series Preview

Just as the New England Patriots were basically convinced that they had a bye through the first two rounds of the playoffs in the AFC this year, the Heat probably can be convinced that they have a bye in the first two rounds of the playoffs this year in the Eastern Conference as well. They made it through their first round without any hassles against the Milwaukee Bucks, taking all four games with ease. Now, they get the Bulls, who had to play a full seven games, including a triple-overtime game in Game 4, and who are incredibly banged up coming into this series.

It’s anyone’s guess as to whether G Derrick Rose is really going to try to suit up or not for this series. In the end, we have to think that Rose is done for the year, even if Chicago gets out of this series. The rest of the team is going to have to pick up the slack around him, and many of the bodies that would be in those roles are hurting as well. C Joakim Noah doesn’t show up on the injury report any longer even though he is playing through plantar fasciitis. Meanwhile, F Luol Deng was hospitalized prior to Game 6 against the Brooklyn Nets and might miss at least the start of this series. G Kirk Hinrich missed three of the seven games against the Nets with a hamstring problem. That being said, G Nate Robinson was able to really step up and have some big, big moments against Brooklyn, and he was actually the second leading scorer at 17.0 points per game in that first series. F Carlos Boozer was a rock in the middle for Head Coach Tom Thibodeau on both sides of the court, and he ended up averaging 17.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the series, shooting 54.5 percent from the field.

And then there are the Heat, who were so not worried about Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks that they let G Dwyane Wade sit out for the game. Wade only averaged 13.7 points per game, and it almost seemed like he and his teammates were toying with Milwaukee. F LeBron James only averaged 37 minutes per game, and we know that he has the ability to play 45 minutes per game if he needs to as we go on in the second season. F Chris Bosh only averaged 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and he too, is capable of much, much more. This is going to be a tougher series for sure for all of the Heat players, and virtually everyone is going to have to step it up. That being said, there is no doubt who the superior of these two teams are.

The Heat are going to have a score to settle with the Bulls. Chicago was the team that ended their 27-game winning streak back in the end of March. The Bulls also won a game earlier this year at American Airlines Arena, perhaps proving that they can indeed win in this series. That being said, it’s only a matter of time until the Heat turn on the jets, and we think they’re going to do just that when push comes to shove at the United Center in Games 3 and 4 of this series. Not only do we think that Miami is sweeping this series, but we think it is sweeping it without having to break a sweat. Four wins by at least a dozen points are in store as we see it.

Bulls vs. Heat Series Prediction: Miami Heat in 4

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