Monday, March 6, 2017

Quicken Loans Arena

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The Miami Heat travel to Quicken Loans Arena to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, March 6, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 9 point favorites.

The come into this game with an overall record of 29-34. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.3 as they are averaging 102.2 points per game while giving up 101.9 per contest. The Cavaliers have an overall record of 42-19. They currently are 1st in the Central Division. They are averaging 111.0 points per game and surrendering 106.5, good for a point differential of 4.5.

Hassan Whiteside comes into this contest averaging 16.7 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 14.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is currently at 59%. Goran Dragic averages 20.2 points per game in 33.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Kyrie Irving averages 25 points per game while playing 35.1 minutes per contest this year for the Cavaliers. He grabs 3.2 rebounds per game and has 5.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 91%. Lebron James averages 25.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 37.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.1 rebounds per contest and 8.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is 69%.

Miami averages 102.2 points per contest this season which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.25 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 44 rebounds per game and 21.3 assists per game which ranks them 12th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 19th with 13.5 per game. The Heat allow 101.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 7th and 7th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.9 rebounds a game which ranks 19th and they give up 20.3 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Cleveland averages 111 points per game this year which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 4.48 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team which has them sitting in the 6th spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 1st in the NBA. They average 43.6 rebounds per game and 22.5 assists per contest which ranks them 16th and 13th respectively. In the turnover department the Cavaliers rank 17th with 13.9 per game. The Cavaliers allow 106.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc ranking them 16th and 24th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 43.9 rebounds a game which ranks 18th and they give up 24.6 assists per contest which puts them in 29th place in the league. The Cavaliers force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the NBA.

The Heat have an offensive rating of 106.8 and a defensive rating of 106.5. In terms of pace they average 95.2 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 51%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they shoot 3 pointers on 31% of their shots. Miami turns the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions and they force 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%.

The Cavaliers rating on offense is 114.1 and they have a defensive rating of 109.5. They get 96.6 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 55%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 58% and they attempt 3 pointers on 40% of their shot attempts. Cleveland turns the ball over on 12.6 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 12 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 52%.

Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 37-26-0 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 29-34-0 against the over/under

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 28-31-2 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 35-26-0 against the over/under

Miami Heat Injuries

12/27/16 F Josh McRoberts Foot out indefinitely
10/22/16 F Chris Bosh Blood Clot out for season
03/05/17 F James Johnson Elbow injured last game, probable Monday vs. Cleveland
01/04/17 F Justise Winslow Shoulder out for season

Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/21/16 G J.R. Smith Thumb out indefinitely
12/16/16 F Chris Andersen ACL out for season
03/05/17 C Andrew Bogut Acquired probable Monday vs. Miami
02/14/17 F Kevin Love Knee expected to miss 6 weeks

Guy's Pick: Take Cleveland -9

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