LeBron Returns Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers 2010 NBA Preview, Odds, and Predictions: All Star forward LeBron James leads his Miami Heat on the road to Quicken Arena on Thursday night at 8:00 PM ET to play his former team the Cleveland Cavaliers on TNT. The Heat come in at a disappointing 11-8 but with 2 consecutive wins good for 3rd in the Southeast while the Cavs are coming off a loss and are at 7-10 3rd in the Central division. It will be the first time Lebron James returns to Cleveland as a player other than for the Cavs and the animosity from the fans and Owner Dan Gilbert when he left was overwhelming. Fans burned his Jersey in the street and the Owner sent a letter admonishing him to the season ticket holders. “It’s going to be emotional for myself, going back to Cleveland to the fans that I still love to this day. Lot of great memories, but I’ve got to try to put that in the back of my mind, understand that we’re coming in to get a win, and play hard and try to get a ‘W.'” — LeBron James, after sitting out Wednesday’s fourth quarter, on what he expects for his Thursday return to Cleveland. The odds makers at Bodog have the Miami Heat a -5 point favorite on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Miami Heat held a players only meeting as well as a one on one meeting between LeBron and head coach Eric Spoelstra prior to winning 2 straight most recently against the Detroit Pistons 97-72 Wednesday evening to move to just 6-13 ATS for the season. LeBron led all scorers with 18 points and also pulled down 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 3 quarters of play resting as the Heat had a big lead and the team is playing back to back nights. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh each scored 16 with Bosh also having 7 boards and 3 assists. Miami is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Cleveland. Vegas odds makers have the Miami Heat +220 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The Cavs are coming off a loss to the Boston Celtics 106-87 at home moving to 8-8-1 ATS for the season. Anderson Varejao led Cleveland with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Cleveland is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Miami and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Cleveland. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 192 points combined of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
I predict the Heat win on the road and there will be lots of boos!