Miami Heat at Charlotte Bobcats 2011 NBA Preview, Odds, and Predictions: MVP LeBron James will lead the red hot Miami Heat on the road to Time Warner Cable Arena to take on the struggling Charlotte Bobcats on Monday at 7:05 PM ET. The Heat ended 2010 with 15 wins for the month of December a new Miami record for a month and enter the game at 26-9 1st in the Southeast. Charlotte comes in at 11-20 4th in the Southeast losing 5 of their last 7 games. Just prior to Christmas head coach Larry Brown stepped down and the Bobcats have hired Paul Silas to replace him. The Heat looked to be off track last game trailing by 20 points early and giving up 72 in first half alone, but the big three stepped up and they came back to win at home. “Those aren’t the habits that we want to build and that’s not how we wanted to start 2011,” coach Erik Spoelstra told the Heat’s official website. “We talked about being humble and being hungry, having a sense of urgency. I hope that malaise that we were in the first half was an aberration.” The odds makers at Bodog have the Miami Heat a -9 point favorite at home against the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Heat has won 5 consecutive games most recently a 114-107 come from behind victory over the Golden State Warriors and now are 16-18-1 ATS for the season. LeBron led the way with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists while Dwayne Wade poured in 25 points as well along with 6 boards and 8 assists. Forward Chris Bosh continued to rule inside scoring 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds with 3 dimes. Vegas odds makers have the Miami Heat +200 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The Bobcats are coming off a 96-95 loss at home to the Golden State Warriors leaving them at 12-17-2 ATS for the season. Stephen Jackson led the way with 22 points 6 rebounds and 4 assists but missed the game winner. “I took a terrible shot at the end of the game. It’s my fault … they rely on me.” — Stephen Jackson on the last possession against the Warriors. Charlotte is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Miami and the total has gone UNDER in 6 of Charlotte’s last 7 games when playing at home against Miami. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 189 1/2 points combined of the Charlotte Bobcats and Miami Heat.
I predict a Miami win and cover on the road!
Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NFL Football Predictions against the Vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.