Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals Game 4 Tips, Picks, Odds and Predictions – NBA Playoffs Betting Preview 6/7/11

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals Game 4 Expert Tips, Picks, Odds and Predictions – NBA Playoffs Betting Tips 6/7/11: Coming off back-to-back games decided by just two points for the first time in the NBA finals since 1998, the Heat and Mavericks have already provided plenty of drama heading into Game 4 in Dallas. Miami has a 2-1 edge, but Dallas has proven more than capable of erasing and overcoming double digit deficits. Despite trailing in the series, the Mavericks enter Tuesday night’s matchup as 3-point favorites.

Through the first three games, there are a few things that have remained constant. Miami can’t stop Dirk Nowitzki, and Dallas doesn’t have an answer for Dwyane Wade. The Heat have made a habit of building big leads, but the Mavericks always seem to have a run to answer the challenge. The end result has been a close series that has come down to the final shot in each of the last two games.

As close as the last two games have been, it’s hard to forget just how close this series was from being 3-0 in favor of Miami. It took an incredible collapse by the Heat in Game 2 to open the door for Dallas. Nowitzki deserves a lot of credit for taking and making every big shot during the comeback, but had the LeBron James decided to continue to attack the basket rather than settle for jump shots, the Mavericks don’t win the game.

There is a reason that Miami has been able to build big lead after big lead, forcing Dallas to constantly play from behind. The Heat defense has been able to completely shut down the perimeter players for the Mavericks. Nowitzki has scored at will, but Miami has made Dallas a one-dimensional club. Entering the series, depth was expected to be one of Mavericks’ biggest assets. Instead, it has been a non-factor. Dallas fans have been begging for someone to step up and help Nowitzki, but it probably isn’t going to happen.

On the offensive end, the Heat have taken advantage of the available mismatches. James and Wade have played above the rim and scored in transition early in games, and Wade has taken over as the closer in the fourth quarter. After a slow start, even Chris Bosh has begun taking advantage of his wide open looks. While Dallas has done a respectable job at containing James in the series, the Heat have a luxury that the Mavericks don’t. Miami has a pair of superstars, and Bosh is a legitimate scorer as well.  

Miami’s focus for a full 48 minutes can certainly be questioned, but the talent on the team cannot. Despite the final scores, anyone that has watched the games has to agree that Miami is the better team, even if Nowitzki is the best player on court. It is very rare that bettors have a chance to take the better team and get three points, which makes the Game 4 matchup all the more enticing.

Expect Dallas to be playing from behind once again in Tuesday’s contest. James will continue to make Jason Terry a non-factor, and the rest of the Mavericks’ 3-point shooters will continue to shoot blanks. Meanwhile, Wade will continue to knife through the Dallas defense. Even if Nowitzki can lead another miracle rally, the Mavericks won’t win by much.

Free NBA Tips and Picks: Miami Heat (+3) Cover the Spread

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