NBA – Utah at Miami (7:30 PM ET – NBA TV)

Maybe Dwayne Wade’s overrated and Miami doesn’t need him after all

2007-03-13

Maybe Dwayne Wade’s overrated and Miami doesn’t need him after all, after beating Washington this past Sunday to pull within a game of first place in the Southeast Division. While the last sentence is lacking in logic, there is no denying Miami has turned up the heat, with six consecutive wins and 7 of 8 victories.

Last season the Heat with Wade and Shaquille O’Neal were more overvalued then the now cancelled O.C. and Mischa Barton’s acting talents. Miami was 36-45-1 ATS in the regular season. Now with the two superstars seldom together on the floor at the same time this season, they are a solid wager at 35-25-2, including 7-2 in last nine games.

Utah may be facing their sternest test of the month of March, with a trip into South Beach. From a cultural perspective, citizens from Utah and Miami would about as far apart as you could get and that has also been the case when these two teams collide on the hardwood. The Jazz are 0-6 and 1-5 ATS taking on the Heat over the last few years, including decisive home loss 119-110 as eight point favorites on January 13. Coach Jerry Sloan’s squad has been as hot as those bikini clad females walking along the Atlantic Ocean beaches with six straight wins and 14 in last 16.

With the way Utah is playing, oddsmakers like those as Sportsbook.com have instituted them as 1.5-point favorites with the total of 192.5. A good part of Utah’s success this season besides incredible depth, is how they crash the boards. The Jazz are 17-4 ATS after three straight games outrebounding opponent by 10 or more.

Miami success in recent years over Utah has been predicated on Shaq, since Utah really doesn’t have that big guy that is strong enough to muscle with him. It is not that O’Neal has had huge games necessarily, but because he is such a good passer, he has found cutters and wide open jump shooters helping the Heat to keep the Jazz off key.

It’s almost hard to fathom Miami is 18-12-1 ATS at home and is extremely profitable 8-2-1 against the spread as home underdog this season. NBA TV showcases this contest starting at 7:30 Eastern. If you are not using the Betting Trends page, you are missing great opportunities to profit daily.

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