Nelly’s East NBA Showcase 3-1 Start
- Handicapper
- Nelly's Sports
- League
- NBA
- Competition
- Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers
- Time
- 10/23/2021 07:10 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Miami Heat -4 (-110)
(DraftKings)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- Miami blasted the defending NBA champions in the season opener with a 137-95 win. While that type of effort will be very difficult to repeat, Miami may not be getting its due as a serious NBA title contender in its early season valuation. This squad had a lengthy run to the NBA Finals in the NBA restart in 2020 but that run took a toll into a disappointing season last year with an early playoff exit. Add Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker to this group and the Heat now have a great mix of veterans and multiple scoring options as well as the ability to stretch the floor extremely well. Tyler Herro led the Heat in scoring off the bench in the opener and the current roster does not need to rely on Jimmy Butler as a different leading scorer every game seems possible with the scoring depth on this team. This is Indiana’s third game of the season in the return to Rick Carlisle and this has looked like a group in a major transition. Indiana is only -2 in scoring this season, but they are 0-2 with two stunning results including an overtime loss at Washington last night. This is the home opener but with limited fanfare and this is the third game in four days with travel last night for a taxing turn in the schedule. Next up is the defending NBA Champions visiting on Monday and losing despite shooting 53 percent last night will be tough to bounce back from. Four starters played at least 43 minutes as well as this will be an incredibly difficult turnaround this early in the season. The Pacers have a strong starting lineup but not much depth as this was effectively a seven-man rotation last night with only a few token minutes for other reserves. Indiana should emerge as a viable playoff team in the Eastern Conference, but this game sets up well for Miami to move to 2-0.
Thank you for playing with Nelly’s and Best of Luck.
