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James, Heat look to put away Nets Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 5/14/2014  at  5:13:00 AM
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BROOKLYN NETS (49-44)

at MIAMI HEAT (61-29)

NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 5 - Miami leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Miami -7, Total: 189

The Heat look to close out their Eastern Conference Semifinals series on Wednesday night when they host the Nets in Game 5.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook breakdown on Game 5:

Brooklyn seemingly had all of the momentum heading into Game 4 after a big home win in Game 3. However, Miami was ready to play and made 53% FG in 102-96 victory to take a 3-1 series lead. LeBron James scored 31 more points than any other player on Monday, finishing with an astounding 49 points in 43 minutes. The Heat now head back home where they are 36-9 SU (but only 21-23-1 ATS) this season, and are a dominant 5-2 (SU and ATS) versus the Nets over the past three seasons. Six of those seven games in South Beach have gone Under the total. Miami is now 7-1 SU (6-2 ATS) this postseason, and is also 7-1 ATS this season after three straight games forcing its opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers. The team is also 20-8 ATS in that same scenario over the past three seasons as well. Brooklyn is a horrible road team at 18-29 SU (21-25-1 ATS), but is 3-1 ATS after a game forcing an opponent to commit eight or less turnovers. They are also 2-0 ATS this postseason when facing elimination in a playoff series and 9-2 ATS since 1996 in the fifth game of a playoff series. There are no significant injuries for either team.

The Nets fought until the very end of Game 4, but they ultimately had no answer for LeBron James. After the Nets went 15-of-25 from three-point range in Game 3, they were ice-cold shooting in Game 4 at just 5-of-22 threes, and if just a couple more fell throughout the game, they might have pulled out a victory. SF Paul Pierce (13.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 SPG in playoffs) had 16 points (6-of-11 FG) and seven rebounds in 32 minutes, but he was unable to connect from long range during the game (0-for-4 threes). After playing excellent defense on LeBron James in Game 3, he really struggled to stay in front of him in Game 4. PG Deron Williams (14.3 PPG, 6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG in playoffs) played a solid all around game on Monday, finishing with 13 points (5-of-14 FG), seven assists and six rebounds in 32 minutes. Williams was a lot more aggressive offensively in this game, but he has still been struggling with his shot this series (34% FG) and just does not look like the same player he was for the majority of the first-round series versus Toronto. SG Joe Johnson (20.0 PPG in playoffs) followed up a 19-point performance in Game 3 with 18 points on horrible shooting (5-of-15 FG, 2-of-7 threes). However, Johnson was not hitting his shots, and the Nets will need him to heat up quickly for Game 5. SG Shaun Livingston (9.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG in playoffs) had 13 points and four assists in 34 minutes on Monday, but also posted a minus-17 rating. The Nets will need him to play well in Game 5 if they are going to extend their season for another game.

The Heat did not play a great game on Monday, but luckily for them, they still have superstar SF LeBron James (30.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.9 SPG in playoffs). James was in a zone on Monday night, tying his playoff career high with 49 points (16-of-24 FG, 3-of-6 threes, 14-of-19 FT). James also had six rebounds, three steals, two assists, one turnover and a +13 rating. He was using his size and making some nice shots from mid-range all evening. He will look to get some similar looks on Wednesday, as he tries to close out the Nets. Although James played an outstanding game, he will still need more help from SG Dwyane Wade (16.6 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG in playoffs) for the rest of the playoffs. Wade had 15 points (7-of-13 FG) in Game 4, but he was pretty much non-existent after a good first half. The Heat will really need Wade to be aggressive and play like his former self, rather than be content taking a back seat to both James and PF Chris Bosh (14.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 BPG in playoffs). Bosh had a pedestrian 12 points (5-of-9 FG, 2-of-6 threes), five rebounds, three blocks and two steals in Game 4. He was playing excellent defensively, but he has fallen a little too much in love with his three-point shooting in this series, which is not a good thing considering he's 4-of-16 from downtown this series. The Heat will need Bosh to operate in the mid-range game like he usually does. SG Ray Allen (8.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG in playoffs) continues to make a mark in this series. He had 11 points and seven rebounds in the game, and was clutch when the Heat gave him the ball to close it out from the free-throw line towards the end of regulation. Miami will need Allen to continue hitting his open shots and rebounding like he has (5.7 RPG in past three games) if they are going to advance to the next round on Wednesday.


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