8* Take Miami (#558)

Not much has gone right this season for Miami.  They’ve been dealing with injuries and attrition from Day 1.  After reaching the Finals last summer, the Heat are now sitting with a 4-7 record to open this season after losing at home by 20 to the lowly Pistons on Saturday.

Heat coach Eric Spoelstra on Sunday, after the loss to Detroit Saturday Night: “Our guys came in with a great approach today.  You can be as frustrated, disappointed, angry or whatever you feel about how the games have gone, but it’s your approach to find solutions the next day that matters.  Our guys have been committed to the process of getting better…it’s not making excuses or feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Miami was a ‘bet-on’ team off a loss for the entirety of the 2019-20 campaign.  They’ve shown real signs of being a ‘bet-on’ team off a loss again this season.  Prior to their current three game skid, the Heat had been 4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS off a loss.  In two of their three recent defeats, they didn’t have a capable NBA roster due to COVID protocol.  Against the Pistons, they got several key pieces back, but played terrible basketball on both ends of the floor. 

Now the Heat are in bounceback mode, looking to repay the Pistons for that ugly loss on Saturday Night.  Even without Jimmy Butler suiting up today, Miami is primed to bring their ‘A’ game today and win this game by margin.  Take the Heat.