Miami Heat Atlanta Hawks Game 4 Predictions
Written April 27, 2009 by Jason Lowry
After arguably the worst game 1 performance out of any team in the playoffs this postseason, the Miami Heat have bounced back in a huge way against the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat returned the favor in the first game in Miami, as the Heat beat up on the Hawks 107-78 in game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. After scoring just 19 points in game 1, Dwayne Wade has answered with 62 points in the Heat’s mini 2 game win streak.Wade had 29 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in game 3, but it wasn’t all Wade, as Miami got 22 points and 10 rebounds from Jermaine O’Neal and 12 points and 13 rebounds from Udonis Haslem. The Heat also got 15 points from rookie Mario Chalmers and 11 points from James Jones, as all 5 Heat starters scored in double figures. For the Hawks it was a pretty ugly shooting display, as they shot just 36.7% from the field. Al Horford, Mike Bibby, and Josh Smith led the team in scoring with 13 points a piece. Joe Johnson scored just 10 points, and continues to struggle in this series. The Hawks are now in a very tough situation, as they need to win game 4 to avoid falling down 3 games to 1, and pretty much ending their chance of making it out of the first round. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night, and here is a look at what I think each team needs to do to win, plus my prediction on who comes out on top against the spread.
What the Hawks have to do to win: The Hawks have their work cut out for them if they want to even this series up at 2-2, as they have not looked good at all in the last 2 games. The Hawks need Johnson to get it going, as he is such a huge part of this offense. It’s not just Johnson that needs to get it going, as the whole team is struggling to shoot the ball after the blowout in game 1. The lack of offense seems to be have its effects on the defense play as well, as the Hawks have went from allowing the Heat just 64 points in game 1, to nearly a 100 a game in the last 2. Someone on the Hawks has to step up and make things a little bit harder for Dwayne Wade, who has just torched defenders in the last 2 games. There is no question that the Hawks have the talent to win this game on the road, but they have to find some way to return to the form of game 1, or they will be heading back to Atlanta with their backs against the wall. Bet the Hawks +4.5 at Sportsbook.com.
What the Heat have to do to win: While there is no question Wade’s surge in scoring is a big reason why this team has played so well in games 2 and 3, but I am really impressed with the defense this team has played over the last couple games. Besides Wade having his way with Hawk’s defenders, O’Neal is really playing good basketball, as he is averaging over 20 points a game in the two wins. I think Haslem also needs some credit as well, as he has really picked up his game of late. Chalmers had scored just 12 points in the first 2 games, and the Heat have to he hoping they will get more of what they saw in game 3 when the rookie dropped in 15 points on 6-10 shooting. The Heat got just 18 bench points in game 3, as fellow rookie Michael Beasley had an off night, shooting just 1-9 from the field. The bench will have to play better if the Heat want to keep winning and have any chance of hanging with the Cavaliers, who just finished up a sweep of the Pistons. Wade is the real key in this one, as he does it all for the Heat, when he has it going it makes everyone else’s job so much easier. Bet the Heat -4.5 at Sportsbook.com.
My Prediction: Heat -4.5. I think game 1 was a wake up call for this Heat team, as they have really responded with two big wins. Wade seems locked and loaded, and I don’t feel there is much the Hawks can do to stop him. I also am not a big fan of betting the Hawks on the road. I look for game 4 to be much closer than it was in game 3, but I still like the Heat to win this one going away by 7-10 points.
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