Miami Heat Game 1 Matchup Preview
The first of many NBA matchups for the Heat this season will take place against the Chicago Bulls, as these two teams historically have great battles.
Jimmy Butler will be going up against his former team, so we should expect to see the best version of himself as someone who is always willing to attack the rim, hunt for their own shots, and play astounding defense.
A Inferior Defense
Bam Adebayo should be able to take full advantage of the weak interior defense of the Bulls as well.
Add in the shooting the Heat have in Tyler Herro, Max Strus, and Duncan Robinson and the veteran leadership of Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo, and the Miami Heat odds to win this game are fairly high.
They’ll have their hands full in trying to guard DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic, however.
2022 Miami Heat Schedule
The Heat begin their season against:
- Chicago Bulls
- Boston Celtics
- Toronto Raptors (twice)
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Golden State Warriors (twice)
- Sacramento Kings (twice)
The Heat will be tested early on in the season, but if they want to get back to the Finals for the first time since 2020, this team will have to show they can battle through some of the more difficult stretches of the schedule.
Miami Heat Season Props
NBA betting picks have the Heat’s over/under win total sitting at 48.5, as this team could either continue to exceed expectations as a group or eventually lose out to more talented groups on paper. Health will be a big factor.
Heat at the NBA Player Stats
Jimmy Butler should continue to put up well-rounded NBA player stats in the points, rebounds, and assist categories.
Bam Adebayo should continue to put up well-rounded numbers in the points, rebounds, and assist categories as well.
Tyler Herro should be able to hover around the 20-point-per-game mark again.
Miami Heat 2022 Season Odds
The Miami Heat’s odds to meet or exceed expectations rely on a number of factors. Can their main stars stay healthy?
Can their role players continue to produce greater than their name value? We shall see.
Heat 2022 NBA Title Odds
The Heat will almost always be a team that will be in the mix for an NBA title, as their brand has just been so good and consistent over these past two decades.
This team is a bit grittier and less talented on paper than previous teams, however, but they are the epitome of hard work beats talent.
If they run into teams that don’t play as hard as them, then they have a real shot of taking them down in a 7-game series and winning a championship.
Miami Heat Playoff Odds
The Miami Heat will almost certainly make the playoffs. It would take an epic collapse for this group not to even qualify for the postseason.
Their NBA team stats are among the top of the league, both offensively and defensively.
Miami Heat Southeast Division Division Odds
The only real competition the Heat faces this season for the Southeast Division crown is from the Atlanta Hawks.
Otherwise, this division is theirs to lose. So if you’re looking for a sure thing to bet on for a division winner, this is the one to choose.
Miami Heat Eastern Conference Championship Odds
The Heat will have to go through teams like:
- Brooklyn Nets
- Boston Celtics
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Milwaukee Bucks
To get back to the Finals, as they are just not nearly as talented as some of those teams on paper.
However, the Heat are a team that will play you hard and grinds you out, so if you try and coast through the game, the Heat will end up beating you.
The Heat nearly swept the Bucks in the 2020 playoffs, as they were just the far more complete and together group. Goes to show how much chemistry really matters in the NBA.
Expect them to be a factor either way to win the conference.
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