Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, Raptors -5, total is 187.5

One of my favourite things is Toronto Raptors basketball on a Sunday afternoon. Even with the hour time difference it makes for a relaxing and lazy way to spend the day. Sadly for a lot of Raps fans, today is the first day when you have to deal with not being able to see the game because it is on TSN2. Thank God that I have that channel out in Halifax. I feel the pain of all of you on Rogers, I really do.

As for the game, the Raptors better bring a better effort today against the Miami Heat or it could be another long afternoon. Wednesday night was one of the worst performances I can remember and that first quarter was a joke. Early in the season it is clear that the East is much improved and the Raptors are going to have to do more than just show up to get in the postseason. New York, Miami and Atlanta are vastly better and that is starting to leave little room for error. Right now that Raps are probably the fourth best team in their own division. How will they respond today? A lineup change? Something has to happen because I am tired of watching the wing position let the team down every night. Energy is the key and someone has to bang some heads together and get this group fired up soon.

Here is everything you need to know about today’s game.

The goods

  • Winners of four of their last six, the Heat return to the scene of their worst performance of a terrible 2007-08 when they visit the Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
  • Miami lost all four of its meetings with the Raptors, scoring 83 points or fewer in each of those games. The lowlight was a horrific 96-54 loss at Toronto on March 19, when the Heat shot a franchise-worst 25.6 percent (20-for-78) from the field while producing the third-lowest scoring output in the NBA since the advent of the shot clock in 1954.
  • Shawn Marion had missed two games due to a strained groin, but returned Friday night and had 12 points and 12 rebounds
  • Defensively, the century mark has been key for the Heat. Miami is 5-0 when holding opponents below 100 points and has lost all four of its games when allowing 100 or more.
  • Toronto has failed to reach 100 points in regulation this season.
  • Toronto has dropped two straight and four of five since opening the season 3-0.
  • Jose Calderon is questionable for this game after he strained his right hamstring in Wednesday’s loss.
  • These teams will meet again Wednesday night in Miami. Before that happens, Toronto will visit Orlando on Tuesday while the Heat play at Washington.

For the bettor

  • Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Toronto.
  • Under is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings.
  • Heat are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Toronto.
  • Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
  • Heat are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

Prediction

This is a hard one to call until I see Calderon on the floor or on the bench. IF they have Jose, Toronto will come out with fire and have one of their best games of the season. Yes I am being highly optimistic but if the bigs keep playing how they are they should be fine.

If there is no Jose, D-Wade and the boys will get the win and we will all get to see just how good Michael Beasley is.

Here is hoping for some Spanish love today.

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