No Support – Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks

No other team in the NBA is prone to losing of their superstar is off kilter. And that’s exactly what happened when Miami and Atlanta opened this series in game one. Dwyane Wade went 8-for-21 in the series opener and the Heat fell by a staggering 26-points. And it has nothing to do with how bad Wade played because Atlanta was virtually unstoppable in the first game.

But a heavy undertone is bubbling in this series. Can the Heat win at all if Wade is not playing at full tilt? Looking at other teams, Kobe has Gasol, Bynum and Odom. Even LeBron has Mo Williams, Big Z and Delonte. Howard has The Turk and Rashard Lewis. On Atlanta, Joe Johnson is flanked by Josh Smith and Al Horford. I’ve been saying this all along – who the hell does Wade have?

NBA Betting Trends

-Miami is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games

-Miami is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games

-Miami is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

-Miami is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games on the road

-Miami is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

-The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Miami’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

-Atlanta is 4-7-2 ATS in its last 13 games

-Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

-Atlanta is 12-5-1 ATS in its last 18 games at home

-Atlanta is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home

Michael Beasley was the only other player for the Heat to register double-digit points, and he barely did it with ten. The rest of the team was a smidgen of single-point putterings. For a team to rely on Wade to drop 35 points a night so that they can have a smidgen of momentum is ridiculous, which is why Atlanta’s daunting 5-1 SU record in the past 6 is perfectly safe.

Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks

Wednesday, April 22nd — Philips Arena, Atlanta — 8:00pm EST

NBA Betting Line: Atlanta -5 (183.5)

In contrast, the Hawks had six players in double-digits, with the rim shattering Josh Smith leading the way with 23-points. I like Miami to at least put up a fight, because you can’t fend off Wade when he’s just come off a piss poor performance, but the Hawks’ momentum at home is unreal. And it will be displayed again tonight as they push the OVER and hold off Wade in the same course.