Bam Adebayo, the big man for the Miami Heat, has been a consistent performer for the team during the playoffs. While Jimmy Butler has been grabbing all the headlines, Adebayo has been averaging close to 19 points and 10 rebounds in the series win over the Knicks. He has also been successful against the Celtics, averaging 25 points over the Heat’s four meetings with Boston. Adebayo has done damage as the ball screener in pick-and-roll sets, either rolling to the rim for the short lob, crashing the glass or step back for the mid-range jump shot. Adebayo’s point total for Game 1 in Boston is between 17.5 and 18.5, and most player projections for Adebayo sit north of 17.5 with some just short of a 20-point performance.
The Celtics are the favorites in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, with the Heat being hefty NBA odds underdogs. Boston is coming off a grueling seven-game set with Philadelphia in the conference semis and has been anything but invincible inside TD Garden, with a 4-3 SU and ATS mark as a host this postseason. Miami, on the other hand, is 3-3 SU and 4-2 ATS in the role of visitor in the NBA Playoffs and boasts an 8-3 SU and ATS count overall in the tournament. The Game 1 total opened at 210 points and is sitting at 211 with some movement to the Over. The Celtics and Heat boast twin 111.0 defensive ratings this postseason. Boston is 8-5 Over/Under including 3-4 O/U mark at home while Miami brings an 8-3 O/U record into Game 1, going 5-1 O/U in the role of visitor this postseason.
In terms of betting, Adebayo’s point total for Game 1 is a good prop bet to consider, with most player projections sitting north of 17.5. The Heat have been a good road bet in the playoffs, with a 4-2 ATS mark as a visitor. The Game 1 total opened at 210 points and is sitting at 211 with some movement to the Over. Boston is 8-5 Over/Under including 3-4 O/U mark at home while Miami brings an 8-3 O/U record into Game 1, going 5-1 O/U in the role of visitor this postseason.
