The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers have been two of the most fascinating teams in the NBA this year. Miami’s suddenly evolving offense has taken teams by surprise, while the Clippers have recorded some inconsistent results. Both squads have playoff expectations, and Monday night’s game is a chance to measure up against another winner.
The Clippers are 8.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re priced at -325 on the Moneyline, while the Heat are +260 underdogs. The total for this game is set at 226.5 points. Let’s get into my preview, prediction, and pick for this Heat vs. Clippers game.
Heat vs. Clippers prediction, preview
One key move this offseason has significantly changed the landscape in Miami. Offensive assistant Noah LaRoche departed the Memphis Grizzlies and took his talents to South Beach. That talent is the implementation of the wheel offense. It’s a relatively new concept, one that was well explained by none other than Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo on the Prime broadcast. I highly recommend watching this.
This wheel concept has caught many teams off guard. They’re tops in the league in pace, having been the third-slowest team last season. Miami is ranked in the top five in net rating according to Cleaning the Glass, and is one of four teams with top-12 offensive and defensive ratings alongside the Thunder, Nuggets, and Spurs. It’s been a boon for Powell, whom they poached from the Clippers, while guys like Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are thriving. Tyler Herro Ewing Theory, anyone?
Los Angeles brings the slowest offense in the league to the table. The Clippers are still trying to figure out how to integrate new pieces like Bradley Beal and John Collins, and it has looked rough. Far and away the best team they have played, the Warriors, held them to 79 points in a brutal showing. Wins over Phoenix, Portland, and New Orleans don’t exactly inspire confidence. L.A. is a team built for the playoffs, but what shape they take when they get there is anyone’s guess at the moment.
Heat vs. Clippers pick, best bet
Even on the second night of a back-to-back for Miami, I don’t trust the Clippers to bring more energy than the Heat. In a sense, they are who we thought they were: old and slow, reliant on half-court skill to win offensively while Ivica Zubac and a series of role players hold the defense together. It’s a formula that won’t solve this Miami attack, full of youthful wings and shooters. The Heat will get their win in L.A. after failing last night against the Lakers.
