{"id":272804,"date":"2023-05-10T08:30:46","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T13:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=272804"},"modified":"2023-05-11T13:42:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T18:42:14","slug":"new-york-knicks-in-trouble-miami-heat-3-1-in-east-semis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/new-york-knicks-in-trouble-miami-heat-3-1-in-east-semis\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Knicks in Trouble, Trail Miami Heat 3-1 in East Semis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The desperate New York Knicks are on the brink of elimination heading into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, after the Miami Heat took a 3-1 series lead. Based on past history, the Knicks’ outlook isn’t good: in the 14 prior instances in which the Knicks faced a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs, they failed to rally back and win the series every time.<\/p>\n

\"Bam
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends forward Julius Randle (30) from the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla. (Image: AP<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, the Heat are a perfect 14-0 when they build a 3-1 series lead.<\/p>\n

You’ve got to win four to win a series,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. “All we’re thinking about is win the next game. Win the first quarter, win the second quarter, win the third, win the fourth. And then the next day, we’ll think about the next day.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A total of 13 teams in NBA playoff history were able to erase a 3-1 deficit and storm back to win the series. The Knicks will attempt to become the 14th team.<\/p>\n

The Heat are huge favorites to win the series, but the Knicks are -2.5 favorites at home at Madison Square Garden in Game 5. After going 4-1 against the spread in the opening round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks are 0-4 ATS versus the Heat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Heat are the fourth-worst betting team in the NBA this season, with a 39-51-3 ATS record. Yet, the Heat covered their last seven playoff games, including all four against the Knicks. They’re 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games, including the postseason and an Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament game that helped them clinch the #8 seed.<\/p>\n

Short-Handed Heat Keep Winning<\/h2>\n

The Heat lost two key shooting guards, starter Tyler Herro<\/a> and backup Victor Oladipo, and are still only one game away from a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Butler missed Game 2<\/a> with an ankle injury, which was the only game they dropped in the series. A sprained ankle slowed Butler down, but he’s still averaging 26.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. The Knicks have been swarming Butler with aggressive double teams, but he’s still picking them apart.<\/p>\n

I actually love being double-teamed because that just means one of my teammates are open,”<\/strong> Butler told The Athletic<\/em>. “If I don’t find them, somebody’s going to find them.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Center Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and added 13 rebounds in a Game 4 victory, which marked his best scoring performance in the postseason.<\/p>\n

After getting outrebounded in the first two games, the Heat crashed the glass<\/a> and tallied more rebounds than the Knicks in each of the last two games.<\/p>\n

The Heat’s bench outscored the Knicks’ second unit this series (116-62) by 54 points. In Game 4, the Heat’s second unit outgunned the Knicks, 32-10, thanks to 15 points from backup point guard Kyle Lowry and 10 points from forward Caleb Martin.<\/p>\n

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