I remember when Punch Imlach coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs well over 50 years ago said "statistics are for losers", so here goes....
NBA Finals Game 7 opening line report – Can Spurs respond to heartbreaking loss?
By: The Linemakers
The Heat’s thrilling overtime victory over the Spurs Tuesday night has forced a Game 7 in the NBA Finals (Thursday, 9 p.m. ET, ABC), where Miami opened as a 6.5-point home favorite at most Las Vegas sports books.
Early action has been on San Antonio, as the LVH SuperBook and South Point moved off their opening numbers to Heat -6 early Wednesday morning.
The Wynn originally posted Heat -6 and the MGM went with 7. As of close of business Tuesday night, there was no movement at the Wynn, while the MGM moved to 6.5.
There’s nothing too surprising about the Game 7 line. The Heat laid 6.5 in Games 2 and 6, also played in Miami.
The Heat were an attractive bet to many Tuesday night because of the pattern they had established by winning and covering 12 games in a row – six times during the playoffs – after losing their previous game. That trend, however, came to a halt in Game 6, as Miami failed to cover in its 103-100 win.
The Spurs, by the way, have done a fine job of responding to losses as well. They, too, have not lost consecutive games in the postseason, going 4-0 SU and ATS after losses.
But many NBA observers are questioning how the Spurs – who squandered a 13-point third quarter lead and a 5-point lead with 28 seconds left in regulation in Game 6 – will come back from such a heartbreaking defeat.
The Spurs’ post-game body language isn’t necessarily inspiring confidence.
Said Manu Ginobili, who performed woefully Tuesday night, "I have no clue how we'll get re-energized. I'm devastated. But we have to."
The Game 7 money line at the LVH has Miami -280, San Antonio +240; William Hill has Miami -300, San Antonio +250.
In terms of the total, Game 6 was the fourth straight of this series that went OVER – but it needed overtime for that to happen (it was 95-95 after regulation, and the total was 192). The Game 7 total is between 190 and 190.5 across Vegas; Game 6 is the only time this series the total has been above 190.
