Heat at Spurs Game 1 Pick

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

Game 1

Thursday 9:00 EST

June 5, 2014

Game 1 Line: San Antonio -4.5 (Subject to change. Click here for current odds)

The San Antonio Spurs are certainly ready for their “Drive for Five”. Apparently, Tony Parker is too.

Averaging 17.2 points and 4.9 assists per game during the postseason, leading San Antonio in both categories, Parker’s health has been one of the issues surrounding the Spurs heading into the NBA Finals. Despite closing out the Thunder 112-107 in overtime in Game 6 on Saturday to wrap up the Western Conference championship without Parker, there’s no overlooking the fact that Parker has been dealing with nagging injuries in recent weeks.

The Spurs have been able to survive without Parker, but San Antonio can ill-afford to have Parker sidelined during the finals. The Spurs proved last year that if Parker isn’t the All-Star point guard that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing, it won’t be a question of if the Miami Heat will win the championship, but in how many games. Parker, who was limited by a hamstring injury during the 2013 Finals, may have ultimately been the reason why the Spurs fell in seven games to the Heat. This time around, a healthy Parker is confirmed to start Game 1.

Initially, Mario Chalmers might be called upon to defend Parker – a matchup that would undoubtedly favor the Spurs. However, LeBron James, who guarded Parker in last year’s finals, will also be an option, forcing Parker to be at the top of his game. However, knowing the Heat’s Game 1 history, the Spurs might be able to rely more on Patty Mills, allowing Parker to regroup for the remainder of the series.

Because if the Heat hold true to form, Miami will be heading into Game 2 trailing 1-0 in the best-of-seven series. All five times the Heat previously lost a Game 1 with LeBron James on the roster, they have come back to win the series. It seems that’s the position the Heat thrive in. So whether it’s lack of motivation, or simply needing a challenge in order to rise to the occasion, in the NBA Finals, their challenge certainly awaits.

In order to complete their quest for a three-peat, the Heat will need to win at least once in San Antonio, which has home-court advantage and have been nothing short of dominant at the AT&T Center. The Heat rolled through the Eastern Conference, shooting .497 in the playoffs, the best in the NBA. Miami hasn’t been challenged yet, and if Parker isn’t one hundred percent, the Spurs don’t stand a chance. The Spurs better hope that is not the case, otherwise, they’ll be heading into the offseason in the same position as last year: runner-up

It’s been said that the easiest game to steal on the road is always Game 1 and anytime Las Vegas is giving LeBron and the Heat points, it would be foolish to pass up. LeBron is on a mission for championship number three. Then again, he did promise eight championships after taking his talents to South Beach. He is four wins away from completing that mission.

He gets win number one on Thursday.

My Pick: Heat +4.5 Bet these odds now!