National Basketball Association

Las Vegas sets Miami Heat's over/under at 36.5 wins

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Las Vegas doesn’t have much confidence in the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat are projected to lose about 11 more games than last season, according to season win totals posted by the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, which sets the team’s over/under at 36.5.

The Heat won 48 games last season and lost in the Eastern Conference semi-finals in seven games to the Toronto Raptors. However, the loss of Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson, and with Chris Bosh’s future in question, Vegas docked Miami double digit wins, on Tuesday opening their over/under at 36.5 games.

The Heat have the 12th highest win total of the 15 Eastern Conference teams, behind Cleveland (56.5), Boston (51.5), Toronto (49.5), Detroit (45.5), Atlanta (43.5), Indiana (43.5), Washington (42.5), Charlotte (39.5), Milwaukee (39.5), Chicago (38.5) and New York (38.5).

Miami is only projected with a better record than Orlando (36.5), Philadelphia (27.5) and Brooklyn (20.5).

This projection falls in line with earlier predictions by ESPN that have the Heat finishing with a 36-46 record.

Teams that typically deliver the over on these lines usually end up having a player who makes a major improvement–like C.J. McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers last season.

To surpass expectations, the Heat’s young core of Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson and Hassan Whiteside will need to take a leap in their development. After losing its No.1 scoring option, one of them will have to step up. The Heat will also have a much better chance if they have Bosh available–the team’s best all-around player.