NBA Preview: Miami Heat and Boston Celtics Fight to Win East


A group of 20, mostly out-of-towners, traveling to Miami at this time of year were typically referred to as spring breakers.

But for our purposes, Boston Celtics. The reward for beating the Milwaukee Bucks in a tough seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals series is a date in the conference finals with the #1 seeded. Miami HeatFrom Tuesday.

The series is a rematch. 2020 conference finalsother than that, the Celtics had a higher score and the games were at Walt Disney World, another spring break destination in Florida.

Most of the key characters are the same. The second-seeded Celtics will once again be led by their top guards Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, while the Heat will face off against their top stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

But while the rosters haven’t changed much, there are significant differences compared to two years ago. Celtics are now coaching Ime Udokamade Boston’s defense the best in the league in his first season. Grant Williams of Boston and Tyler Herro of Miami were rookies in 2020 and have since become essential role players.

Here’s what to look out for in the Eastern Conference finals.

Yes. 1. At the end of the game, Adebayo blocked a Tatum dunk attempt to level the score in overtime. It was one of the most important blocks in NBA history and changed the course of a series. Boston preferred to win. The series was close: three of the Heat’s four wins were narrowly doubled.

The Heat went 53-29, their best regular season record since 2013-14They lost to San Antonio while LeBron James was on the team and in the NBA finals. This season’s offerings seventh highest Earn total in franchise history.

Boston finished hot on his heels. On January 28, the Celtics were 25-25. Since then, including the playoffs, only lost nine times. They finished the regular season with 51 wins for an outstanding comeback.

Both teams were strong on defense, but not so good on offense.

The Celtics chose not to try to evade the Nets in the first round, although it meant that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving – two A-list stars – would wait for them in the first round. It turns out that they don’t need to worry. The Celtics swept the Nets and solidified their status as a team to be feared.

Also in the first round, Miami faced the Atlanta Hawks, who train one of the best guards in the NBA at Trae Young. The Hawks were hampered by injuries and the Heat easily parried them in five games, partly due to Young’s stifling defense.

In the second round, the Celtics traded strawmasters with the Bucks, who missed a perennial All-Star on injured Khris Middleton. The Celtics finished with 44 points and 20 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 6, one of their biggest playoff performances ever. Tatum countered with 46 points To move the Celtics to Game 7 Milwaukee is out of gas.

Miami took a break in their semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel EmbiidThe actor, who took second place in the voting for the Most Valuable Player Award, missed an episode of the series due to a concussion and orbital bone fracture. The Heat took the first two games at home. Embiid unexpectedly returned for Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia, with two wins for the Sixers. But Miami set and took the last two competitions and series.

This is a launch. Miami has the home advantage but the Celtics were a different team in the second half of the season.

Both teams are strikingly similar in that they use efficient, active, variable defenses when dealing with occasional offensive droughts. Both teams will have a nice break from dealing with a physically bruising center like Antetokounmpo or Embiid.

The Celtics have Tatum, who at the age of 24 has become one of the most complete players in the NBA. He also tended to surrender in big moments like his 46-point performance against the Bucks or his 50-point in a game. He had a first-round playoff win against the Nets last year. During the regular season, Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game – all career records. He also improved himself in creating opportunities for his teammates.

The Heat have all-round six-time All-Star Butler. He averaged 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game during the regular season. Butler averaged 28.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 10 games.

Additionally, the Heat have Herro, 22, who averaged 20.7 points on the bench and was named sixth man of the year. He can occasionally take over a game on his own. One of his best performances came against Boston, who had a career-high 37 points in the 2020 playoffs.

Health for one thing. The Celtics said Monday that starting quarterback and league defender of the year Marcus Smart is suspicious for Game 1. due to ankle sprain. The six-time All-Star Heat is unlikely to play in Game 1 due to quarterback Kyle Lowry’s injury. missed most of the playoffs so far.

Celtics starting center Robert Williams III will be ready for Boston with a big boost after missing most of the season due to a knee injury. Athletics and shooting blocking skills will be a necessary response against Adebayo.

The Celtics were backed by Grant Williams, Al Horford and Payton Pritchard’s offensive attacks against the Bucks, while third-year forward Max Strus for the Heat was a strong bench scorer.

Miami is slower and more systematic in offense and less dependent on three-pointers than Boston. Heat guard Victor Oladipo emerged as a point guard at the end of the season after missing most of the regular season following his injury. he reached double digits scoring goals in four of eight playoff games.

The best defensive team in the NBA will limit Butler’s effectiveness. As Butler is a poor 3-pointer, Boston will jam the paint and fill Miami’s gap. With the Williamses and Horford, Adebayo won’t be able to get around that easily on defense.

Also, Tatum is the best offensive player on either team.

Miami is a more physical team and Butler will not be affected by the Celtics’ defense. While his defenders hang him from the perimeter, he’s skilled enough to get into the paint and create space for shooters like Strus and Herro.

The Celtics will rely too much on the deep 3s and have cold shooting nights due to Adebayo’s strong rim protection. Miami has the more reliable bench with two-time All-Star Herro and Oladipo. And if they need to shoot right away, they’re going to dust off Duncan Robinson, who has been in and out of Miami’s rotation after starting 68 games in the regular season.

And if Miami doesn’t start by winning games, Udonis HaslemWhoever has been on the Heat roster since Big Bang will yell at them until they do.





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