Celtics vs. Heat, Round 3 Discussion
- Thread starter tims4wins
- Start date
I like the C's chances but the Heat have 3 point shooters and Butler is another guy who lives at the line.
C's in 5 or 6, depending on how game 1 goes.
C's in 5 or 6, depending on how game 1 goes.
Spo is a great coach, Bam is a tough match up, and the Heat are really good at executing down the stretch. I wouldn't underestimate them.
Totally different matchup with different challenges, but not having to account for a freight train in the lane is a welcome relief.
I think the sum of our parts is still better and the ascendance continues - Celtics in 5.
I think the sum of our parts is still better and the ascendance continues - Celtics in 5.
The Heat didn’t just luck into the one seed: they’re legit contenders and could absolutely win this series. Lowry, Bam, Herro, Jimmy Buckets…they’re stacked. But it’s hard not to believe we can beat anyone right now.
I think for Miami to win it is going to be on Bam. Celtics are going to refrain from doubling off the Heat shooters so Bam is going to have to punish them on pick and rolls.
WTF do I know, but I'm glad the Cs played the first game of the day and get a handful more hours of rest and likely a good, early night of sleep tonight. Fast turnaround time.
I like that there is nobody we will have to double. A versatile, long, switch all defense getting to play everyone straight up? Heat are going to have a real tough time scoring.
They will give our offense trouble too, but I just think we have too much talent for them.
They will give our offense trouble too, but I just think we have too much talent for them.
To me, Bam will be the key. Bam killed the Cs in the bubble series but the Cs didn't have Horford. I think Butler is manageable as it's not like he's playing another team with no wing defense (PHI).
I would imagine that since Strus is playing over Robinson, Strus is at least playing passable defense. If that is true, then MIA is going to be the toughest defensive team that the Cs face.
I think the Cs are the better team but it will be interesting to see if there are any match-ups that MIA will be able to exploit.
I would imagine that since Strus is playing over Robinson, Strus is at least playing passable defense. If that is true, then MIA is going to be the toughest defensive team that the Cs face.
I think the Cs are the better team but it will be interesting to see if there are any match-ups that MIA will be able to exploit.
Agreed on the Heat. And @RorschachsMask's post about straight up defense feels about right. That said, I expect this to be even more physical than the Bucks series. We should be at peak James Buckets/Lowry/Bam/Tucker hate here before next weekend.
I like Boston in this series given how they are playing of late and the fact that they have Tatum and Miami does not.
That tweet is already out of date, it's currently Celtics -170 / Heat +150 at BetOnline.
Strus (who my phone wants to autocorrect to Syria) and Herro and hunt-able, but Spo does a great job hiding weak links and changing looks as needed. Will be the opposite of Coach Bud implementing a strategy and sticking with it no matter what.
I hate the pining for Max Strus and I’m going to hate seeing him play well. That guy sucked in the limited amount of time we saw him here. It is unfathomable to me that that guy is a guy we have to watch out for
In that bubble series they played a lot of zone against us and hid Herro and Robinson as forwards. I’d really love to have Williams back to put in the dunker spot to ruin this
Totally. We were able to adjust against the Bucks by going smaller (losing TimeLord also kinda forced it), but I think the two bigs alignment would work really well against Miami, and hurt their ability to hide those two (at least at the same time).
Having Al, this version of Tatum, and much better overall shooting should allow the Cs to torch any zones thrown their way. But I fully expect Spo to use zone regularly as a change of pace.
FWIW Bos was 2-1 vs. MIA this year.
W at MIA 95-78 11/4
W 122-92 1/31
L 106-98 3/30
Jaylen has been our high scorer each time.
W at MIA 95-78 11/4
W 122-92 1/31
L 106-98 3/30
Jaylen has been our high scorer each time.
Hopefully this is BS? The Blue Check guy ReTweeted it.
View: https://twitter.com/john_zannis/status/1525983755328008198?s=21&t=dvl4fxjAKgxydn3C0rlNIw
View: https://twitter.com/john_zannis/status/1525983755328008198?s=21&t=dvl4fxjAKgxydn3C0rlNIw
Different dynamic opening up on the road. I’d say a Game 6 close out at the Garden would be a nice treat for my trip up there. I do expect us to lose G1 in a scheduling lose, win G2 on the playoff zig zag rebound and finish in 6.
John is legit. He’s a neighbor of mine, works in Boston sports media. He wouldn’t tweet it if he didn’t trust it was real.
FWIW, rewatching highlights, during garbage time Smart is on the sidelines, essentially fine. And IIRC he came back in after the weird contact that seemed to injure him.
Strus played some summer league and pre-season games for the Cs and he certainly didn't suck. Don't want to re-litigate the Strus being cut discussion (since we had it just a few months ago), particularly since assuming he still gets hurts, he was going to have to catch on somewhere else again.
Cs tried a little bit of that the last time they played. Strus is bigger and stronger than Robinson and Herro and he played, well, passable on defense.
I am glad I got my booster shot to boost my naturally acquired immunity to Kyle Lowry palms up complaining about a call.
Now this is REALLY going to be a series against hated rivals: Pat Riley. Kyle Lowry. Jimmy "Homewrecker" (allegedly) Butler.
538's nba models are not great but the statistics behind sports predictions are much more well founded than elections.
I disagree. He was ok in summer league but lots of guys are. He was completely overmatched in pre season and had an avg of 5ppg while looking slower than molasses. I’m quite obviously not an NBA talent scout but I watched him play that pre season and nothing at the time suggested he had this in him. It was an incredibly small sample, of course
I really don't get the Strus last spot relitigation?
We all spill gallons of internet ink on the deep bench all season and summer long.
If anyone really liked Strus, he was freely available a year later. If you didn't speak up then, save it
Celtics in 5
We all spill gallons of internet ink on the deep bench all season and summer long.
If anyone really liked Strus, he was freely available a year later. If you didn't speak up then, save it
Celtics in 5
Agree with the above that keeping Bam in check (especially on the offensive glass) is key.
But after being smaller than the Bucks and having to grind through that, they are suddenly up against a team that is generally not very big.
The defense will have to be a bit different but during this run to greatness they have stifled all kinds of offense including threes. Maybe a bit more off-ball discipline required since Miami will have an actual plan on offense.
Lowry is banged up—they are not super deep if he can’t go.
But after being smaller than the Bucks and having to grind through that, they are suddenly up against a team that is generally not very big.
The defense will have to be a bit different but during this run to greatness they have stifled all kinds of offense including threes. Maybe a bit more off-ball discipline required since Miami will have an actual plan on offense.
Lowry is banged up—they are not super deep if he can’t go.
I thought I remembered Jaylen playing Bam pretty well. The hunting of Jaylen by Giannis was a new experience for me, and I didn’t like it 
I’m glad we are in a series now without anyone the Celtics can’t guard.
I’m glad we are in a series now without anyone the Celtics can’t guard.
Looking forward to this series and some potential revenge. Really hope TimeLord can play. Given he was on the bench, hopefully he’s fairly close if he can’t go in games 1 or 2, as that gives him nearly another week.
Celts in 5 or 6, thinking 6.
Celts in 5 or 6, thinking 6.
Random tidbit but not worth a thread...
I was just looking around studying the rosters and found a fascinating (to me at least) factoid. Can anyone guess the last player to lead the Celtics in scoring in a game over the course of the just concluded regular season who wasn't named Tatum, Brown, or Smart? Not who I would have guessed.
I was just looking around studying the rosters and found a fascinating (to me at least) factoid. Can anyone guess the last player to lead the Celtics in scoring in a game over the course of the just concluded regular season who wasn't named Tatum, Brown, or Smart? Not who I would have guessed.
The Heat are a legit #1 seed with a lot of talent and depth. I think this will be another war of a series, with the Celtics pulling it out in 7. This Celtics team is way better than the broken down version of 2 seasons ago when Hayward and Kemba were both hurt and ineffective.
I picked 6 because I want the home close out, but a game 7 wouldn’t surprise me. Butler and Lowry know how to battle and Bam torched us in the bubble. Herro can get crazy hot. And they won’t just concede the 3.
I wish Al had a couple more days, but TimeLord should be back and I have no idea who stops Tatum (don’t remind me about the Bam block - Tatum was way weaker then). They should have much more success with driving the paint and that should lead to solid kickouts.
I wish Al had a couple more days, but TimeLord should be back and I have no idea who stops Tatum (don’t remind me about the Bam block - Tatum was way weaker then). They should have much more success with driving the paint and that should lead to solid kickouts.
The Heat are the best team that the Celtics will have faced thus far. It's almost like the Nets but with their stars performing and a proper high functioning bench. These are the two best teams in the Conference, and probably the NBA. I think the winner here wins it all.
I have Celtics in 6 simply because I am heart picking. I don't want to have to win a game 7 in Miami.