Celtics vs Heat ECFs: How do we match up?

[JHTruth]

Individual matchups dont matter as much as tempo and style. If we can turn it into a half-court bar fight we can win. If they're always running a fast break we will get blown out every game.

Bass and KG HAVE to do some damage inside. Long jumpers equal long rebounds in the break. Pierce and Rondo need to get inside. It's our only chance..

[CelticSooner]

Individual matchups dont matter as much as tempo and style. If we can turn it into a half-court bar fight we can win. If they're always running a fast break we will get blown out every game.

Which means the C's cannot turn the ball over against this team unless people want to see highlight dunks.

[Clench123]

I really like the idea of Pietrus on Wade.  Doc need to talk Pietrus personally and tell him we need him more than ever in this series.  I really hope Doc don't go with Ray on Wade.  If we're going down, that's what's going to kill us.

Peitrus on Wade and we got the rest.

[SHAQATTACK]

Individual matchups dont matter as much as tempo and style. If we can turn it into a half-court bar fight we can win. If they're always running a fast break we will get blown out every game.

Which means the C's cannot turn the ball over against this team unless people want to see highlight dunks.

All This !!   We don't rebound anyway , so everytime we brick a long three , chances are Wade and Bron turn it into a dunk at the other end.  Sloppy ballhandling and Bron and Wade willpick our pockets and end in more brakeaway dunks.

[Chelm]

The Heat will absolutely own the matchups of LeBron and Wade.  This is almost certain.  On the opposite end, the Celtics should absolutely own the matchups of Rondo and KG.  I think this series is going to come down to the role players.  Who can step up and make some important shots.

It comes down to our role players more than theirs; KG/Rondo won't win their matchups by the margins that Wade/Lebron will.

[manl_lui]

The Heat will absolutely own the matchups of LeBron and Wade.  This is almost certain.  On the opposite end, the Celtics should absolutely own the matchups of Rondo and KG.  I think this series is going to come down to the role players.  Who can step up and make some important shots.

It comes down to our role players more than theirs; KG/Rondo won't win their matchups by the margins that Wade/Lebron will.

well Pierce will score his fair share of points, so not much margin there. Wade will own his matchup with Allen. KG should destroy all their bigs

it WILL come down to the bench, and both our bench is doo-doo. We have two 7 footers on our bench that can barely rebound and they have undersized big men on the bench that can rebound, so....

and our bench can't score much either. They have James Jones coming out that can pop the open threes. We have Pietrus that can help defensively but not much offensively in my opinion. He dies and lives by the 3s, and watching Keyon popping threes kills me

[cman88]

Jones has been pretty bad shooting 3s these playoffs

[Kwhit10]

If we can limit their fast break points, and Wade/Bron's ability to drive I think we can do very well.  They haven't been shooting very well from outside, so I'm sure we'll see plenty of zone.

[eugen]

Key issues to beat Miami

1. team play, no being selfish
2. good defence on LJ and DW
3. pressing

[BASS_THUMPER]

Key issues to beat Miami

1. team play, no being selfish
2. good defence on LJ and DW
3. pressing

no turnovers

[cman88]

Key issues to beat Miami

1. team play, no being selfish
2. good defence on LJ and DW
3. pressing

no turnovers

and Rondo having 2 arms

[Jon]

While PP and Ray are capable of going off, I really think the key here is KG and Rondo.  If Bosh is out, the Heat have no answer and the Celtics should be looking to get KG 30+ each night in the post. 

Same with Rondo.  If Bosh isn't there, he should be penetrating at well.  He needs to either make the Miami defense collapse OR punish them for not doing so. 

[CelticsFanNC]

  Healthy we match up really well.  They don't match up with us nearly as well as we match up with them. 

They can't guard Rondo or KG.  Pierce does as well as anyone against LeBron and sometimes gets the better of him.  Wade is tough but he has trouble guarding Ray.

  The issue is neither team is healthy.  Miami is missing one big piece and has a few guys hurting.  Boston is missing a number of pieces with other guys hurting.   Who knows how it is going to wash out.

 It's going to come down to who can control the pace of the games.   The Celtic's need to make Miami play against their half court defense.  If they get out into the open court consistently, we're in big trouble

[hpantazo]

Wade is not 100%, that knee has been bothering him since the regular season, and he had temporary improvement in the Pacers series when he had it drained. I say give him a taste of his own medicine and have Hollins twist his knee in game 1. If it was any other player I wouldn't suggest this, but Wade very well deserves it after doing this stuff to others more than once.

[Celtics18]

Our role players, Brandon Bass, Ray Allen, Mickael Pietrus, and Keyon Dooling, have to make some shots.  Simple, I know, but that's the key to being competitive against the Heat and giving ourselves a shot to win the series.

James and Wade are obviously a handful, but I have no doubt that the Celtics will find a way to play Celtic D for large stretches of games and not let the Heat put up crooked numbers against us. 

KG, Rondo, and Pierce can't be expected to continue to carry us offensively without bigger contributions from some other guys, though.  I'm encouraged that Brandon seems to have gotten over his playoff jitters to some extent and looks ready to continue to contribute more scoring.  Ray hit the two big threes at the end of game seven.  I'm hoping for a confidence carry over into the Heat series.  MP and Dooling need to be spot up shooters when they are out there and hit some jumpers. 

If we can get some offensive contributions from other guys, I like our chances.