Does this galvanize the Heat even more, and lead to the letdowns of intensity that we've seen from the Celts before?
I find it really hard to believe either team is going to play differently IN AN EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS ELIMINATION GAME because one guy is out.
If you are the Heat and can't bring intensity for an elimination game unless a rotation guy is out then WOW, that's pathetic. The Celtics meanwhile already had the MAX desperation you can get, they can't play the "well there's always next game card, because there isn't. You already HAVE TO win the game, it can't be more of a must win than it already is.
I can buy a gm 1 letdown game, or a gm 5 letdown game up 3-1 in a series, but a elimination game letdown game?
The Celts have consistently shown that they lose focus and don't bring energy at crucial times. Game 5 vs. Atlanta, Game 1 vs. Philly, Game 5 vs. Philly, Game 1 vs. Miami, Game 3 vs. Philly.
If any team is going to take a team lightly because they're missing a key component, it's the Celts.
Yeah, the Celtics this season have
universally,
categorically,
without fail put it in cruise control whenever the opponent has been missing a key piece.
And as you said, Roy, it's happened multiple times just this postseason—the game Murray missed in the first round, Game 1 against Philly with Embiid out, and coming into this series knowing that Herro and Oladipo were out.
It baffles me that Gabe Vincent has been a key player in this series, but it's undebatable that he
has been a key piece, which means Boston's natural inclination will be to assume an easier road to winning Game 5.
Now, maybe they finally overcome that inclination, we shall see, but it would be the least surprising thing in the world to see the Celtics lose tonight because they let up because they know Vincent is out.
