Celtics (0-1) at Heat (1-0) ECF Game #2 5/19/22

[Vermont Green]

The betting line has already changed from Miami -4.0 to Miami -2.5.  I think Al is worth more than 1.5 points.

That was the original opener in Game 1 before the injury announcement.

But OK, I'll gladly take the underdog role. It'll just be that much more better when we upset them in Game 2 

Maybe the wise guys knew all along that Horford would be cleared and so the line reflected this from the start.  I would think that with news that Horford and White were not going to play, and maybe Smart too, that the money would be going to Miami if the spread was 3.5 or 4.0 or whatever it was.  Apparently, people are still putting money on MIA.  I guess game 1 is still fresh in people's mind.

[Goldstar88]

Do we have any confirmation on Marcus’s availability other than he’s probable?

Marcus Smart, who missed Game 1 with a foot injury, is listed as probable for Game 2. Udoka said he is looking better, but Smart's participation remains a game-time decision.- per WCVB News

[Who]

Do we have any confirmation on Marcus’s availability other than he’s probable?

Marcus Smart, who missed Game 1 with a foot injury, is listed as probable for Game 2. Udoka said he is looking better, but Smart's participation remains a game-time decision.- per WCVB News

Smart's defense is so important for fending off Jimmy Butler picking on either a small guard in Pritchard or an inexperienced mistake-prone young wing defender in Nesmith.

If Smart does not play, I would if we will see Tatum & Jaylen in the backcourt together with G.Williams, Horford and Rob / Theis in the frontcourt to avoid Miami matching hunting. Go really big and say "you're getting nothing easy tonight Jimmy". You are going one-on-one against big strong defenders and taking contested jump-shots. No layups, no FTs, no shooting over the top from 15 feet over small PGs (Pritchard).

[Vermont Green]

Do we have any confirmation on Marcus’s availability other than he’s probable?

Marcus Smart, who missed Game 1 with a foot injury, is listed as probable for Game 2. Udoka said he is looking better, but Smart's participation remains a game-time decision.- per WCVB News

I hope I am not being overly optimistic but there is no need for the coach to reveal any more than this until he has to.  Again, I really don't know but I am expecting to see Marcus on the court tonight based on what I am seeing reported.  He could always have some set back and that is why the Celtics have not come out and said definitively that he will play.  But I don't expect them to say any more until they absolutely have to, which is game time.

[sgrogan]

I played around with MIA's big rotation line up results from last game.  It revealed some interesting things.  First, MIA played with 2 bigs for about 31 minutes (+12) and with 1 big for about 17 minutes (-1).  Here is how it broke out:

2 Big Line Ups
Adebayo + Tucker      27 min / +0
Dedmon + Tucker       4 min / +12

1 Big Line Ups
Adebayo                  11 min / -5
Dedmon                    6 min / +4

Miami was +16 with Dedmon on the court for his 11 min (there is some rounding on the minutes) and they were -5 for the other 37 minutes.  There has to be some adjustment that we can make to shore up that leak.  I suspect that Dedmon benefited from being on the court at the times when Butler was hitting shots but still, it we should not be losing ground to this extent when Dedmon is on the court.

Dedmon was +13 from 4:41 of the third until 10:03 of the fourth.

The Celtics scored 1 FG and 7 points total in that span.
The FG was when Theis got inside Dedmon for a putback on a Jaylen missed 3.
Tatum had 3 FT's, one of which was after Dedmon fouled him.
Pritchard had 2 FT's after being fouled by Dedmon.
The Celts were 0-6 from 3, 1-3 otherwise.
Tatum and Brown each had 2 turnovers and Jaylen got blocked at the rim by Butler.

Dedmon scored 4 points on 1-4 from the floor and 2-2 from the line. I think he had 2 offensive and 2 defensive rebounds.

I'm not saying Dedmon was bad, but he didn't drive the +13 in those minutes.

I agree with all this.  My point is that it was a missed opportunity.  We should be punishing Miami when Dedmon is on the court, not giving up a lead.  No excuse for this and it clearly cost us the game.

We did fine when Adebayo and Tucker were on the court.  Held serve so to speak.  Tucker isn't all that good either but is a threat to hit a 3 so you have to account for him.  Adebayo is actually good.  Dedmon isn't good.  We need to take advantage of Miami when Dedmon is on the court, not the other way around, no matter what Butler or anyone else does.

I guess we disagree on Drumond. I think he's pretty similar to Theis as far as his role. I think we need Theis to beat him or play to a draw. I don't see a lot of options to punish him. He played when Bam (and RWII) were out, mostly.

[smokeablount]

I saw Payton Pritchard doing karaoke last night to some Enrique Iglasias. It sounded like he was singing:

I can be your Herro baby
I can hit the open three
I can play like this forever
Don’t expect too much on D

[Phantom255x]

TP FLCeltsFan!

Let’s even this series up! So glad Horford and Smart are back 

[smokeablount]

spread now at -2 miami

It moved again! All the way down to -1 Miami. LFG!

TP FL for another great game thread.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Let's go Smart, Horford, positivity, and the BOSTON CELTICS!!!!!

[hodgy03038]

Let's go C's!! I expect Nesmith to get some more time with his excellent defense. Unfortunately he can't shoot but looking for another good effort from him.

[radiohead]

So the starting 5 is available? Let’s go steal one in Miami!

[Phantom255x]

So amped to see Horford out there. Didn't have him in the Bubble vs. Miami and also not in Game 1, but he'll make things tougher for Bam and the Heat frontcourt and I think we finally can have an advantage there (or at least play up to their level)

Timelord + Horford is a nice duo to have this series.

[sgrogan]

Let's go C's!! I expect Nesmith to get some more time with his excellent defense. Unfortunately he can't shoot but looking for another good effort from him.

I know we are fatigued but we could go 7 1/2 deep tonight.
GWIII/Al/Tatum/Brown/Smart
G.Will/Pritchard + Theis(maybe)

[hpantazo]

Let's go C's!! I expect Nesmith to get some more time with his excellent defense. Unfortunately he can't shoot but looking for another good effort from him.

I know we are fatigued but we could go 7 deep tonight.
GWIII/Al/Tatum/Brown/Smart
G.Will/Pritchard

I think Nesmith will get some minutes tonight again as well.

[libermaniac]

Let's go C's!! I expect Nesmith to get some more time with his excellent defense. Unfortunately he can't shoot but looking for another good effort from him.

Shows you what the scouts know. Coming out of college they said all he could do was shoot. 😂