How do you explain the lack of intensity at the start of game 3?

[pokeKingCurtis]

I think Udoka just hasn't ever seen an NBA level team play like cornered rats.

And really respect to Spoelstra, these Heat are relentless.

I was only able to watch the Game 2 win, but the Heat were feisty as hell even that game.

[Kiorrik]

Culture & immaturity.

We're not those types of "dogs". We don't have that KG grit to our game at all. Our guys aren't like that.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Young team, but experienced enough to understand they have to pace themselves for a title run.  And easy to let  your guard down after a blowout.

[Roy H.]

I'm puzzled after Game 4, too.  How did the Heat come out with so little energy?  Part of it is that Butler is clearly hampered out there.  A hobbled Butler + no Herro is going to bog down the offense.  But, the Heat should have come out intense.  They were facing a Celtics team without their emotional leader.

I mean, the Celtics played a pretty mediocre game offensively, and they blew the Heat out just due to defensive energy and the Heat's submission.

[nebist]

I'm puzzled after Game 4, too.  How did the Heat come out with so little energy?  Part of it is that Butler is clearly hampered out there.  A hobbled Butler + no Herro is going to bog down the offense.  But, the Heat should have come out intense.  They were facing a Celtics team without their emotional leader.

I mean, the Celtics played a pretty mediocre game offensively, and they blew the Heat out just due to defensive energy and the Heat's submission.

Yeah, Bam Adebayo has been the weirdest player to me in this series. He has no injury issues that have been reported, and yet he has totally no-showed 3 out of the 4 games with the 4th game being a dominant performance. I'll definitely take it, but I don't understand what is going on with him. He should be too good for that.

[Donoghus]

The good news for the Celtics here is, unlike Game 2 into Game 3, this team is heading back on the road and won't have the safety net of a home game to lull them into complacency.   I expect a strong Game 5 out of them.

[nickagneta]

I'm puzzled after Game 4, too.  How did the Heat come out with so little energy?  Part of it is that Butler is clearly hampered out there.  A hobbled Butler + no Herro is going to bog down the offense.  But, the Heat should have come out intense.  They were facing a Celtics team without their emotional leader.

I mean, the Celtics played a pretty mediocre game offensively, and they blew the Heat out just due to defensive energy and the Heat's submission.

Hmmm.

I wonder if some above would say that Miami has come out completely flat twice in this series because they are young and just not those types of dogs. Or that it's Spoelstra's fault.

[cman88]

The good news for the Celtics here is, unlike Game 2 into Game 3, this team is heading back on the road and won't have the safety net of a home game to lull them into complacency.   I expect a strong Game 5 out of them.

Pretty much this. I expect a strong showing from the team again. It's been all the Bucks series too. They expect at home the other team just going to roll over. I don't get it. Then when they have their backs against the wall they play real Celtics basketball.


Also thank God rob Williams says he is fine. I honestly think he's the x-factor out there in this series