Predictions: Celtics vs. Heat

[tstorey_97]

It's a formula:

Defense - Celtics
Offense - tie
Bench - Heat
Coach - tie
Stars - Celtics 3 + Smart
Stars - Heat 3 + ?

If you divide the right angle by the D it's the Celtics in 7

Essential mathematical formula = Defense wins championships

[GreenEnvy]

I may be a little guilty of feeling overconfident here, but I actually think we'll win this series rather comfortably. Miami's tough but Toronto to me was a lot tougher overall.

I'm going to predict Celtics in 6, BUT wouldn't shock me at all if they win this series in 5.

I think the Toronto series will prepare us well for this one, and also going forward beyond 2021. The series was filled with fierce competition, fantastic defense, some adversity, clutch moments, teachable moments, etc. Brad Stevens even admitted the Raps threw a lot of stuff out there that they didn't really know and it forced the C's to adjust many times. Don't forget, Nurse is COTY and even without Kawhi that Raptors team is great. Winning that Game 7 will do wonders for the young guys going forward and I think they all feel confident.

I'm hoping Kemba and Brown can for the most part at least neutralize the impact of Dragic and Butler, and Smart and others can defend the perimeter well. In theory Tatum should be the best overall player in this series and outplay their wings. He's the X-Factor, as is Hayward if he's able to return in the middle of the series.

I said the same thing about this Toronto series. If they swept and made quick work of them, I don’t think that would’ve helped all that much. But to get into a dogfight of a series with the defending champs, they learned something. Just like the 2018 ECF run gave the J’s confidence they belonged, this series will make them believe they are ready to win NOW.

It was a great series to watch, and something I truly believe our young guys (and Kemba) needed. Looking forward to seeing the matchup with Miami. They have a coach who’s been there before, but their roster really hasn’t been tested.

Once Hayward is good to go, we are a very dangerous and balanced team. Getting the Jay’s more rest and not using Semi will be great. Hayward can run the offense and make plays on defense.

[bello_man09]

Celtics in 6...

[hpantazo]

What do you guys think of our old friend Crowder going up against Tatum and Brown? I think those two guys are salivating at their chance of going at him.

Rob Williams, Grant Williams, and Kanter vs Olynyk should be good too.

[Neurotic Guy]

Hayward returns and has much success !

Wouldn't that be great. Ideally Gordon is back in time to play a couple games v. Heat, C's win in 5, the West Semis and WCF go 7 and Robin has baby the day after C's beat the Heat.  Maybe Gordon is then able to return for full Finals.

[Phantom255x]

Thank god Game 1 isn't tomorrow and is on Tuesday. The team gets 3 days of well-deserved rest, and us fans also get to give our hearts some much needed relief over the next few stress-free days

I probably need to take a mid-day nap to get re-calibrated again. Even though the game technically ended before midnight, going through all that anxiety after 9:30 PM was brutal, and also it was annoying that our 9 PM start time was really 9:30 because of another game taking long.

[Who]

Celtics in 5

Not impressed by Miami. They are a well coached hard working team but they lack top end talent outside of Jimmy Butler and a young improving Bam Adebayo. I just do not see Jimmy Butler being able to beat this Celtics team without more help by his side.

Being well coached, having togetherness and depth can only take you so far.

Milwaukee - it turns out - was a really good matchup for them. As some folks pointed out in terms of Miami's 3 point heavy offense vs Milwaukee's defense which conceded 3s to stop easier baskets close to the hoop. Not quite a perfect storm but a fantastic and misleading one as far as Miami's own quality is concerned.

The Celtics will handle this team - comfortably. Even without Hayward.

[jpotter33]

Yeah, Celtics in 6. Though we matched up pretty well against Toronto due to our star power, they are a much, much better defensive (especially perimeter defense) team than Miami, and they had the tools to make it difficult for our perimeter guys, especially Kemba.

Miami really has NOTHING to throw at Kemba to contain him from getting in the lane this series, which will be a huge factor for us offensively. Our perimeter guys should have an easier time this series getting their shots, especially Kemba.

Offensively, Miami is just a little better version of Toronto offensively with their perimeter oriented offense, which plays right into our defensive scheme with our long and quick perimeter defenders. They do have the advantage of a closer in Jimmy, but we literally have half a dozen options to throw at him to make things difficult, so we should be able to contain him.

And I’m not sure why everyone is so worried about Bam. He’s good and will likely get his, but he’s not someone that will beat us himself or someone that will get others involved to beat us. I think Theis abd Timelord (hopefully more of the latter) will do just fine with him.

[Stig]

i think the main two things are....

(1) celtics consistently play aggressive and hard defense, especially around the 3 point line.

(2) they don't stink up the joint with their 3 point shooting, as they did in game seven with toronto. tatum was 4-8 from 3 point land. the rest of the team was 5 for 30.  that is some truly craptastic shooting.

if they make their shots they will win the series.
 

Agree about the 3 point shooting, Miami has so many shooters, whoever beats the other team at the 3 point line will win the series.

Kemba will probably have a much better series, but Miami has many defenders to throw at Tatum/Brown: Butler, Crowder, Iggy, Bam, Herro is a pretty decent defender too, so I expect Tatum/Brown will have a tougher time to score.

[KGs Knee]

Yeah, Celtics in 6. Though we matched up pretty well against Toronto due to our star power, they are a much, much better defensive (especially perimeter defense) team than Miami, and they had the tools to make it difficult for our perimeter guys, especially Kemba.

Miami really has NOTHING to throw at Kemba to contain him from getting in the lane this series, which will be a huge factor for us offensively. Our perimeter guys should have an easier time this series getting their shots, especially Kemba.

Offensively, Miami is just a little better version of Toronto offensively with their perimeter oriented offense, which plays right into our defensive scheme with our long and quick perimeter defenders. They do have the advantage of a closer in Jimmy, but we literally have half a dozen options to throw at him to make things difficult, so we should be able to contain him.

And I’m not sure why everyone is so worried about Bam. He’s good and will likely get his, but he’s not someone that will beat us himself or someone that will get others involved to beat us. I think Theis and Timelord (hopefully more of the latter) will do just fine with him.

I do think Boston will win and should be the favorite.

But I wouldn't count on Kemba automatically having a better series.  Spoelstra is an even better coach than Nurse, so I once again expect Brad to get out-witted.  Toronto gave the blue-print, it's up to Spo to decide when to deploy the tactic himself.

My confidence in Boston this series is on the fact we have more top end talent.  Tatum should be the best player on the court most nights.  Brown can moonlight in that role sometimes, as well.  If Kemba isn't game-planned against he could be also.

Jimmy and Dragic aren't likely to be enough, but I fully expect Miami to outwork us, outsmart us, and execute better than us.

[hpantazo]

Yeah, Celtics in 6. Though we matched up pretty well against Toronto due to our star power, they are a much, much better defensive (especially perimeter defense) team than Miami, and they had the tools to make it difficult for our perimeter guys, especially Kemba.

Miami really has NOTHING to throw at Kemba to contain him from getting in the lane this series, which will be a huge factor for us offensively. Our perimeter guys should have an easier time this series getting their shots, especially Kemba.

Offensively, Miami is just a little better version of Toronto offensively with their perimeter oriented offense, which plays right into our defensive scheme with our long and quick perimeter defenders. They do have the advantage of a closer in Jimmy, but we literally have half a dozen options to throw at him to make things difficult, so we should be able to contain him.

And I’m not sure why everyone is so worried about Bam. He’s good and will likely get his, but he’s not someone that will beat us himself or someone that will get others involved to beat us. I think Theis and Timelord (hopefully more of the latter) will do just fine with him.

I do think Boston will win and should be the favorite.

But I wouldn't count on Kemba automatically having a better series.  Spoelstra is an even better coach than Nurse, so I once again expect Brad to get out-witted.  Toronto gave the blue-print, it's up to Spo to decide when to deploy the tactic himself.

My confidence in Boston this series is on the fact we have more top end talent.  Tatum should be the best player on the court most nights.  Brown can moonlight in that role sometimes, as well.  If Kemba isn't game-planned against he could be also.

Jimmy and Dragic aren't likely to be enough, but I fully expect Miami to outwork us, outsmart us, and execute better than us.

Your other points may have some merit, but there's no way any team in the bubble is going to outwork these Celtics.

[CelticsBR]

I don't think Brad was outsmarted by Nurse. Nurse and the Raptors did make adjustments that took Kemba out of his comfort zone. But the Celtics largely shut down both Siakam and VV. The fact they did it playing almost in their normal defensive system should not take the merit away from Brad. His use of players with very specific strenghts (such as Timelord, Ojeleye and Grant William) was brilliant!

[SHAQATTACK]

I don't think Brad was outsmarted by Nurse. Nurse and the Raptors did make adjustments that took Kemba out of his comfort zone. But the Celtics largely shut down both Siakam and VV. The fact they did it playing almost in their normal defensive system should not take the merit away from Brad. His use of players with very specific strenghts (such as Timelord, Ojeleye and Grant William) was brilliant!

interesting.   I was gonna axe the blog if Kemba was really that awful as people were calling the game , or was he hurt or did the Raptors just key in on him .  A small easier target to pick on ,  to hold his scoring in check . Because he is like IT was , you leave him wide open and he makes most of them . Raptors game plan , shut down Kemba completely.?

[perks-a-beast]

Dragic is going to be the X factor in this series. If he gets it going and averages 20+ I don’t think the Celtics have much of a shot. He always seems to play well against us...

[SHAQATTACK]

KO always has a great night against Boston it seems. 

I like Time Lord over KO .   KO doesn't jump,  he ll get stuffed by The Time Lord multiple times I predict.

Maybe Kanter will be useful down low and punish tue Heat some.