Predictions: Celtics vs. Heat

[hpantazo]

FYI, majority (11 to 10) of ESPN experts (LOL) pick Heat over Celtics.

Basically a toss up.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29878951/nba-playoffs-2020-experts-picks-celtics-heat-eastern-conference-finals

We beat the Heat 2 out 3 games this season. In the 2 wins, we were missing Tatum in one of them, and we were missing Hayward and Smart in the other. In their one win (in the bubble), they did not hand us a convincing defeat or anything, and the Celtics were clearly fine tuning the rotation and plays with Butler out in a virtually meaningless seeding game.

Since then, we swept the Sixers and knocked out the defending champs without or 17 ppg scorer Hayward, who is due back soon.

How does that translate to them being heavy favorites? 100% media bias.

[Tr1boy]

FYI, majority (11 to 10) of ESPN experts (LOL) pick Heat over Celtics.

Basically a toss up.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29878951/nba-playoffs-2020-experts-picks-celtics-heat-eastern-conference-finals

We beat the Heat 2 out 3 games this season. In the 2 wins, we were missing Tatum in one of them, and we were missing Hayward and Smart in the other. In their one win (in the bubble), they did not hand us a convincing defeat or anything, and the Celtics were clearly fine tuning the rotation and plays with Butler out in a virtually meaningless seeding game.

Since then, we swept the Sixers and knocked out the defending champs without or 17 ppg scorer Hayward, who is due back soon.

How does that translate to them being heavy favorites? 100% media bias.

yeah saw that. But there are several other analyst that say Celts in 7. Especially if Hayward can return

The idea behind heat favoritism is

Celts couldn't beat Bucks last season. And also it took every ounce to barely beat a leonardless Raptors

In a way disrespecting the Raptors

Lets not forget also that, Timelord didn't play a lick vs regular season.  Grant Williams was benched in the recent outings but was effective in the 1st two games

[hpantazo]

FYI, majority (11 to 10) of ESPN experts (LOL) pick Heat over Celtics.

Basically a toss up.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29878951/nba-playoffs-2020-experts-picks-celtics-heat-eastern-conference-finals

We beat the Heat 2 out 3 games this season. In the 2 wins, we were missing Tatum in one of them, and we were missing Hayward and Smart in the other. In their one win (in the bubble), they did not hand us a convincing defeat or anything, and the Celtics were clearly fine tuning the rotation and plays with Butler out in a virtually meaningless seeding game.

Since then, we swept the Sixers and knocked out the defending champs without or 17 ppg scorer Hayward, who is due back soon.

How does that translate to them being heavy favorites? 100% media bias.

yeah saw that. But there are several other analyst that say Celts in 7. Especially if Hayward can return

The idea behind heat favoritism is

Celts couldn't beat Bucks last season. And also it took every ounce to barely beat a leonardless Raptors

In a way disrespecting the Raptors

Lets not forget also that, Timelord didn't play a lick vs regular season.  Grant Williams was benched in the recent outings but was effective in the 1st two games

Comparing this year's Celtics team to the team that faced the Bucks last year is meaningless though. Kyrie and Rozier killed that Celtics team, and an aging Horford didn't help either.

[SHAQATTACK]

Heat fans are being very unkind on their blogs and not wishing us well in the least it seems 

[CelticsPoetry]

Heat fans are extremely cocky right now

Basically that Celts will have no answer for Bam... like he is the 2nd coming of..

He is good. Very good. But I will like to see what Timelord can do against him 

Heat also love to run around like headless chickens vs Celtics.  Especially passing to KO or Bam at the FT line (after switching them with smaller players)

Brad will need to figure this out.  Maybe don't chase and play a zone type D instead. Let KO beat you with the 3.  But prevent the inside outside game, wearing down the D

I have a good feeling of Brown able to neutralize Butler, Smart neutralize Dragic or Hero,  Tatum abuse Duncan Robinson.  But once the switching and mismatches happen, thats when problems can arise

 

People act like Bam is a 30ppg scorer. We need an answer for a 15ppg guy?

The truth is that we will probably make Bam have to score to win this series. If his numbers are more like 15 ppg with 5 apg, the Heat offense will be much better than if Bam is more like 21ppg and 2apg. We want him to have to create in order to score inside. If your offensive plan leans on the scoring effectiveness of a 15ppg guy, it's flimsy.

We need to help Theis, Grant, Rob, and even some Kanter in order to contain, but we can't compromise the defense and leave shooters in order to help. I also think the Cs will use Jaylen Brown at times on Bam. He was so good against Siakim but Bam has about 30 more pounds of muscle.

It won't be that easy to pair Brown onto Bam

If you remember last game, there was a rotation between Theis, Tatum, Brown, Smart.... and Bam just got whistle calls after whistle calls and several and ones

On top of this, worry about 7ft and much more mobile KO.   

We will need Timelord to come up big again.   I'm afraid to play Kanter. But maybe in spurts can help rack up fouls on BAM and KO

The Celts did a great job against Raptors length trio of Ibaka, Anunoby and Siakam.   But Bam and KO are much better passers, + BAM ability to finish around the rim and KO ability to make the 3.   It will be a more difficult challenge

Eh, I'm not that worried, doubt that KO suddenly becomes a world beater from 3 like Ibaka did (he shot 15-31 from 3 for the series) and Bam is basically a non-shooter

[hpantazo]

Heat fans are extremely cocky right now

Basically that Celts will have no answer for Bam... like he is the 2nd coming of..

He is good. Very good. But I will like to see what Timelord can do against him 

Heat also love to run around like headless chickens vs Celtics.  Especially passing to KO or Bam at the FT line (after switching them with smaller players)

Brad will need to figure this out.  Maybe don't chase and play a zone type D instead. Let KO beat you with the 3.  But prevent the inside outside game, wearing down the D

I have a good feeling of Brown able to neutralize Butler, Smart neutralize Dragic or Hero,  Tatum abuse Duncan Robinson.  But once the switching and mismatches happen, thats when problems can arise

 

People act like Bam is a 30ppg scorer. We need an answer for a 15ppg guy?

The truth is that we will probably make Bam have to score to win this series. If his numbers are more like 15 ppg with 5 apg, the Heat offense will be much better than if Bam is more like 21ppg and 2apg. We want him to have to create in order to score inside. If your offensive plan leans on the scoring effectiveness of a 15ppg guy, it's flimsy.

We need to help Theis, Grant, Rob, and even some Kanter in order to contain, but we can't compromise the defense and leave shooters in order to help. I also think the Cs will use Jaylen Brown at times on Bam. He was so good against Siakim but Bam has about 30 more pounds of muscle.

It won't be that easy to pair Brown onto Bam

If you remember last game, there was a rotation between Theis, Tatum, Brown, Smart.... and Bam just got whistle calls after whistle calls and several and ones

On top of this, worry about 7ft and much more mobile KO.   

We will need Timelord to come up big again.   I'm afraid to play Kanter. But maybe in spurts can help rack up fouls on BAM and KO

The Celts did a great job against Raptors length trio of Ibaka, Anunoby and Siakam.   But Bam and KO are much better passers, + BAM ability to finish around the rim and KO ability to make the 3.   It will be a more difficult challenge

Eh, I'm not that worried, doubt that KO suddenly becomes a world beater from 3 like Ibaka did (he shot 15-31 from 3 for the series) and Bam is basically a non-shooter

Yeah, Bam is very good, but unlike Embiid or Ibaka, he can't shoot. Those two were super talented and could hit the three. I'm not that worried about containing Bam or KO. If we keep the Heat in check from 3 pt range and dont allow Dragic and Butler to beat us off penetration we win this series.

[LilRip]

My prediction: C’s in 6

Heat match up very well against the Bucks and we all saw it in the regular season. That was like Warriors vs Mavs. The Mavs could’ve beat any team that year in a 7-game series (imo) except the We Believe Warriors.

I think C’s are a better team and it will show. Let’s go Celtics!

(Sidenote: I don’t think we could’ve beat the Bucks had they gotten past the Heat)

[SparzWizard]

Heat fans are being very unkind on their blogs and not wishing us well in the least it seems 

Miami fans hate Boston fans.

So do us. Hope we smother the hell out of them for 2011 and esp 2012.

[Phantom255x]

I like Jimmy Butler. And he's a fantastic player. But since when did he become Lebron James/Kahwi Leonard?? Everyone in the media is acting like he's easily the best player between both teams in this series and that he's the only reason Miami will beat Boston. He's certainly a playoff performer but still, I don't view him as a Top-10 player in the league. Now to be fair, I don't think there's a Top-10 player on our roster either.

[wiley]

I like Jimmy Butler. And he's a fantastic player. But since when did he become Lebron James/Kahwi Leonard?? Everyone in the media is acting like he's easily the best player between both teams in this series and that he's the only reason Miami will beat Boston. He's certainly a playoff performer but still, I don't view him as a Top-10 player in the league. Now to be fair, I don't think there's a Top-10 player on our roster either.

I remember Avery Bradley outplayed Butler in the Chicago Boston first round series a few years back...Avery was great and they were matched up a lot.  That was the series Rondo dominated the first two games which Chicago won....then got hurt....then we won like 4 in a row I think...when I say  Bradley outplayed Butler I mean he played him even if I remember...

[Scottiej23]

I believe we will win 4-1.

[CelticsElite]

Espn experts had picked

Jerry Bembry: Heat in 7

Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 6

Nick DePaula: Heat in 6

Nick Friedell: Celtics in 6

Kirk Goldsberry: Heat in 6

Andrew Han: Heat in 6

Chris Herring: Celtics in 7

Andrew Lopez: Heat in 7

Zach Lowe: Celtics in 7

Tim MacMahon: Heat in 7

Bobby Marks: Heat in 6

Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 7

Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 7

Omar Raja: Heat in 7

Jorge Sedano: Heat in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Heat in 6

Andre' Snellings: Celtics in 7

Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 6

Jesse Washington: Celtics in 7

Eric Woodyard: Heat in 7

Royce Young: Celtics in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 7

Final tally: Celtics (11), Heat (11).

[Somebody]

Espn experts had picked

Jerry Bembry: Heat in 7

Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 6

Nick DePaula: Heat in 6

Nick Friedell: Celtics in 6

Kirk Goldsberry: Heat in 6

Andrew Han: Heat in 6

Chris Herring: Celtics in 7

Andrew Lopez: Heat in 7

Zach Lowe: Celtics in 7

Tim MacMahon: Heat in 7

Bobby Marks: Heat in 6

Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 7

Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 7

Omar Raja: Heat in 7

Jorge Sedano: Heat in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Heat in 6

Andre' Snellings: Celtics in 7

Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 6

Jesse Washington: Celtics in 7

Eric Woodyard: Heat in 7

Royce Young: Celtics in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 7

Final tally: Celtics (11), Heat (11).

So basically the experts are picking us to win while the casuals are going with the Heat

[gouki88]

I like Jimmy Butler. And he's a fantastic player. But since when did he become Lebron James/Kahwi Leonard?? Everyone in the media is acting like he's easily the best player between both teams in this series and that he's the only reason Miami will beat Boston. He's certainly a playoff performer but still, I don't view him as a Top-10 player in the league. Now to be fair, I don't think there's a Top-10 player on our roster either.

He's also been like, not super impressive these playoffs. He's averaging 22/6/4 over the playoffs on pretty good efficiency, but his defence isn't what it was and he turns it over often. Not sure how much better he's been than Tatum (averaging 24/10/4 on pretty good efficiency) and Brown (21/8/2 on solid efficiency).

Hell, even despite most thinking he has failed expectations, Kemba has averaged 20/5/4 despite shooting 29% from 3! Jimmy Butler is definitely not clearly better than JT, JB or Kemba

[Tr1boy]

Celts need to learn how to close better

I was not impressed with Tatum inability to close ... and almost deja vu gave up another layup to Powell

I don't understand his eagerness to drive to the basket when the Celts really need it vs just going to his signature drive stop and pop.