Can This Celtic Team Beat Miami?

[jpd985]

I am scared about the boost the officials will give Wade and the Heat.

[barefacedmonk]

I am scared about the boost the officials will give Wade and the Heat.

The officating is usually of a higher standard in the playoffs....maybe we'll get lucky.

[jpd985]

I am scared about the boost the officials will give Wade and the Heat.

The officating is usually of a higher standard in the playoffs....maybe we'll get lucky.

I am not going to hold my breath.

[Who]

in a 7 game series?  I'm not so sure.

If there current form continues? It's a 50-50 situation. Heck, Miami deserve to have an advantage. Let's make it 55-45 against.

In terms of where they were a couple of weeks ago? Or where Boston is capable of playing at? They should beat Miami handedly.

[Q_FBE]

They should be able to easily. But the Celtics make things hard on themselves.

[Tai]

I don't have 'faith', but sure, we can beat them.

I also think they can beat us.

I really need to see how we play on the first playoff game before I can form any opinions.

Same. Like, if the C's really are just waiting for the playoffs to flip the switch, they should legit beat the Heat by at least double digits in Game 1. If they can do that, then at the very LEAST, we can go from there.

[ducksawce]

Yes, the Celtics will beat the Heat in 5.  They have Miami's number this year, especially down the stretch.  Remember, the Heat have played dreadful competition over the past few weeks, and their reputed hot streak is nothing but fluff.

Needless to say, D-Wade will score at will.  That much is known.  However, even when Wade scored 44 in his last game against the Celtics, the Heat STILL lost.  This Celtics team may be inconsistent, but if there is one thing they are very good at doing, it is stopping teams that have one transcendent superstar.  The only player that seems to evade the grip of that dominance is Lebron....the reason being that he is a PLAYMAKER, and not purely a scorer.  When Lebron passes well, and the rest of the Cavs shoot well, it is game over.

Miami is not like that at all.  They don't have good shooters, and D-Wade is not primarily a playmaker. The celtics should be able to take the series easily.  The games won't be easy, but they'll be PERFECT preparation for the ensuing Cavs series in round 2.

[Q_FBE]

I am scared about the boost the officials will give Wade and the Heat.

The officating is usually of a higher standard in the playoffs....maybe we'll get lucky.

I'm seeking a second opinion from Sexy Scottish on if the playoff officiating is of higher quility.

[colincb]

Sure they can. Will they? I think so because I think PP is getting closer to 100% and KG looked pretty good tonight offensively. Doc won't have much thinking to do if the bench gets shortened which would be a plus too.

[rav123]

This team is what it is -- a .500 team that can shoot, but is soft and doesn't play a whole lot of effective defense.  Yes, they can beat Miami, but Miami can also beat them.

As Simmons tweeted tonight, Dwayne Wade might be able to beat them by himself. 

Series is a toss up in my mind.  Wouldn't surprise me if they bottom out and lose in 5.

Maybe recently. But we were the best defense in the league until a month ago, and we're still #4. We play good defense.

Now about that offense...

[Bahku]

Of course ... they can beat anyone when they're playing their best. Unfortunately, it's completely up to whether or not they decide to play their best and give their all, and they've been pretty inconsistent when it comes to that this season. I'm praying that the playoffs will be the element that spurs them on, the extra incentive that makes the difference, but I'm not about to put big money on it.

[P2]

Yeah, I think they will.  Outside of Wade, the Miami team just isn't that good.  Wade is amazing, of course, but I think that if the Celts play as a team, they'll win in 5 or 6.

We have said the same in the past two years about weaker teams.

[Drucci]

Of course they can, and of course they will!

I will admit I'm worried about Wade and a possible zebra takeover but otherwise we will be fine.

[lon3lytoaster]

Of course ... they can beat anyone when they're playing their best. Unfortunately, it's completely up to whether or not they decide to play their best and give their all, and they've been pretty inconsistent when it comes to that this season. I'm praying that the playoffs will be the element that spurs them on, the extra incentive that makes the difference, but I'm not about to put big money on it.

Pretty much what I would have said. TP.

[rav123]

It will definitely be 7 games though. That's just our signature  

For all you guys worried about officiating:

1. Playoff refereeing will be under intense scrutiny due to previous scandals. Especially in light of the fact that the league recently admitted they botched a call.

2. Though Wade is a superstar, Stern would rather have the "old-guard" Celts play the Cavs in the EC semi-finals, rather than "Dwyane Wade and the losers", who have no chance, in any universe, of defeating the Cavaliers. In addition, we have more fans, so the Cavs-Celts series will get higher ratings than Wade-Cavs.