Can This Celtic Team Beat Miami?

[CoachBo]

Probably.

But we're one injury away from absolute disaster.

And if we've learned anything from this team, it's that you cannot count on any particular level of performance. Given the wildly uneven level of intensity and effort from this team, I absolutely refuse to worry about the officiating. We should win this series ... but anyone who says they're certain we will is living in fan denial. No outcome would surprise me.

Miami will win at least two - perhaps more.

[prov1ml34]

It seems as though this team essentially does about the opposite of what I and we as a collective group think they are going to do in the initial rounds of the playoffs. We, or at least I, thought we would sweep the Hawks 2 years ago or maybe go 5 games with them. We all know how that turned out. I never in my wildest dreams thought the series last year against the Bulls would be as close as it was.

Now, I hope this trend continues, because many of the feelings from this thread are we may get beat or go 7 with Miami. With the last 2 years to go from, I am basically assuming it will probably go 7 games. So, if the trend continues, maybe we will see a series sweep or a 5 game series which will result in us getting a few days to rest up for the Cavs (or the Bulls ....) Aren't we WAY overdue for something to go right for our team this year? HAVE FAITH GUYS!

[snively]

I know Coach Bo won't like to hear it, but I think we need to see a lot of TA in this series.  We need defense at the 2, rebounding and transition buckets to help keep games from being half-court slugfests that become crunch-time scoring duels.

[jdpapa3]

I know Coach Bo won't like to hear it, but I think we need to see a lot of TA in this series.  We need defense at the 2, rebounding and transition buckets to help keep games from being half-court slugfests that become crunch-time scoring duels.

Yea, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ray left on the bench for longer stretches than usual if TA is doing a good job on Dwyane. I just hope his offense is serviceable and we don't have to see him take any jumpers. I swear he's hit about 2 jumpers this entire season and both of them came against the Lakers. I also hope the "jumpshot fake" scouting report on him isn't known leaguewide.

[nickagneta]

C's in 6 or 7.

This series is going to be tough, real tough.

[Donoghus]

C's in 6 or 7.

This series is going to be tough, real tough.

Yeah, that's my inclination as well.  The Celtics should & will win this series but D-Wade & Friends is gonna make it real interesting.

[jdpapa3]

I'm reading a Miami board right now and a good majority of them want to rest the starters tonight and avoid Cleveland in the second round, so there is always the possibility of the organization feeling the same way. But you can't deny that they'd rather see us right now.

Either way, I think every single one of our starters should be in a suit tonight.

[Eddie20]

More than likely the Celtics will be facing the Heat and there is growing concern that they can give us problems. However, I don't think this series is going to last too long. Basketball is all about matchups and we just match up really well vs. them.

MATCHUPS:

The Heat are an undersized team that would probably better equipped to face the Hawks in the first round than the much bigger, albeit less athletic, Celtics. When I look at the Heat I see potential mismatches all over the court. Beasley can't cover KG who's fadeways will go uncontested, Pierce usually carves up Richardson, and Rondo will get to the basket at will against either Arroyo or Chalmers. Off the bench, I would prefer that Daniels play more minutes in this round as our  backup PG. That's because I would like to see us go with a big backcourt and pound the ball inside, to either Daniels or TA, depending on who is being covered by Arroyo or Chalmers. Offensively, neither have the quickness to breakdown Daniels or TA on a consistent basis.

RECENT HISTORY:

The Heat have not won a game vs the C's since 2007.

PREDICTION:

The Heat just don't have the roster type that gives us problems (i.e. athletic big men) and their lack of depth, especially along the front line, will be their downfall.

CELTICS in 5.

[BringToughnessBack]

I will go out on an optimistic limb here...Celtics in 4 with a sweep. Here are my reasons for this unexpected result

1. They are due for winning streak and no better time then now!
2. Doc will be coaching his away games in Florida(family time is but a short flight away)
3. The veteran stars on our team don't want to play for a Defensive minded coach next year  and they will try extra to make sure Doc comes back
4. Rasheed Wallace will step us his game and become consistent
5. PP will rise up to the challenge and turn on his showtime switch
6. Ray Ray will avoid shooting slumps for prolonged periods of times and drain many threes
7. Rondo will use his speed to disassemble the Heat defense
8. Perkins will wake up from his deep sleep and start pulling down 10 boards a game
9. KG will stay healthy  which should be good for 17/9 a game
10. Doc will not wait for big deficits to occur and actually call time outs sooner
11. None of us expect a sweep therefore they will surprise us once again..but this time for the better

Go Celtics...bring on the Cavs!

a side note..if this is not a sweep, then we lose the first 3 and win the final 4..haha....that would be so typical but I am sticking with my sweep prediction.

[moiso]

If we play every game with 100% effort, we will stomp them.  Unfortunately, it's a tremendous task to get everyone on this team playing with good playoff level effort at the same time.  This series will be as close as the C's allow it to be.

[Celtics17]

I gotta be an optomist too! There are many reasons why I shouldnt but this team and each player knows how important rest is for this team to be successful in the post season. I think many of the players have been playing halfway just to keep from being injured or further aggravating existing injuries. It's time to lay it on the line and they will know it. Rasheed plays with enthusiasm, Paul and Rondo lead the offense, and Perk and KG anchor one of the top defensive teams these playoffs will see. C's in 4 but not easily.

[Vermont Green]

For those who think we are going to win anything in the playoffs, I guess you are basing that on the fact that in March/April we beat Dallas, Denver, and a short handed Cavs team.  To you it must seem that these wins against legit teams are much more of an indication of how we will play than our losses to Memphis, Houston, Knicks, Washington, and Chicago (all non-playoff or fringe playoff teams).  I hope you are right because it is going to be a whole lot more fun watching if that is the case.

Personally, I just can't get myself there.  I have seen nothing from this team that makes me think they can flip some switch and then suddenly start beating playoff teams (such as Miami) consistently.

[Fafnir]

I'm reading a Miami board right now and a good majority of them want to rest the starters tonight and avoid Cleveland in the second round, so there is always the possibility of the organization feeling the same way. But you can't deny that they'd rather see us right now.

Either way, I think every single one of our starters should be in a suit tonight.

Agreed, we're locked into our seed. Give the backups run.

[heyvik]

More than likely the Celtics will be facing the Heat and there is growing concern that they can give us problems. However, I don't think this series is going to last too long. Basketball is all about matchups and we just match up really well vs. them.

MATCHUPS:

The Heat are an undersized team that would probably better equipped to face the Hawks in the first round than the much bigger, albeit less athletic, Celtics. When I look at the Heat I see potential mismatches all over the court. Beasley can't cover KG who's fadeways will go uncontested, Pierce usually carves up Richardson, and Rondo will get to the basket at will against either Arroyo or Chalmers. Off the bench, I would prefer that Daniels play more minutes in this round as our  backup PG. That's because I would like to see us go with a big backcourt and pound the ball inside, to either Daniels or TA, depending on who is being covered by Arroyo or Chalmers. Offensively, neither have the quickness to breakdown Daniels or TA on a consistent basis.

RECENT HISTORY:

The Heat have not won a game vs the C's since 2007.

PREDICTION:

The Heat just don't have the roster type that gives us problems (i.e. athletic big men) and their lack of depth, especially along the front line, will be their downfall.

CELTICS in 5.

agreed

[nyceltsfan]

There is no way the Celts win a short series here.  They could not do it against lower-seeded teams the last 2 years.  The shortest playoff series since 2008 is 6 games.  I just dont see it happening.

They should beat Miami, but I would not be too surprised to see them lose one at home and implode for the rest of the series either.

Nothing would surprise me with this team anymore - from great play to horrible play.