Heat (39-14) at Celtics (38-14) 2/13

[Roy H.]

I am not making any predictions but all of you just dismissing the Heat like this come May just may be eating crow. I will admit right now Boston is clearly the better TEAM, but none of you won't give Miami props for their great record after that average start.

I thought the Heat in 2006 couldn't beat the Pistons, hell the Pistons owned the Heat. What happened? Miami won in 6. I am not one to look into the future but to dismiss a team with James, Wade and Bosh is not only ignorant but stupid.

What do you expect from people?  You come over here after a big Celtics win and start peeing in people's Cheerios, and you expect them to pay homage to the Heat?  After Miami couldn't beat a team playing with around 6.5 players?

Your timing is terrible.  If you want to find people sympathetic to Miami, I'd refer you to the Heat blog (or ESPN.com).  On CelticsBlog, people have a right to be excited about that 3-0 record without Heat fans baiting them.

[celticinorlando]

I am not making any predictions but all of you just dismissing the Heat like this come May just may be eating crow. I will admit right now Boston is clearly the better TEAM, but none of you won't give Miami props for their great record after that average start.

I thought the Heat in 2006 couldn't beat the Pistons, hell the Pistons owned the Heat. What happened? Miami won in 6. I am not one to look into the future but to dismiss a team with James, Wade and Bosh is not only ignorant but stupid.

What do you expect from people?  You come over here after a big Celtics win and start peeing in people's Cheerios, and you expect them to pay homage to the Heat?  After Miami couldn't beat a team playing with around 6.5 players?

Your timing is terrible.  If you want to find people sympathetic to Miami, I'd refer you to the Heat blog (or ESPN.com).  On CelticsBlog, people have a right to be excited about that 3-0 record without Heat fans baiting them.

TP for you when I get a chance

[JohnBagleyValueMeal]

they needed that win today. and they deserved it. I have zero fear of miami in the playoffs

I wouldn't go that far. Miami is still a scary team. Any team with Wade AND Lebron worries me. I still think we beat them in a playoff series but I think they are the only team that could possibly stop us in the East.

I actually think Chicago could take either the Celtics or Miami out, too, depending on what kind of offense they're playing. It's really the only argument for getting the #1 seed in the East that I really agree with...avoiding the Bulls in round 2.

[RJ87]

they needed that win today. and they deserved it. I have zero fear of miami in the playoffs

I wouldn't go that far. Miami is still a scary team. Any team with Wade AND Lebron worries me. I still think we beat them in a playoff series but I think they are the only team that could possibly stop us in the East.

I actually think Chicago could take either the Celtics or Miami out, too, depending on what kind of offense they're playing. It's really the only argument for getting the #1 seed in the East that I really agree with...avoiding the Bulls in round 2.

I want no part of the Bulls in round 2, in fact I think they have a good shot of getting to the ECF.

[hpantazo]

I am here because I love Shaq but I hate the Celtics. The Celtics are just a better TEAM in all the games with Miami this year.

Miami is my team but those  turnovers and that horrible 3rd quarter lost this game.

If I am Boston, I am somewhat worried that you had such an amazing 3rd quarter and barely won this game.

Keep in mind, I still think down the stretch the Heat will take sole possession of the first seed and regular season games don't mean anything in a playoff series.  

well if I were Miami, I would be very worried that a celtics team missing Shaq, JO, Erden, Delonte, and Daniels, plus Pierce playing with the flu and Nate sitting most of the game with a bad knee, was still able to win the game. The celtics had only 1 center, who just recently returned from knee surgery, and only one SF, who played with the flu, and one point guard, considering Nate barely played and has a bad knee, and they still beat the Heat who have been on a role and have their whole team.

The celtics will be a lot better in the spring when most of these guys are back. I don't see how you expect the heat to be better.

[barefacedmonk]

I am not making any predictions but all of you just dismissing the Heat like this come May just may be eating crow. I will admit right now Boston is clearly the better TEAM, but none of you won't give Miami props for their great record after that average start.

I thought the Heat in 2006 couldn't beat the Pistons, hell the Pistons owned the Heat. What happened? Miami won in 6. I am not one to look into the future but to dismiss a team with James, Wade and Bosh is not only ignorant but stupid.

What do you expect from people?  You come over here after a big Celtics win and start peeing in people's Cheerios, and you expect them to pay homage to the Heat?  After Miami couldn't beat a team playing with around 6.5 players?

Your timing is terrible.  If you want to find people sympathetic to Miami, I'd refer you to the Heat blog (or ESPN.com).  On CelticsBlog, people have a right to be excited about that 3-0 record without Heat fans baiting them.

[GreenFaith1819]

lol...I bet after DWade saw Lebron miss that free throw, he was thinking...

"Get me Out of Here!!"

[KCattheStripe]

Am I the only one who thinks LeBron really hates driving at Perk? I never see LeBron miss as many lay-ups as he does attacking against Perk. Does LeBron usually create his separation by simply being stronger than most centers?

[barefacedmonk]

This was, far and away, the #Celtics best win of the season. And the #Heat ... it's hard to imagine them suffering a worse loss than this.

Agree with Sherrod.

[celticinorlando]

avoid the bulls as long as they can

[Atzar]

Am I the only one who thinks LeBron really hates driving at Perk? I never see LeBron miss as many lay-ups as he does attacking against Perk. Does LeBron usually create his separation by simply being stronger than most centers?

I noticed this too.  I saw LeBron shoot a couple of floaters today, which is something I hadn't noticed from him before.  Just an odd choice of shot when he can normally barrel through defenders and finish through the foul. 

[Tai]

I am here because I love Shaq but I hate the Celtics. The Celtics are just a better TEAM in all the games with Miami this year.

Miami is my team but those  turnovers and that horrible 3rd quarter lost this game.

If I am Boston, I am somewhat worried that you had such an amazing 3rd quarter and barely won this game.

Keep in mind, I still think down the stretch the Heat will take sole possession of the first seed and regular season games don't mean anything in a playoff series.  

You're the same guy who made a Youtube video simply to say you like Shaq but don't like the Celtics. Now you're trying to spin this loss for the Heat by saying the Celtics "barely won this game" where they are without not, 1, not 2, not even just 4, but 5 bench players? Really? Who do the Heat have in their normal rotation that's hurt? Haslem. That's it.

Obviously the playoffs are a different beast, not that the Celtics have proven themselves within said beast or anything in the last few years, but if the Celtics are healthy come that time, the Heat are the clear underdog against the Celtics.

[NoraG1]

I am here because I love Shaq but I hate the Celtics. The Celtics are just a better TEAM in all the games with Miami this year.

Miami is my team but those  turnovers and that horrible 3rd quarter lost this game.

If I am Boston, I am somewhat worried that you had such an amazing 3rd quarter and barely won this game.

Keep in mind, I still think down the stretch the Heat will take sole possession of the first seed and regular season games don't mean anything in a playoff series.  

You're the same guy who made a Youtube video simply to say you like Shaq but don't like the Celtics. Now you're trying to spin this loss for the Heat by saying the Celtics "barely won this game" where they are without not, 1, not 2, not even just 4, but 5 bench players? Really? Who do the Heat have in their normal rotation that's hurt? Haslem. That's it.

Obviously the playoffs are a different beast, not that the Celtics have proven themselves within said beast or anything in the last few years, but if the Celtics are healthy come that time, the Heat are the clear underdog against the Celtics.

Not to add that as usual Heat got help from the refs. The last part of the game when Heat were behind. Refs were searching hard for fouls to hand on to the C's. Kg was almost fouled out of the game because of some of the ridiculous calls on him.

[barefacedmonk]

Not to add that as usual Heat got help from the refs. The last part of the game when Heat were behind. Refs were searching hard for fouls to hand on to the C's. Kg was almost fouled out of the game because of some of the ridiculous calls on him.

KG also got away with one at the end...refs were horrible for both the teams.

[Q_FBE]

they needed that win today. and they deserved it. I have zero fear of miami in the playoffs

I wouldn't go that far. Miami is still a scary team. Any team with Wade AND Lebron worries me. I still think we beat them in a playoff series but I think they are the only team that could possibly stop us in the East.

I actually think Chicago could take either the Celtics or Miami out, too, depending on what kind of offense they're playing. It's really the only argument for getting the #1 seed in the East that I really agree with...avoiding the Bulls in round 2.

I want no part of the Bulls in round 2, in fact I think they have a good shot of getting to the ECF.

Chicago continues to win games despite being missing either Joakim Noah or Carlos Boozer for long stretches. That Tai Gibson has done a whale of a job for them.

Back to todays game: I think this serves as a reminder that we need Rondo to perform at a high level in order for us to win. This did not happen on Thursday night and we paid a dear price missing an opportunity to beat the LAL a 2nd time. Rondo played great in the 3rd Q and we opened up enough of a lead to survive a near catastrophic 4th quarter. Miami needs the role players (Eddie House, James Jones, and Mike Miller) to knock down their open jump shot looks. Pierce's sh---y game was offset by Wade and LeBrons sh---y game. Fortunately we did not have foul trouble and I believe that Von Wafer and Glen Davis outplayed Miami's role players to help offset the weak offensive play of Pierce and Ray Allen. A box score analysis will follow on the wrap-up.