Is Miami really the C's toughest challenge in the East?

[CelticSooner]

I'm starting to wonder if that is really so. I know they're good but they have big weaknesses the C's take advantage of. Primarily their bigs and at the point. Once Haslem gets back he'll help but I doubt it will be enough.

Watching the Heat play elite teams they look out of it on offense. If they aren't scoring in transition they struggle. It's really terrible to watch. Their defense is very good but they only play it in spurts.

Three really good basketball players and a rag tag group of hired guns around them. Not exactly something that thrives in the playoffs.

[barefacedmonk]

One of the toughest...I'm more comfortable now that we have beaten them 3 times...especially today with almost no bench players...but you can't can't them out. Bulls with a healthy Noah are more threatening though.

[CelticSooner]

One of the toughest...I'm more comfortable now that we have beaten them 3 times...especially today with almost no bench players...but you'can't can't them out. Bulls with a healthy Noah are more threatening though.

I agree with that. Bulls matchup up pretty well with the C's now that Boozer is in Chicago. C's haven't really solved the Derrick Rose yet either. No one really has though.

[Roy H.]

I think it still has to be the Heat.  They play good team defense, and have two of the top five players in the NBA (and another guy who is top-15).  In the playoffs, the Heat and Lakers are the only two teams I'm really worried about; I'd be legitimately shocked if Miami, LA, or the Celts didn't win the title this year.

I'd rank our overall challengers as:

1. LA
2. Miami
3a. Chicago
3b. San Antonio
5. Orlando
6. Dallas

[Who]

I think so ... they still have a long ways to go before they can beat Boston in a seven game series though.

[wahz]

1. Orlando if they gel more and I think they will. We will beat them in 5-6 but if they(Richardson/Turk/Redick) get hot and they can get red hot, it might be tougher.
2. Bulls. They will play at a high energy level and never ever give up. It won't be easy but we would beat them in 6 or less also, a very very physical series.
3. Mia. Its a hard thing to put a finger on but they just make a lot of poor decisions, especially Wade does, and even if Bosh plays really well, KG will at least neutralize him AND play great help d otherwise. Lebron will play great overall but not enough to win them games. We take them in 5.

[Neurotic Guy]

Miami or Chicago. Hope they play each other in the playoffs so we won't need to beat both of them. #1 seed important but will be tough to get. Hope Pierce is OK.

[screwedupmaniac]

We're gonna be in serious trouble if we keep overlooking Orlando and overemphasizing the three queens of south beach...and Chicago definitely concerns me, as they gave us problems before they improved their roster.

[mgent]

No chance.

Our biggest challenges are as follows:

LA
Chicago
Orlando

For one reason alone.  All 3 of those teams are capable of grabbing a +10 rebound margin on any given night and when motivated a +20 margin against us.

Our reputation as a bad rebounding team follows us and it leads to teams sending 3-4 sometimes 5 guys to the offense boards.

Destroying us on the boards is the only way to beat us.

[Rondo_is_better]

Destroying us on the boards is the only way to beat us.

Joel Anthony...Chris Bosh.....yeah move along nothing to see here.

[Andrew]

Did you guys happen to watch basketball from 04-06? You must have since the Celtics sucked then...

Anyways, onto the point, the Celtics are the Pistons to the Heat from 04-06. In that the Pistons win now but tomorrow is a different story. The Celtics are old as hell, its all or nothing this season. The Heat have a shot to win any postseason series and to under estimate them is just ignorant.

But then again in a season or 2's time you guys will be relegated to watching Miami, Orlando and Chicago every year in the ECFs while your Celtics are out in the first round without KG and Allen.

[nba is the worst]

I have to say the Bulls, because of their defense and Thibs' knowledge of the team.

The Heat are a joke, I don't see them making it far enough to face the celtics in the playoffs

[CelticSooner]

Future trash talk, love it. You don't have to get butthurt Andrew.

Who knows how the C's will look in 2 years. As for the here and now they look pretty good. 

[barefacedmonk]

but tomorrow is a different story.

That can be said about any team..tomorrow is a different story...what's your point? Yeah, the Cs may struggle when the Big 3 retire and we don't rebuild well...but can you imagine if either Wade and/or LeBron have a career ending injury? Your beloved Heat will struggle big time...too many ifs and buts...

....no point in speculating about the future...live in the present...and the present tells me that your team is 0-3 against us...suck it up...and if you don't like what we have to say about our team on CelticsBlog...then move along.

[JerseyKid.]

Did you guys happen to watch basketball from 04-06? You must have since the Celtics sucked then...

Anyways, onto the point, the Celtics are the Pistons to the Heat from 04-06. In that the Pistons win now but tomorrow is a different story. The Celtics are old as hell, its all or nothing this season. The Heat have a shot to win any postseason series and to under estimate them is just ignorant.

But then again in a season or 2's time you guys will be relegated to watching Miami, Orlando and Chicago every year in the ECFs while your Celtics are out in the first round without KG and Allen.

Move along troll, your "harsh" jabs didn't improve your 0-3 record against us. I can see why you like the heat though, you seem to whine just like bosh and wade do when you don't get what you want.