Heat (46-18) at Celtics (37-27) 4/24

[FLCeltsFan]

 at  
Miami Heat (46-18) at Boston Celtics (37-27)
Tuesday, April 24
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #65,  Home Game #32
TV:  TNT, SunSPM,  The Score
Radio:  WEEI,  WAXY
TD Garden


Probable Starting Matchups

Point Guard:  Avery Bradley vs Mario Chalmers
vs


Shooting Guard:  Sasha Pavlovic  vs James Jones
vs


Small Forward:  Paul Pierce vs LeBron James
vs


Power Forward:  Brandon Bass vs Udonis Haslem
vs


Center:  Kevin Garnett vs Dexter Pittman  
vs



Game Notes
This is the 4th and final meeting between these two teams in the regular season.  The Celtics lead the series 2-1, winning once in Boston and once in Miami.  The loss was in the Celtics second game of the season when Pierce was still out with the foot injury.

The starting lineups for both teams are a mixture of regular starters and reserves.  Both coaches are resting a couple of regulars.   Doc has said that it's possible that Rondo or Pietrus may play.  Ray is out once again and it would be smart to rest Stiemsma and give Hollins, Williams, and Johnson some more experience.

After the embarrassing losses that Miami received from the Celtics in their last 2 meetings I would think that they really want to win this one, especially if Pierce and Garnett play. LeBron has been playing very well and has carried the Heat in the absence of the other two stars.

The Heat are in the second spot but still have hopes of moving up. However, the Bulls number is 1 and so a loss in this game would eliminate them.   The Celtics are in 4th and their matchup with the Hawks is set, however, home court is still up for grabs.  The Celtics number is 3 and the Hawks number is 2.  So if the Celtics win both their games and the Hawks lose to either the Clippers or Mavs, the Celtics could get home court.  

This game does have some meaning for both teams, but Doc has said that rest and health comes first.  It's hard to tell who will play or how much and because of that, it's hard to tell which team will come out on top.  


Boston Reserves
Ryan Hollins
Keyon Dooling
Marquis Daniels
JaJuan Johnson
E'Twaun Moore
Sean Williams  


Injured
Ray Allen (ankle) out
Greg Stiemsma (feet,thumb) questionable
Mickael Pietrus (knee)  questionable  
Rajon Rondo (back) questionable  


Miami's Reserves
Shane Battier
Terrel Harris
Norris Cole
Eddie Curry
Juwan Howard
Mike Miller

Injuries
Dwyane Wade (finger) questionable  
Ronny Turiaf  (hamstring)  questionable
Chris Bosh (rest) questionable

Team Connections
Mario Chalmers and Paul Pierce both attended the University of Kansas
Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers and Dwyane Wade both attended Marquette University…
Jermaine O’Neal played for the Heat during the end of the 2008-09 season and all of the 2009-10 season
Chris Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal were teammates in Toronto during the 2008-09 season
Dexter Pittman and Avery Bradley were teammates at the University of Texas
Sasha Pavlovic and LeBron James were teammates in Cleveland from 2004-09
Keyon Dooling played for the Heat during the 2004-05 season
Juwan Howard and Ryan Hollins were teammates in Charlotte during the 2008-09 season
Ronny Turiaf and Mickael Pietrus both play for the French national team

Key Matchups
 vs  
Avery Bradley vs Mario Chalmers  
Chalmers is one of their weak links in their starting lineup but he can get hot from the perimeter.  Avery will need to set the pace for the Celtics and on the other end he needs to use his defense to disrupt the Heat's offense.    

Honorable Mention
The Benches
The Celtics reserves played very admirably against the Hawks and almost won that game.  We should see plenty more of the bench in this game as even if Pierce and Garnett play, I don't see them playing big minutes.  

Keys to the Game

Take Care of the Ball - The Celtics must limit their turnovers as the Heat will turn them into fast break points.  They need to take care of the ball and avoid costly turnovers.  

Rebound - The Celtics have to limit the Heat's second chance baskets and fast breaks by crashing the boards.  The amount of effort put into winning the rebound battle often follows through to the other areas of the game.  With a lack of size, the Celtics need to rebound as a team with everyone going after the rebounds.  The Celtics are last in the league with 38.7 rpg while the Heat comein at 18th with 41.7 rpg.  

Defense -  Both teams are good defensive teams.  The Celtics are 3rd in the league holding teams to 89.9 points while the Heat are 4th, giving up 92.6 points per game.  The Celtics keep opponents to 42.1% (1st) while the Heat are 5th, keeping teams at 43.2%.   The Heat are 6th in the league in scoring at 99.4 ppg and shoot 47% while the Celtics are 26th scoring 91.6 ppg on 46%. The Celtics won't win a shoot out so they have to turn up their defense if they want to get this win.  

Be Aggressive -  The Celtics must be the more aggressive team.  They can't settle for jumpers but have to drive to the hoop and either kick it to an open teammate, draw the foul or get the score.  They also have to be the more aggressive team on defense, grabbing rebounds and going after loose balls.  They have to play like they want it more.    

Bench Play - The Celtics bench has been depleted by injuries.  They played very well against the Hawks and the Celtics will need another strong effort from them in this one as well.  

X-Factors
Who Knows?
It's hard to preview a game in which you have no idea who will be playing or how much and who will be sitting.   Both teams will try to win, but not at the expense of health going into the playoffs.  This one's a toss up.    

[Eddie20]

Could Moore be getting the start tomorrow? I was watching some highlights of C's practice today and our first unit was Bass, Pierce, KG, Bradley, and Moore, against a second unit of JJ, Sasha, Hollins, Dooling, and Daniels. Perhaps it could have been off a sub, or perhaps Doc would like to see how Moore's shooting ability looks with our starters.

[letsgoblue86]

Isn't Chalmers out with the flu?  And I doubt Lebron plays.

[SHAQATTACK]

Le brick is a one man team by himelf , if he takes a notion to put out .  You could put Le Brickster on the Bobcats and they would be at least a .500 team.  

Our 2-3 rotation is better than the HEAT and I expect us to win , unless LBJ plays then we need a counter (PP) , if we want to win.

Moore and AB are better than the Cheat guards.

I think for the CHeat to win , LBJ has to play 35 minutes and the last 10 minutes of the last quarter.

Oh...I 'm looking for a good game from the Purdue boys .

Will Spobot DARE play LBJ and take a chance of him getting a minor injury.....

[jdz101]

Got to watch out for mini goon aka James Jones in this one. Though he might act differently when master goon aka D.Wade isn't playing..

[green7]

lebron james will be resting tomorrow i think

[FLCeltsFan]

I have no idea who will be playing and who won't be playing.  The Heat and Celtics media notes on NBA.com have the above lineups listed.  So, that's what I went with.  Moore may very well be starting.  LeBron may very well be sitting.  Who knows.  But I went with the lineups they listed in the media notes. 

[thestackshow]

Career night for Bradley...again.

Heat will basically be playing their bench, which is horrible. Bradley scored 28 effortlessley against the Hawks starters, so I predict another big game from him, probably 30+

He will be the best player on the floor if none of Miamis big 3 play which I assume they wont.

[gar]

Rondo appears to be DTD; but reportedly did not practice today (monday). Backs can be bad news, any word on his real status.

[azzenfrost]

I'd like to see how the kids fare against the Heat. They took it to the Hawks and came up short. Games like this is an opportunity for them.

[j804]

Rondo appears to be DTD; but reportedly did not practice today (monday). Backs can be bad news, any word on his real status.

I remember reading something like he's 35%

[Who]

Ah that is very disappointing if there are going to be a bunch of absences.

I was looking forward to seeing what type of changes Miami made after being beaten the last two times out by the Celtics. I thought this game was going to offer the best idea of what we would see in a playoff series between the two sides should they meet later on in the playoffs.

And now ... nothing. [dang]. 

[raynman]

Watch out for Dexter Fatman!

[ACF]

TP. Go Celtics!

[guava_wrench]

If enough guys are sitting and you have nothing to play for, why bother putting Lebron out there? I suppose he could be like Ray and really want his reps.