ESPN seems to think 2 stars can beat the Celtics

[hpantazo]

The Heat waxed the Knicks, and after a slow 1-2 start against the Pacers, they outplayed them soundly for 3 games in a row.  

We had to scratch and claw to get past ATL and PHI.  

I know which team I'm rooting for, but realsiticaly we are the heavy underdog in this series.  

Well that is all true but New York sucks at this point and was depleted by injuries and Atl is and was far superior to them. As far as Philly and Indiana, Philly is a brutal match up for us and crushed us twice during the season...blew us out of the building. Very athletic which has been a problem for our core 4 hall of famers (do it Rajon!)since 2008. Philly is every bit as good as Indy and it took us 7 games and  Mia 6 to beat Indy...big deal. We could have won every game.

If Avery was healthy, Id pick us in 5 or 6. Without him unfortunately we don't get to see a young player annoy the heck out of D Wade to distraction but we will be in it. These prognosticators must get better ratings saying idiotic things. here we are talking about their foolishness so maybe they are right

You do realize that Miami is even more Athletic than Philly right?

actually, they are not more athletic. Wade and Lebron are, but the rest of the heat are very unathletic. The sixers overal were a much more athletic team.

[JoT]

When will people learn to never doubt the Celtics. I don't know if they will beat them, but I will never doubt the Celtics and haven't since the 2010 playoffs.
I love them being the underdog and predicted to get swept and slaughtered like Miami are just this unstoppable team.
I also hope the C's show up and prove the Heat lovers and band-wagoners wrong about getting steamrolled.

[Moranis]

The Heat waxed the Knicks, and after a slow 1-2 start against the Pacers, they outplayed them soundly for 3 games in a row. 

We had to scratch and claw to get past ATL and PHI. 

I know which team I'm rooting for, but realsiticaly we are the heavy underdog in this series. 

Yeah that's my thought.  And while we have a much better shot without Bosh playing, I don't think we match up well at all with the Heat, not sure why most of this board does (aside from wishful thinking of course).

[BballTim]

The Heat waxed the Knicks, and after a slow 1-2 start against the Pacers, they outplayed them soundly for 3 games in a row. 

We had to scratch and claw to get past ATL and PHI. 

I know which team I'm rooting for, but realsiticaly we are the heavy underdog in this series. 

Yeah that's my thought.  And while we have a much better shot without Bosh playing, I don't think we match up well at all with the Heat, not sure why most of this board does (aside from wishful thinking of course).

  It may have to do with watching the teams play against each other.

[MBunge]

The Heat waxed the Knicks, and after a slow 1-2 start against the Pacers, they outplayed them soundly for 3 games in a row.  

We had to scratch and claw to get past ATL and PHI.  

I know which team I'm rooting for, but realsiticaly we are the heavy underdog in this series.  

Well that is all true but New York sucks at this point and was depleted by injuries and Atl is and was far superior to them. As far as Philly and Indiana, Philly is a brutal match up for us and crushed us twice during the season...blew us out of the building. Very athletic which has been a problem for our core 4 hall of famers (do it Rajon!)since 2008. Philly is every bit as good as Indy and it took us 7 games and  Mia 6 to beat Indy...big deal. We could have won every game.

If Avery was healthy, Id pick us in 5 or 6. Without him unfortunately we don't get to see a young player annoy the heck out of D Wade to distraction but we will be in it. These prognosticators must get better ratings saying idiotic things. here we are talking about their foolishness so maybe they are right

You do realize that Miami is even more Athletic than Philly right?

actually, they are not more athletic. Wade and Lebron are, but the rest of the heat are very unathletic. The sixers overal were a much more athletic team.

And except for LeBron, Miami also doesn't have a size advantage over Boston at any position.

Mike

[OsirusCeltics]

The Key to Celtics winning is:
Rondo and KG... simple

You completely contradict yourself by saying that.  So MIA can't beat the C's with 2 stars, but BOS can beat them with 2 stars???

But you're right, we need Rondo and KG, and I'll add in Pierce to play great to have any shot of winning.

Huh??
I meant that Rondo and KG have to play well
Celtics also have Pierce, Ray, Bass, Pietrus which makes them a  way more balanced team than the Heat

[indeedproceed]

LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, and 3 nights out of 5 (5 out of 5 when he's healthy and engaged) Wade is the 3rd best player in the NBA.

Those two guys can do a lot of things.

I don't think Boston will go as easily or quietly as ESPN does. I think Boston is going to pull it out in 6, stealing one of the first 2 and taking the 2 at home, winning in Boston. That's my fan's prediction.

But without Bradley, with Ray Allen looking like..just a shell of the player he was just earlier this season, Pierce hurting, and KG struggling to put 2 good games together, I could easily see how someone would say Miami in 5, or 6.

Not 4, that's ridiculous. That's hyperbole. 5 or 6 though is reasonable.

[OsirusCeltics]

Honestly I feel Philly's team defense is significantly better than the Heat

When Celtics faced both teams in the regular season (I know, this is the playoffs) it was harder to score on the Sixers than the Heat. Every game against the Sixers was a dogfight. Against Miami, Garnett and Bass maybe had the most open looks than any other team they faced

Miami's defense is basically Wade and James running all over the floor trying to guard everybody. Switching and over-helping. They over-help on the wrong person and then you'll have one Celtics player wide open. Sixers defend the three ball very well, Miami on the other hand doesn't. And you all know Wade likes to cheat the screens and never wants to tire himself chasing Ray Allen

Celtics game plan has to be able to keep the game halfcourt and slow and bomb away on those three pointers

[cman88]

Garnett is averaging 19ppg and 11RPG these playoffs and thats being defended by Josh smith, lavoy allen, elton brand who all gave him a tough time.

who is going to even defend him on Miami?? he should have a field day with Haslam/Turiaf/Anthony...they could front Indiana's big men because they had no Point guard who could pass  the ball...but you do that with Rajon rondo out there and the celts are gettign 2points or a foul every time.

[Eddie20]

The Heat waxed the Knicks, and after a slow 1-2 start against the Pacers, they outplayed them soundly for 3 games in a row.  

We had to scratch and claw to get past ATL and PHI.  

I know which team I'm rooting for, but realsiticaly we are the heavy underdog in this series.  

Well that is all true but New York sucks at this point and was depleted by injuries and Atl is and was far superior to them. As far as Philly and Indiana, Philly is a brutal match up for us and crushed us twice during the season...blew us out of the building. Very athletic which has been a problem for our core 4 hall of famers (do it Rajon!)since 2008. Philly is every bit as good as Indy and it took us 7 games and  Mia 6 to beat Indy...big deal. We could have won every game.

If Avery was healthy, Id pick us in 5 or 6. Without him unfortunately we don't get to see a young player annoy the heck out of D Wade to distraction but we will be in it. These prognosticators must get better ratings saying idiotic things. here we are talking about their foolishness so maybe they are right

You do realize that Miami is even more Athletic than Philly right?

actually, they are not more athletic. Wade and Lebron are, but the rest of the heat are very unathletic. The sixers overal were a much more athletic team.

Exactly. Maybe with Bosh the argument could be made that they're equally as athletic as Philly, but without him they're definitely not at athletic 1-15 as Philly. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that Miami, as they currently stand without Bosh, is the least athletic team we've faced in the playoffs. That starting lineup Atlanta had (Smith, Williams, Horford, Teague, Johnson) was extemely athletic at all positions.

[manl_lui]

They are capable of doing it, doesn't mean they CAN and WILL achieve it. The best defensive teams in the East are Celtics, Bulls and Philly, and we're the only ones left. The two teams that the Heat beat wasn't great defensive teams. So if they think they can go to the Finals easily they are wrong. They aren't going anywhere without giving us a great fight.

[Fan from VT]

Maybe we'll sneak up on them and win a game.  Even NY won a game .  It would be embrassing not to win a game.

Alot of how the this series goes or the HEAT's game turns out is due to the refs.

Becasue the HEAT dive/drive into the paint (their game) , time and time again, it becomes a game of "WHO" is going to get the foul calls .

Are the refs gonna let the CELTICS protect the paint?  Or will Wade and Bron just be allowed to hurl their bodies into the painted area and live at the free throw line.

The "REFS" control the destiny of this matchup

Will they allow the CELTICS to guard the paint. or will they call a foul everytime somebody "TOUCHS" wade or Bron.

Basically this series is so much about which WAY  FOUL CALLS are made.

No team has a chance much long as the HEAT are allowed to make layups and foul shots all night. The lopsided fouls called on the side of the heat gets really old.  Spo little tantrum was done on purpose , he realizes the Heat can't win unless the foul calling goes his way.

Will STERN let em play ?    

You could really turn this around though. Will the refs actually call fouls on the C's when the Heat drive? The heat drive to the paint not because the refs protect them, but because they are faster than the people guarding them. They SHOULD drive to the paint, the Celtics WILL foul them to stope them, it's just a question of what percentage the refs call.

[NoraG1]

Maybe we'll sneak up on them and win a game.  Even NY won a game .  It would be embrassing not to win a game.

Alot of how the this series goes or the HEAT's game turns out is due to the refs.

Becasue the HEAT dive/drive into the paint (their game) , time and time again, it becomes a game of "WHO" is going to get the foul calls .

Are the refs gonna let the CELTICS protect the paint?  Or will Wade and Bron just be allowed to hurl their bodies into the painted area and live at the free throw line.

The "REFS" control the destiny of this matchup

Will they allow the CELTICS to guard the paint. or will they call a foul everytime somebody "TOUCHS" wade or Bron.

Basically this series is so much about which WAY  FOUL CALLS are made.

No team has a chance much long as the HEAT are allowed to make layups and foul shots all night. The lopsided fouls called on the side of the heat gets really old.  Spo little tantrum was done on purpose , he realizes the Heat can't win unless the foul calling goes his way.

Will STERN let em play ?    

You could really turn this around though. Will the refs actually call fouls on the C's when the Heat drive? The heat drive to the paint not because the refs protect them, but because they are faster than the people guarding them. They SHOULD drive to the paint, the Celtics WILL foul them to stope them, it's just a question of what percentage the refs call.

Frankly they just run people over more then anything and get away with it. They bulldoze their way through and the refs (and
Stern) allow this because they are 2 of the biggest stars in the game. More $$ in the pocket for the NBA and more 'entertainement' they think. I just find it disgusting.

[Tai]

They are capable of doing it, doesn't mean they CAN and WILL achieve it. The best defensive teams in the East are Celtics, Bulls and Philly, and we're the only ones left. The two teams that the Heat beat wasn't great defensive teams. So if they think they can go to the Finals easily they are wrong. They aren't going anywhere without giving us a great fight.

Yea, the Celtics have actually played lights out defensively this postseason, only allowing 83.9 points per game, good for best in the playoffs, and impressive considering they've played 13 games.

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/team/_/stat/team-comparison-per-game/sort/avgPointsOpponent

They allowed 82.1 points against the Hawks, and 85.4 against the Sixers.

Knowing this further disappoints me that Bradley will be out for the playoffs, considering he helped with the defense against the Hawks, and for some of the Sixers series.

But all the same, we've played good defense these playoffs, and I'm sure the Heat will have their hands full, and better be able to handle it if they hope to beat us.  

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, whatever ESPN says, I'm looking forward to the series.

The games must be played.

BOS's been counted out before, so this is nothing new.

It's one thing to beat BOS like MIA did last year, but it's ANOTHER thing to do it AGAIN - this time with Rondo active.

It will be a GREAT series.