ESPN seems to think 2 stars can beat the Celtics

[aporel#18]

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.

TP. That's their offense. Their Big Three will need to perform Joey "2010 Finals MVP" Crawford, now that Bosh is out.

Of course 2 stars can beat the Celtics. Their names are Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. When those two don't play well, the Celtics loose. Ray may be a shell of himself, but he always plays smart (dribbling turnovers aside) and gives it all. KG is reliable on both offense/defense.

If Rondo attacks the rim (beware of the bounty Heatles) and either he scores or he can pass it to Bass/Pietrus/Ray for open jumpers, the Celtics are in good shape. If he slows down and the offensive play starts with 10-5 seconds on the clock, we'll need lots of luck.

If Pierce commands the ball, but he's smart enough to find other options here and there, the Celtics offense will work fine. If he goes only to the iso play, it's a no.

If the Celtics want to go to the Finals, they need the "Championship 4" (thanks Doug Collins") to play within themselves, plus they need Bass/Pietrus/Dooling to get some points, and Stiemsma/Hollins to protect the paint.

The Heat have the 2 more athletic players in the series, but we have the better team.

Of course the Celtics have struggled in the Playoffs, but give credit to great team D by the Hawks and the Sixers. Wade and LeBron can guard two men, Battier can defend Pierce, and Haslem + Turiaf can be annoying. But they don't play team D, they just try to make "the play".

The Heat's only chance is to get open 3s. The Celtics need to force LeBron and Wade to take those shots instead of finding their open teammates for easy baskets. Throw Quis/Pietrus on LeBron and Sasha/Dooling on Wade to preserve our stars' legs.

We're not healthy at all, we haven't played good offense through the playoffs, but I trust this team to win in 6.

Go Celtics!

[LooseCannon]

I can't really fault anyone for predicting that the Heat will win because the Celtics are just too injured (as Jackie MacMullan does).

On ESPN, I expect we will get some furious debating with Stephen A. Smith predicting a relatively easy Heat victory and Skip Bayless taking the position that, while the Heat should be favorite, it would be stupid to count the Celtics out.  (I think Bayless is predicting Heat in 7.)

Bayless being able to say "I told you so" to Smith on national TV will be just one more reason to root for the Celtics.

[pearljammer10]

ESPN does have a lot of idiots and they dont generally like to root for the celtics...with that being said, i seem to think 2 stars can beat the celtics too..

Man i sure hope im proven wrong!

[LarBrd33]

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... ATL without Horford isn't a good team.  Philly is a borderline terrible team (they almost didn't make the playoffs)... 

I think healthy we could take the Heat to 6 or 7 games.  In our current condition even with Miami missing Bosh, I don't think we realistically have enough to contend with LeBron James.  Hope I'm proven wrong, though.  I didn't expect Boston to get this far until Kevin Garnett started playing the best ball of his entire Celtic career... so maybe Ray will suddenly start playing as well as he did in Seattle.  Who knows.

[Tr1boy]

Steven A Smith (edit) has always disrespected Rondo. Last year , someone mentioned what about rondo and he was like "please".

Idiot, hasn't ever played in the nba and thinks he can talk smack about players.

I guess he hasn't seen the two games the celtics blew out the heat this year. heat have not face one decent team in the playoffs yet. This will be there chance now

Bradley would of made this series a little easier but i think we win in 6.

Edited for language

[Moranis]

Smith and Bayless both thought last year that Boston would have beaten the Heat if they hadn't made the Perkins trade before and after the series.  I can't really say they have always disrespected Boston for that.

Smith is loud and obnoxious, but he does know basketball, but as with all predictions, it is jsut that a prediction.  He coudl be right, he could be wrong, but none of it matters because no one on here, on ESPN, on radio, etc. makes a difference in the series one way or another.  The players and coaches do that. 

I'd like to think Boston will win this series, I truly want that with a passion, but my head tells me Miami is just too much and wins in 5 or 6 games.  Boston has too many injuries and I don't think Pierce and KG can play lights out consistently enough to make a difference because that is the only way they can win this series.  Especially Pierce. 

[albas89]

Kenny and Shaq just jinxed us by picking Boston in 6.

Chuck picked Heat in 5...

I hate it when they pick us against the Heat, I like that "ultimate underdog" role much better!

[hpantazo]

Smith and Bayless both thought last year that Boston would have beaten the Heat if they hadn't made the Perkins trade before and after the series.  I can't really say they have always disrespected Boston for that.

Smith is loud and obnoxious, but he does know basketball, but as with all predictions, it is jsut that a prediction.  He coudl be right, he could be wrong, but none of it matters because no one on here, on ESPN, on radio, etc. makes a difference in the series one way or another.  The players and coaches do that. 

I'd like to think Boston will win this series, I truly want that with a passion, but my head tells me Miami is just too much and wins in 5 or 6 games.  Boston has too many injuries and I don't think Pierce and KG can play lights out consistently enough to make a difference because that is the only way they can win this series.  Especially Pierce. 

That's where I disagree with you. I really think KG, Pierce, and Ray have been saving some of whatever they have left for this exact series. They know that this is it for them, and if they can beat the Heat anything can happen in the finals, plus they hate the heat. I think they will give every ounce they have left to win this series, because they know it's either their last, or second to last.

[SHAQATTACK]

Kenny and Shaq just jinxed us by picking Boston in 6.

Chuck picked Heat in 5...

I hate it when they pick us against the Heat, I like that "ultimate underdog" role much better!

Hey don't feel bad ...there are still plenty of experts and NBA fans who think the Celtics don't have a chance or belong in the Semi's

We are the CLEAR underdogs in the media (outside Boston) anyway.

Wow... you know there is ALOT of HEAT HATE  going on when your Laker friends wish you luck against the Heat ...


Yes ..its fun to rag on the HEAT 

[lightspeed5]

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?

no they arent.  you really calling mike miller, 50 year old battier, joel anthony, juwan howard, waiver wire turiaf, 30 year old d wade more athletic than the sixers?

[Moranis]

Smith and Bayless both thought last year that Boston would have beaten the Heat if they hadn't made the Perkins trade before and after the series.  I can't really say they have always disrespected Boston for that.

Smith is loud and obnoxious, but he does know basketball, but as with all predictions, it is jsut that a prediction.  He coudl be right, he could be wrong, but none of it matters because no one on here, on ESPN, on radio, etc. makes a difference in the series one way or another.  The players and coaches do that. 

I'd like to think Boston will win this series, I truly want that with a passion, but my head tells me Miami is just too much and wins in 5 or 6 games.  Boston has too many injuries and I don't think Pierce and KG can play lights out consistently enough to make a difference because that is the only way they can win this series.  Especially Pierce. 

That's where I disagree with you. I really think KG, Pierce, and Ray have been saving some of whatever they have left for this exact series. They know that this is it for them, and if they can beat the Heat anything can happen in the finals, plus they hate the heat. I think they will give every ounce they have left to win this series, because they know it's either their last, or second to last.

I am sure they will give every ounce they have, I just don't think they have enough ounces.  Hopefully I'm wrong.

[guava_wrench]

Smith and Bayless both thought last year that Boston would have beaten the Heat if they hadn't made the Perkins trade before and after the series.  I can't really say they have always disrespected Boston for that.

Smith is loud and obnoxious, but he does know basketball, but as with all predictions, it is jsut that a prediction.  He coudl be right, he could be wrong, but none of it matters because no one on here, on ESPN, on radio, etc. makes a difference in the series one way or another.  The players and coaches do that. 

I'd like to think Boston will win this series, I truly want that with a passion, but my head tells me Miami is just too much and wins in 5 or 6 games.  Boston has too many injuries and I don't think Pierce and KG can play lights out consistently enough to make a difference because that is the only way they can win this series.  Especially Pierce. 

That's where I disagree with you. I really think KG, Pierce, and Ray have been saving some of whatever they have left for this exact series. They know that this is it for them, and if they can beat the Heat anything can happen in the finals, plus they hate the heat. I think they will give every ounce they have left to win this series, because they know it's either their last, or second to last.

Both teams will "give every ounce".

I don't see how any reasonable individual can be bothered by predictions of either team winning when the vulnerabilities of both teams are so apparent.

[kp4000]

Folks, this is ESPN, should anyone on here be surprised? ESPN, dedicates at least 25 mins to anything related Miami Heat, everyday. A majority of ESPN's analysts are obsessed with Lebron James, especially Stephen A. Smith. I like Stephen A; he's smart, but sometimes he can be too much and not in a good way.

I get that losing Bradley hurts the Celts chances, but the Heat have health and depth issues too. The Heat bench is just as bad as the Celtics, if not worse.

 

 

[kp4000]

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?

They are? Philly's entire squad except for Elton Brand, is athletic. Miami has three true athletic players, and that's James, Wade and Bosh.

[kp4000]

Smith and Bayless both thought last year that Boston would have beaten the Heat if they hadn't made the Perkins trade before and after the series.  I can't really say they have always disrespected Boston for that.

Smith is loud and obnoxious, but he does know basketball, but as with all predictions, it is jsut that a prediction.  He coudl be right, he could be wrong, but none of it matters because no one on here, on ESPN, on radio, etc. makes a difference in the series one way or another.  The players and coaches do that. 

I'd like to think Boston will win this series, I truly want that with a passion, but my head tells me Miami is just too much and wins in 5 or 6 games.  Boston has too many injuries and I don't think Pierce and KG can play lights out consistently enough to make a difference because that is the only way they can win this series.  Especially Pierce. 

That's where I disagree with you. I really think KG, Pierce, and Ray have been saving some of whatever they have left for this exact series. They know that this is it for them, and if they can beat the Heat anything can happen in the finals, plus they hate the heat. I think they will give every ounce they have left to win this series, because they know it's either their last, or second to last.

Both teams will "give every ounce".

I don't see how any reasonable individual can be bothered by predictions of either team winning when the vulnerabilities of both teams are so apparent.

Best sums up this series. Both teams have flaws and both dealing with injuries. And the only reason why Miami is favored, because HCA and Lebron James. ESPN's obsession with Lebron James, really borders on insanity.