The Miami Heat — and notably heart Bam Adebayo — are bracing for a go to from the Boston Celtics on Tuesday evening.
“When the Celtics come in, we always try to make it a dogfight,” Adebayo mentioned.
And a dogfight it’s been, as the 2 groups have gone toe-to-toe with one another on among the largest levels. Miami eradicated Boston within the 2020 playoffs, when the Heat made it to the NBA Finals. However, Boston received revenge final season, eliminating Miami in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals for a shot at its 18th title.
Adebayo indicated that Boston is among the groups he respects probably the most — together with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It’s one of the two teams in the conference that I feel like we see each other every year in the playoffs,” Adebayo mentioned. “We always see each other.
“So, for us, us trying to make this push and our playoff run, we’ve got to go through (the Celtics).”
Miami has gone 10-5 over its previous 15 video games, surging into sixth place within the Eastern Conference. The Heat had Monday off after rallying from a 16-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 100-96 on Sunday.
Boston, which has the most effective file within the NBA at 35-13, had its nine-game profitable streak snapped on Monday when the Orlando Magic pulled off a 113-98 upset.
The Celtics had been short-handed towards Orlando, although. Robert Williams III was nursing a left knee harm, whereas reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart was out with a sprained proper ankle. Malcolm Brogdon, who has been an efficient sixth man, missed Monday’s recreation for private causes.
Williams is averaging 7.7 factors, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks whereas capturing 75.4 p.c from the ground. He’s served as a rim protector, a dynamic lob menace and a surprisingly good passer, however his harm is particularly regarding contemplating he had surgical procedure on that very same knee final March.
“Nothing serious,” Boston interim head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned when requested about Williams’ harm.
Marcus Smart is averaging 11.1 factors and a team-high 7.2 assists, whereas Brogdon is scoring 14.3 factors per recreation in his first season in Boston after being acquired by way of commerce this offseason.
Those accidents put much more strain on Boston’s two largest stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is averaging 31.0 factors, whereas Brown is shut behind with a mean of 26.9.
Brown acknowledged the issue of Boston’s present predicament, particularly with a gathering with the Heat on the horizon.
“To win on the road down a bunch of guys, it’s hard to do,” Brown mentioned.
Miami will counter Tatum and Brown with its large three — Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Adebayo.
Butler leads Miami in scoring (21.6 factors per recreation) and steals (2.1) whereas rating second in rebounds (6.1) and assists (5.0). However, he’s averaging simply 15.0 factors whereas dealing with constant double groups over the previous two video games.
Herro is averaging 20.8 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Adebayo is averaging 21.4 factors and a team-high 10.1 rebounds.
