Boston Celtics looking to be more physical against the Miami Heat in Game 2 – NBA News
The Boston Celtics are looking to get more physical with the Miami Heat in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics were not happy with the fact that they allowed LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to control the pace of the first game and have their way, driving into the lane at will to score easy shots.
The Heat had 19 layups and dunks in game 1 against the Celtics, a fact that the Celtics want to forget as soon as possible.
A particular remark by Rajon Rondo of the Celtics got the attention of the Miami team, when Rondo said "nothing dirty but they have to hit the deck, too”. The Heat took exception to the statement by Rondo and replied almost immediately.
"I expect to be quote, unquote 'put on the deck' or whatever the case may be and then you go to the free throw line. I don't need to prepare for something I already think is going to happen every game” said Lebron referring to
Rondo’s comment.
"We're men just like they're men; we're not going to let anyone just come and punk us. That is not our mentality, to go out there and make people hit the deck” added Wade.
James had 32 points in game 1 while Wade finished with 22 as the Heat cruised past the Celtics. They both have been having a treat in the last 4 games and dominating their opponents with their fast paced aggressive basketball.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said that his team needed to get more physical so that they can defend the paint well and not allow the Heat to take easy shots and drive into the paint for easy points.
“It entails not allowing them to have 19 layups. But that doesn't mean physical as far as we're going to start fouling and knocking people down” said Rivers when asked what physical meant.
In game 1, the Heat shot 21 of 27 from the paint area, while holding Boston to 17 of 37 shooting in the paint and blocking 11 Boston shots. James and Wade were a combined 21 of 35 from the field as the Celtics defence broke down
against their fast paced offense.
The Celtics and Heat have formed a rivalry in recent years, with both teams coming head to head in the playoffs on a few occasions in the past few years. Last year, Miami defeated Boston 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals.
LeBron James has his own battles with the Celtics, as he has faced them 19 times in the playoffs, the most out of all the active NBA players.
With the game 1 loss, the Celtics are now looking to bring a more aggressive game to the Heat in order to swing the momentum.
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