Miami Heat looking to avenge season worst loss as they host Boston Celtics – NBA Preview
On Tuesday night, The Boston Celtics travel to Miami, to take on the team with the best home record in the league at 24-3.
The Miami Heat will be rearing to have a go at Boston come Tuesday night, after suffering their worst loss this season at the hands of the Celtics on April 1 at Boston. Miami are currently ranked 2nd in the East with
Boston at the 4th place. The two giants are expected to see each other at some point in the Playoffs, and commentators believe that this match will show who has the edge going into the playoffs.
Boston comes into this game having won 7 of their last 9. Miami, on the other hand, are 5-2 in their last seven games and more importantly, have lost only three times at home this entire season.
These two teams have played each other twice this season. This will be the third and final encounter to finish the season series between the two. Miami won the December 27th game 115-107 at the American Airlines Arena.
Boston, however, handed Miami their worst defeat in the season on April 1 at home when they restricted Heat to only 72 points, scoring 91 themselves and winning by a margin of 19.
In the December 27th game, Miami were in their usual form. LeBron James scored 26 points off 9 of 14 shooting from the field. Dwyane Wade added 24 points going 8 of 15 from the field and Chris Bosh had 18 points and
11 rebounds. The Miami bench added 39 points in that game. Boston too, weren’t far behind, with Ray Allen scoring 28 points while going 6 of 8 from the 3 point line. Rajon Rondo added 22 points and dished 12 assists and the Boston bench matched the Miami bench,
adding 40 points to the tally.
Miami shot 56% from the field compared to 51.4% for Boston, 60% from beyond the arc compared with 63.2% for Boston, and were 25 of 35 from the free throw line compared to 21 of 27 for Boston.
The stats seem quite even and they are. The differentiating factor in that game was that Miami was the better defensive team. They had 38 rebounds compared to 28 by Boston, 16 steals compared to 9 by Boston, and 8 blocks compared
to 3 by Boston.
On the April 1st game at Boston, it was the Celtics who brought the D to the game. Boston restricted Miami to 72 points, a season low for a team that is averaging 93.26 points in away games. Miami shot 34.8% from the
field, 18.8% from 3 point range and 7 of 17 from the foul line. After managing 35 free throw attempts on December 27, Miami only had 17 on April 1. Wade had 15 points but shot 6-17 from the field. Bosh was even worse, going 2 of 11 for his 4 points. The Celtics,
on the other hand, shot 47.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond on the arc and were a near perfect 20 of 22 from the foul line.
On Tuesday night in Miami, these two teams collide for the final game of this series. Miami are looking to avenge their loss on April 1st. Celtics want the bragging rights of perhaps the most bitter rivalry in the East
as they move into the playoffs. If the Celtics can beat Miami at home just before the playoffs, the psychological advantage will shift heavily in Boston’s favour.
At the end of the day, it is all about how Boston defends Miami. They do not have the driving and fast break capabilities of Miami. But they have a better perimeter game and Ray Allen will be key for Boston. He is 8 of 21 from
beyond the arc in his last three games and needs to put up a better performance come Tuesday. Rondo is averaging only 7 points in his last 3 games and needs to have a big night.
Also, it will be interesting to see how Boston guards LeBron. For Miami, Dwyane Wade, averaging only 39% in field goals over the last 3 games, needs to shoot better. If Miami play according to their game plan, it will be another
win at home. Boston needs to put them off their game and make them play hard ball, the Celtics style.
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