Wade calls the clash 'inevitable' as Celtics prepare to continue their rivalry with Heat: NBA Feature
Its official, the Boston Celtics will take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
For the 5th time in 7 years, it will be either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat winning the Eastern Conference championship. In 2010, the Celtics beat Miami in the first round of the playoffs and LeBron’s Cleveland
Cavaliers in the 2nd round.
Last year, Miami beat Boston in five games. Boston also defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games back in 2008, when James was the star of that line up.
In simple words, both teams have history. And they will be looking to rewrite it when the Eastern Conference Finals start on Monday.
"Inevitable. It's the matchup the game of basketball wants. Obviously, with the Chicago Bulls being out, this is the biggest matchup the Eastern Conference can have.” said Dwyane Wade on Sunday.
"Was there any doubt that it'd be us and Boston?" added Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra.
The Boston Celtics just finished a 7 games series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers took the Celtics to their limit, but Rajon Rondo had a big 4th quarter in game 7 to help the Celtics put the Sixers away for
the season.
“This is a good time right now. This is the cream of the cream. This is what it's all about, you know, conference finals. We definitely didn't like the way we left last year. So we'll see what happens, man” said Kevin Garnett.
The Miami Heat have been waiting to find out their opponent for the East Finals since last Thursday, when they defeated the Indiana Pacers in game 6 to take the series 4-2.
After trailing 1-2 in the first three games, the Heat received huge games from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to win the next three in a row and clinch the series 4-2. Both players combined to score 197 points in the last three games,
and devastated Indiana after they had them on their toes with a 2-1 lead.
Like the Pacers series, Heat will be playing without Chris Bosh who is out with a sprained abdominal muscle. In his absence, the Heat will again rely on James and Wade.
James is very familiar to the Celtics team, as he has faced them 18 times in the playoffs, first with Cleveland and now with Boston. That is the most playoff appearance against the Celtics by any active player.
“I wouldn't have it no other way, personally. It's really the only team I'm accustomed to playing in the playoffs. No matter where I go, I find a way to play Boston. ... We've got a lot of history” said James.
Both teams are opposite in playing styles. Miami likes to run on the open floor. They prefer transition game, forcing turnovers and running up and down the court for easy baskets. That is their strength with athletes like Wade
and James.
The Celtics play a slower game, with a lot of ball distribution and passes. Kevin Garnett is their option in the paint, where as Pierce and Rondo help in penetration. The Celtics also have some good news in the fact that Ray Allen
is coming off a good shooting night in game 7 against the Sixers. If he gets going against Miami, the Heat will have plenty to guard.
"We will lose in a track meet” said Ray Allen while describing Miami’s playing style.
It is looking to be a thrilling series with game 1 Monday in Miami.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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