NBA Trend or Fluke: Boston Celtics Defeat Miami Heat, 115-107

For the second time in the month of April, the Boston Celtics have defeated the Miami Heat in convincing fashion. After dropping a 115-107 game in December, the Celtics responded with a 91-72 drubbing in Beantown. Just last night, the Celtics turned the tables again as they took a 115-107 game in South Beach.

The question is, was this a fluke victory or a developing trend?

Rather than get caught up in the essence of the victory itself, it's important to break each individual trait of the game down. Upon doing so, we will have the ultimate answer: Is this what the Boston Celtics have become, or just another mini-streak of glory?

Hot Shooting: Trend

For those who believe the Boston Celtics' shooting performance was a rarity, look at the facts before you speak your piece.

Not only have the Boston Celtics shot lights-out in almost all 25 games since the All-Star break, but they're one of the top five or six shooting teams in the NBA. In every category.

Not only are they shooting hot since the All-Star Break, but they have the all-time greatest three-point shooter, Ray Allen, on their roster. Paired with the 2010 Three-Point Shootout champion, Paul Pierce, and above-average three-point shooter Sasha Pavlovic, it becomes quite clear why the Celtics are an elite three-point shooting team.

Considering Kevin Garnett is shooting 50 percent from the field on the season and every starter shoots over 44 percent, it's near-impossible to rationally to call this hot shooting a fluke.

Category: Percentage (NBA Rank)

Field Goal: 46.1 percent (fifth)

Three-Point: 37.0 percent (sixth)

Kevin Garnett: Trend

Heading into Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Kevin Garnett was in a four-game slump. He couldn't find his shot and often forced ill-advised looks to break it. Since that game, where Garnett shot 8-of-11 for 20 points and six rebounds, KG has fired off back-to-back dominant performances from the field.

Don't think this is a fluke.

In the three games prior to his mini-slump, KG shot 59 percent from the field and averaged 23.7 points per game. In other words, he did exactly what he did to the Miami Heat. Three times.

Rajon Rondo's Dominance: Trend

The last time Rajon Rondo played the Miami Heat, he went off for a triple-double. The first time Rajon Rondo played the Miami Heat in 2012, he went off for 22 points, 12 assists and eight assists.

That makes last night's 18-point, 15-assist performance a trend, folks. And nothing short of it.

Role Player Production: Trend

Outside of Miami, any person who has watched the first three games between these teams will tell you that there is one constant: Role players are winning these games.

In the Heat's December victory, Norris Cole came up in the clutch and led the Heat to victory. In the Celtics' first victory, Avery Bradley had 13 key points, while Brandon Bass put up 16 points and 10 rebounds to complement Rajon Rondo's triple-double.

In last night's victory, in which Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo were unstoppable, it was Avery Bradley, Brandon Bass and Greg Stiemsma who were the true catalysts. They combined for 31 points, including a huge first quarter from Bradley. Bass and Stiemsma also combined for 17 rebounds and hit plenty of mid-range jump shots to continue the pace Garnett had set.

Miami, on the other hand, saw virtually no out from their supporting cast...again.

While Mario Chalmers played admirably, LeBron James seemed to take every shot on every possession he was on the floor, thus disabling any chance of a team-rhythm. Driving and getting easy assists don't count as building team chemistry, folks.

Celtics' Ability to Defeat the Heat: Trend

After getting off to a slow start in the lockout-shortened season, in which offseason workouts were virtually nonexistent, the Celtics have finally hit their stride. With two victories over the Miami Heat in just two weeks, the only people who will tell you this was a fluke will be Heat fans themselves. The fact of the matter is, the Celtics played the Miami Heat close in December and controlled the game over the past two contests.

Furthermore, the Celtics lead the NBA with 18 victories since the All-Star break. They've reached this mark because of their elevated level of play from their starters, change in positioning of Kevin Garnett and the youth movement headed by Avery Bradley.

I hate to break it to you, Heat fans, but the team that's actually won an NBA Championship with their Big Three won't back down.