Celtics vs. Heat: Why Miami Will Cruise to a 2-0 Series Lead

For the first time all season, the Boston Celtics don't have an answer.

Paul Pierce, the man who typically loves to beat LeBron James, struggled to find his shot, going 5-of-18 from the field in Monday's 93-79 loss to the Miami Heat.

Rajon Rondo is the only other Celtic who can penetrate the lane and find success on offense. However, it was clear on Monday that Heat coach Erik Spoelsta's strategy was to back as far off Rondo as possible and dare him to shoot jumpers to beat them. This resulted in a high volume of shots for Rondo, who made just eight out of 20.

The length, athleticism, and speed the Heat present on the defensive perimeter with James, Wade, and Mario Chalmers is making life difficult for Ray Allen and Pierce. If the Celtics can't knock down shots like they're used to, the worst offensive rebounding team in NBA history cannot possibly extend this series much longer.

Kevin Garnett plays center in the Boston lineup, and unless Boston gets more of a contribution from Greg Stiemsma, the Celtics will live and die by the long two-point jump shot, which Garnett and power forward Brandon Bass have a tendency to settle for.

This dangerous style of offense puts the big men out of position for second-chance opportunities, leading to transition hoops for the opponents. That is the last thing this team wants to do, because no one is better at putting up fastbreak buckets in a hurry than the Heat.

The loss of Avery Bradley to a shoulder injury was devastating for Boston, as it thrust the 37-year-old Allen back into the starting lineup. Now, behind Allen sits Mickael Pietrus, Keyon Dooling, Marquis Daniels, and E'Twaun Moore as the only players who can slide over to the 2-guard. Allen has been plagued by an ankle injury, and can't get the same lift on his historically sweet jumper, nor can he cut sharply enough to use screens as effectively as he once did.

Even when Rondo is able to get into the lane, the lightning quick perimeter defenders of the Heat are able to hustle out of helping in the paint to legitimately contest jump shots after Rondo kicks it out. This was especially apparent in the second half of Game 1 as Boston managed just 32 points. Rondo found life difficult near the basket with Miami's primary paint patrol of Joel Anthony and bench players Udonis Haslem and Ronny Turiaf, dishing out seven assists, but also being forced into four turnovers.

On the other end, Boston is not athletic enough on the perimeter, nor thick enough on the interior of its defense to contend with the dribble-drive ability of Wade and James. Both got to the hoop with ease in Game 1, and without Bradley the Celtics don't have a 2-guard or anyone else who can consistently stay in front of either of them in isolation situations.

With James and Wade attracting all that attention, Mike Miller and Shane Battier were freed up for wide open looks at 3-pointers on Monday. Battier looks to improve on his 2-for-9 showing beyond the arc, and the career 38 percent shooter probably will if the Celtics can't contest better.

For the Celtics, age has been a question mark for the past two seasons, but it has not been what has hurt them the most in these playoffs. The lack of depth at guard is what's plaguing the team. The Big 3 and Rondo have to play nearly every minute for Boston to have a chance, because there is simply no one behind them who can step up and contribute.

Rondo can handle the big minutes, but the Big 3 cannot, at least night in and night out. Even five less minutes per night for Pierce and KG would help immensely, but Allen's injury is slowing him down more than the other two. This should lead to increased minutes for Pietrus, but he is shooting the ball even worse than he did in the regular season.

Without the ability of its backcourt players and Pierce to create separation on offense, and without the ability to establish any consistent postgame, the series will hinge on the play of Rondo, who has yet to see a matchup even vaguely similar this postseason to being guarded by the combination of Chalmers, Wade, and James.

Game 2 is gut check time for the Celtics, and it seems they don't have the firepower to answer the bell. They got off the deck after an abysmal first quarter to tie the game at halftime, but simply couldn't carry that momentum into the second half. Miami put the clamps on, Wade took over as a scorer rather than a facilitator, and Boston couldn't respond.

Expect another Heat blowout. Expect Wade and James to do whatever they want because they can. Expect the typical front runner James: showboating, frowning, and staring down the opposing bench. Expect a loud home crowd to explode over exhilarating plays in transition by the two superstars.

The Celtics can take solace in the fact that the series moves to TD Garden after this game, but tonight, they will have no answer for the upbeat Heat.