Celtics vs. Heat: Boston Needs to Make Big Statement Ahead of Playoffs

The Boston Celtics will travel to South Beach Friday night to face the Miami Heat in a critical contest.

Boston is the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference, 22 games back from the conference-leading Heat. But the Celtics are only three games ahead of Milwaukee with four games left in the regular season. 

Boston has clinched a playoff berth, but it needs to make a statement to the rest of the NBA as the season comes to a close. 

Miami is on fire and rarely makes mistakes that will cost the Heat a victory. The Celtics are an aging team that is playing without its best player in point guard Rajon Rondo. A win over the NBA’s best team could propel Boston toward a winning streak heading into the playoffs. 

The Celtics have a size advantage over the Heat in the starting lineups, but once the bench is involved, the Heat can overpower Boston with players like Shane Battier, Chris Anderson and Rashard Lewis. 

Plus, Ray Allen will be wearing white instead of Boston’s green-road jerseys. 

It will be a challenge for the Celtics to overcome the speed and strength of Miami, especially with the way LeBron James is playing this season. He is averaging 26.9 points, 7.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game. 

One player that has proven to be a form of kryptonite for James is Celtic’s forward Jeff Green. Green has played well against Miami this season, averaging 19 points per game and shooting 54.5 percent from the field. 

And Boston always plays the Heat tough. If it can pull off the upset, it will be a great piece of motivation for the Celtics ahead of the first round of the playoffs.

If the season ended now, Boston would face the No. 2 New York Knicks in a seven-game series.