Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat: What Ray Allen and Co. Need To Cool Heat Sunday
Sunday on ABC, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics will square off in a game that may play a significant role in home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
Both the Celtics and Heat are now 38-14, as Sunday's game will break the tie for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
In a game that will feature a playoff-esque atmosphere, expect the best from both sides. The matchup features an impressive seven of the 12 All-Stars who will suit up for the East.
LeBron James and company come into Boston red hot, winning their last seven games, including their last three on the road. Despite the Celtics struggles as of late, they are also winners of seven of their last 10 games in TD Garden.
I present to you the five things that have to happen if the Boston Celtics expect to sweep the season series against the Miami Heat.
5. Protect the Glass
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Getting rebounds is a must if the Celtics look to beat the Miami Heat Sunday, plain and simple.
In their last two games the Celtics have been dominated on the glass, getting out-rebounded by a combined 24 boards in their two-game skid.
They have also shot the ball poorly in both games, shooting 40 percent in both. The mark is nearly 10 percent lower than their season average of 49.5 percent.
The combination of shooting struggles and soft interior play would probably not serve well against the seventh-best rebounding team in the NBA. The "Green Monster" in Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins must be intact and active from the opening tip in order to set the tempo against a fast, aggressive Heat team.
4. Shoot Well and Shoot Wisely
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What was that? Are you kidding me?
I feel your pain, Doc Rivers, as did the many at home and TD Garden who watched a 15-point cushion dissolve in a matter of minutes. Inexcusable.
It's a famous phrase in Rivers' arsenal: "We Don't Need Hero Shots." When it comes to Sunday's matchup, he couldn't be any more accurate.
Shooting has been a problem as of late, with the Celtics shooting just over 40 percent in each of the last two games.
Last night against the Lakers, a 30 percent average from the floor in the second half would eventually erase a 15-point advantage held in the third quarter. On a possession with just under five minutes to go, the Celtics found themselves down three. Despite the five minutes on the clock, the Celtics decided to play the possession like it was their last, with Pierce throwing up a contested three with time on the shot clock. Kobe would then go on to score on each of the next three Laker possessions.
When it's all set and done, the Boston Celtics are a team that utilizes ball-movement and half-court offense as well as any team in the league.
Sunday, the doctor's order must be fulfilled if the Celtics expect a win: no hero shots.
3. Give It Up for the Three-Point King: Ray Allen Needs Good Looks
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Congratulations, Ray Allen, for a historic mark was broken last night against the Lakers. Allen now stands alone with the most three-pointers made in NBA history and has the chip off his shoulder. A testament to the hard-worker that Allen is, his accomplishment can be appreciated league-wide and deserves an encore.
With the record now out of the way, Allen needs to carry his momentum with the visiting Heat coming to Boston.
When Allen scores, the Celtics win. This season, when Allen scores 21 or more points, the team is 13-2, with an 86 percent winning percentage. The Celtics are even better when he unloads from distance, with a whopping 21-3 record when Allen makes at least three three-pointers.When Ray gets going, so does the Celtics offense.
Talk about an impact.
2. Truth Be Told, The Truth Is the Best Policy
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The Celtics have struggled offensively in their last few games, in part because of a lack of depth in the roster as a result of injuries suffered. In other words, in a way it's out of Boston's control.
Paul Pierce, on the other hand, is healthy and playing, yet he is nowhere to be found on the offensive end. Being that Pierce is and has been Celtics' go-to guy for as long as he has been a player in the league, this is a problem for the men in green when he's not feeling it.
In the five games since his 32-point performance at Los Angeles, Pierce is averaging 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and is turning the ball over 2.6 times per game. On the season, he averages 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 turnovers.
His shooting game has taken a noticeable hit as well, as he has shot 17.6 percent from beyond the arch and 42 percent from the field in those five games. To put these numbers into perspective, on the season, he shoots 40 percent from three-point range and 50 percent overall.
Come crunch time, the Celtics look to Pierce, who has recently failed to deliver. The Celtics are 2-3 in their last five games and Pierce's mediocre play can't be helping.
1. "Mama, There Goes That Man"
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The famous words of ESPN commentator and analyst Mark Jackson, "Mama, there goes that man,"are words the Celtics would hope Jackson doesn't use much in the Sunday afternoon showdown.
Talk about numbers.
LeBron James has been on a clinic as of late, scoring from all angles and getting it done on both ends of the court. In his last five games, James is averaging 30.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and is shooting 49 percent from the field.
Impressive stuff to say the least. I'd bet that the wounds of Cleveland fans have opened now more than ever with those stat lines "King James" is putting up.
At no surprise the Heat are 5-0 in those games and are 13-3 when James goes for at least 30 points. Funny thing that two of those losses come to the Boston Celtics, which plays in their favor. An experienced defense like the Celtics have the ability to shut down the rest of the team, as they know James more than likely won't beat them alone.
As long as James goes off, the Celtics will have troubles, but in any case, they must contain the Heat as a whole defensively. Help defense on James will prove to be critical if the Celtics expect to come out with a win Sunday.
