Boston Celtics-Miami Heat Eastern Conference Semifinals: A Date with Destiny
With the Celtics and Heat facing off in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals today, it is a date with destiny.
It seems that these teams were destined to meet in the playoffs since Day 1.
Everything in the past year has led up to this match up.
Let's take a look at the events that have transpired in the past year leading up to this highly anticipated match up.
April 27th, 2010
1 of 8
The Celtics eliminated Dwayne Wade and the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
They advanced to face Lebron James and the Cavaliers, while Dwayne Wade was sent home.
May 14th, 2010
2 of 8
Lebron James walked off of the court at the TD Garden. He pulled his Cavaliers jersey off for what would prove to be the final time.
He had been eliminated from the playoffs for the second time by his rival Celtics. And his summer as a free agent began early.
July 8th, 2010
3 of 8
Lebron chose to join fellow All Stars Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade during the hour long special, The Decision.
By taking his talents to South Beach, Lebron got the help that he had so desperately sought in Cleveland in order to finally get past the Celtics and win his first title.
Needless to say, the hype behind this new trio of All Stars was unparalleled.
Experts such as Jeff Van Gundy predicted that they would win over 70 games. All this hype came into their regular season opener against the Celtics.
October 26th, 2010
4 of 8
October 26th, the Celtics spoiled the debut of Lebron James and his All-Star Heat teammates.
They took an early lead and held off a Heat rally to win the game 88-80. And questions were raised over how good this Heat team really was.
The Heat didn't need to wait long before another shot at the Celtics, in a mere two weeks they would face off again, this time in Miami.
November 11th, 2010
5 of 8
The Celtics once again defeated the Heat and this time on their home court.
Even more questions were raised over whether or not this Heat team could contend with the elite teams of the NBA.
It would be a while before the Heat would get another shot at the Celtics.
February 13th, 2011
6 of 8
The Heat felt like they had their best shot at finally beating the Celtics after having played together for some time.
However, it was the Celtics who came out on top once again. And even more questions were raised about the Heat.
In between this meeting and the next, the Celtics drastically changed their roster and the questions were now being asked about them leading up to the next meeting.
April 10th, 2011
7 of 8
The Heat finally beat the Celtics. I
n fact, they dominated the Celtics, handing them the worst loss of the season.
And the tables were turned when people began to question the Celtics and their chance at a championship after the trade.
May 1st, 2011
8 of 8
After the Celtics eliminated Dwayne Wade and the Heat, after they eliminated Lebron, after Lebron made his decision, after the Celtics beat the Heat three times, and after the Heat dominated the Celtics in their final regular season meeting, the Celtics and Heat will face off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Everything in the past year has been leading up to this match up. And now it is finally here. But once Game One is tipped off, none of this means anything.
