2011 NBA Playoffs: Miami Heat Drop Boston Celtics to Take 3-1 Lead in Series

Don't look now, but we are just one game away from both the Lakers and Celtics being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. When the playoffs began, many people had these two teams meeting up in the championship for the third time in four years, assuming it would be too difficult to knock off either of these teams in a seven-game series.

I was not one of those people, seeing as I didn't make playoff predictions, because of two reasons. The first is that being a diehard Bulls fan, I know that my favoritism of the Bulls would be evident and I would think of a million reasons as to why they could not lose in the playoffs.

The second reason I did not fill one out was because I really had no idea, and wanted to save myself the embarrassment following a March Madness bracket that I never want to look at again. Anyway, enough about that. Time to get to the action that took place on Monday night, with the Heat taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the Eastern Conference champion Celtics.

Two days removed from an emotional Game 3 victory in which Rajon Rondo played with one arm, the Celtics were flying high. Kevin Garnett turned back the clock going for 28 points and 18 rebounds, and bullied Chris Bosh, who finished with just six points down low.

Two days later, though, the script was flipped as Chris Bosh went for 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Garnett shot 1-10, finishing with seven points, and 10 rebounds. He looked like a player who was washed up and a shadow of his former self. 

Bosh played a huge role in the Heat's overtime win in Boston, but he was not the reason they won. It was this other guy—LeBron James. Now, let me start this by saying I have been one of the biggest LeBron bashers ever since he "took his talents to South Beach," but there is no denying how gifted he is.

After a tough Game 3 in which LeBron had just 15 points, he bounced back beautifully, finishing with 35 points and 14 rebounds. It were not just the stats the LeBron was putting up either, he was making them when they counted, including a game-tying three in the face of Paul Pierce with two minutes left to tie the game.

LeBron has a scary look in his eyes right now, something I have never seen out of him. It appears the Heat, after a season filled with uncertainty in crunch time, and learning how to play together, have finally figured it out. It's a scary thing really because this is just year one of the LeBron James—Dwyane Wade—Chris Bosh combo.

However, this series is not over yet. Championship teams like the Celtics will fight till the end, but do they have enough left in the tank to win three straight, including two in Miami? I just do not see it happening. With Rondo's arm reeling, the Celtics are in big trouble. He is the facilitator of this team, and the Celtics cannot win without him.

The clock is ticking for the aging Celtics, can they fight back?

Side note: Do you think Chris Bosh would have gotten that late tip in if Kendrick Perkins was still a Celtic? Everyone said this trade would come back to bite them, and it sure looks like it has.