No. 4 Boston Celtics (50-32) vs. No. 5 Miami Heat (47-35)
The No. 4 seed Boston Celtics take on the No. 5 seed Miami Heat in a first-round, Eastern Conference playoff series. This is a best-of-7 series.
Boston won the season series against Miami, 3-0.
Consistency has been lacking for the Celtics seemingly all season. Because of injury or bad play _ whatever the excuse _ Boston has been one of the more frustrating teams to follow. And now, with a coach who seemingly has one foot out the door in Doc Rivers and an aging lineup featuring a Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett and an up-and-coming star in knucklehead point guard Rajon Rondoæ.æ.æ. well it’s safe to say there’s still gold in them there hills, but good luck finding it. This team seems ripe to get knocked out in the first round, something they’ve been toying with the last two seasons.
The Heat are as hot as anybody in the league right now, winning 12 of 13 to close out the regular season. Don’t be deceived by the fact that the Celtics won all three of the games these two teams played this season, all the games were decided by seven points or less and the Heat are the ultimate work in progress. Miami’s Dwyane Wade is one of the three best players in the league along with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James (we won’t rank them for argument’s sake) and if his teammates are ready and willing, this year’s playoffs will be his time to shine. With guys like Michael Beasley on his team, the proposition of ready and willing becomes 50/50, but they still look sharp as of late.
The odds makers have the Celtics at -4½ -point favorites.
Boston needs Rondo to keep his head and to get a lift from Allen and Garnett as there’s no doubt Pierce will deliver. Miami needs Wade to be Wade and Beasley to put on his Big Boy Pants and become an NBA force, which he has flirted with for his two years in the league.
Prediction: Look for the Heat and Dwyane Wade (and Beasley) to gut out a series win in seven games.
Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat 2010 Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Sat, April 17 Miami at Boston 8:00 pm EST on ESPN
Game 2: Tue, April 20 Miami at Boston 8:00 pm EST on TNT
Game 3: Fri, April 23 Boston at Miami 7:00 pm EST on ESPN
Game 4: Sun, April 25 Boston at Miami 1:00 pm EST on ABC
Game 5: Tue, April 27 Miami at Boston TBD on TBD*
Game 6: Thu, April 29 Boston at Miami TBD on TBD*
Game 7: Sat, May 01 Miami at Boston TBD on TNT*
* If necessary
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