The official Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference semifinal thread

[Kontradiction]

Figured I'd get this thread going for what should be one of the more anticipated playoff series in NBA history. The Celtics took the season series 3-1 while the Heat took the most recent contest 100-77. I wouldn't expect that one again, personally. And, if the Heat play like they did in the last couple of games against Philly, I expect a Celtics sweep. However, I think both teams will step their games up for this one.

As a Heat fan, I'd like to see Mario Chalmers start at the point over Mike Bibby who, aside from the Cavs game in the regular season, has been about as useless as tits on a bull. Chalmers has been playing extremely well of late distributing the ball and has shown that he's capable of knocking down the open shots created by double teams to D-Wade and LeBron as well as defending the opposition's PG. For this series, I'd also expect them to go with Ilgauskas moreso than Joel Anthony. I like Anthony's shot blocking ability, but he's 6'9" and will apparently be going against Shaq. We need another 7 footer in there to contend with Shaq.

In all, this series is going to be absolutely riveting television.

 

[BradyManny]

Figured I'd get this thread going for what should be one of the more anticipated playoff series in NBA history. The Celtics took the season series 3-1 while the Heat took the most recent contest 100-77. I wouldn't expect that one again, personally. And, if the Heat play like they did in the last couple of games against Philly, I expect a Celtics sweep. However, I think both teams will step their games up for this one.

As a Heat fan, I'd like to see Mario Chalmers start at the point over Mike Bibby who, aside from the Cavs game in the regular season, has been about as useless as tits on a bull. Chalmers has been playing extremely well of late distributing the ball and has shown that he's capable of knocking down the open shots created by double teams to D-Wade and LeBron as well as defending the opposition's PG. For this series, I'd also expect them to go with Ilgauskas moreso than Joel Anthony. I like Anthony's shot blocking ability, but he's 6'9" and will apparently be going against Shaq. We need another 7 footer in there to contend with Shaq.

We'll see if Shaq can actually suit up - I'm skeptical.

I now think he is a key to the series though. Jermaine has been much better than expected - and light years ahead of where he was at the start of this season when he looked downright pathetic. But I'm not sure if he can eat up space in the paint the way we need him to.

The way Perk did.

The key to beating the Heat and the Bulls is controlling the paint. It's not just about the bigs, but their penetrators. Is Jermaine + KG enough to stop Lebron? Not sure. But throw Shaq in there, well, even Lebron can't run through him (though, lord knows he'll try, and not get called for one of his blatantly illegal offensive moves).

Chalmers might have a better chance of dealing with Rondo, we'll see. I didn't watch much of the past Heat series save for game 4, and even then I wasn't paying much attention so I'm not sure how they are playing right now.

I think this will be a pretty epic series. I was more excited for it back when we had Perk and Shaq and I knew we had the bigs to overmatch your Heat. Now, that advantage is neutralized, and who owns the paint is up for grab.

Ultimately, like any Celtics series, it probably comes down to how Rondo plays on offense. If he's aggressive, they win. If he's not, they lose. You'd think he and Doc would've figured out this trend by now and he would - like Charlie Sheen - have one speed ("Go") and this team would be consistently tough to beat. Instead, his confidence wavers and he ends up being the 5th wheel on an offense that cannot produce points without him. Rondo is bi-polar as a basketball player in a lot of ways. And if low-confidence Rondo shows up, the Heat will rout.

 

[Kontradiction]

We'll see if Shaq can actually suit up - I'm skeptical.

I now think he is a key to the series though. Jermaine has been much better than expected - and light years ahead of where he was at the start of this season when he looked downright pathetic. But I'm not sure if he can eat up space in the paint the way we need him to.

The way Perk did.

The key to beating the Heat and the Bulls is controlling the paint. It's not just about the bigs, but their penetrators. Is Jermaine + KG enough to stop Lebron? Not sure. But throw Shaq in there, well, even Lebron can't run through him (though, lord knows he'll try, and not get called for one of his blatantly illegal offensive moves).

Chalmers might have a better chance of dealing with Rondo, we'll see. I didn't watch much of the past Heat series save for game 4, and even then I wasn't paying much attention so I'm not sure how they are playing right now.

I think this will be a pretty epic series. I was more excited for it back when we had Perk and Shaq and I knew we had the bigs to overmatch your Heat. Now, that advantage is neutralized, and who owns the paint is up for grab.

Ultimately, like any Celtics series, it probably comes down to how Rondo plays on offense. If he's aggressive, they win. If he's not, they lose. You'd think he and Doc would've figured out this trend by now and he would - like Charlie Sheen - have one speed ("Go") and this team would be consistently tough to beat. Instead, his confidence wavers and he ends up being the 5th wheel on an offense that cannot produce points without him. Rondo is bi-polar as a basketball player in a lot of ways. And if low-confidence Rondo shows up, the Heat will rout.

I'd like to see the Heat do to the Celtics what the Lakers did last year: shut down Allen and Pierce and force Rondo into jump shots. Do that, and the series is easily winnable. Rondo's jump shot really hasn't improved and ranges from "eh" to downright horrible. If Rondo's taking jump shots instead of penetrating, his effect on the game is neutralized. For the Heat, the defensive keys to this series are not allowing Allen open looks from beyond the arc and keeping Rondo out of the paint. Offensively, Bosh needs to be a presence in the paint and Wade needs to lead the offense and let LeBron be the role player that he came to Miami to be.

For the Celtics, it's easy: control Wade and keep him out of the paint and get Rondo going. It also won't hurt to have Shaq for more than five minutes (assuming he shows up in basketball shape).

 

[BradyManny]

I'd like to see the Heat do to the Celtics what the Lakers did last year: shut down Allen and Pierce and force Rondo into jump shots. Do that, and the series is easily winnable. Rondo's jump shot really hasn't improved and ranges from "eh" to downright horrible. If Rondo's taking jump shots instead of penetrating, his effect on the game is neutralized. For the Heat, the defensive keys to this series are not allowing Allen open looks from beyond the arc and keeping Rondo out of the paint. Offensively, Bosh needs to be a presence in the paint and Wade needs to lead the offense and let LeBron be the role player that he came to Miami to be.

For the Celtics, it's easy: control Wade and keep him out of the paint and get Rondo going. It also won't hurt to have Shaq for more than five minutes (assuming he shows up in basketball shape).

Valid points - I agree on Rondo. I will say his jumper in round 1 was in one of its better forms all year - which is good news for C's fans. The bad news is I've never seen a "hot streak" (which I define as only moderately poor jump shooting) last long, and he reverts back to truly poor jump shooting.

He needs to realize that he can use the cushion players give him to his advantage in others ways. It lets him get a running start on his drives and penetrations. It allows him to hang by the hoop and contest rebounds, make hustle plays, or get open for layups.

When he settles and is shooting halfway decently (rare), they can survive. But I agree that when he settles and is shooting poorly, they'll lose.

Doc knows that Rondo does not need to cave to the pressure of having his man play off of him.

Wade I think the C's can control, generally. Lebron is another issue. This could become a free throw shooting contest with him and Wade getting into the paint and forcing their will. The Celtics will not win if that's the case.

 

[ausbacker]

Celtics 4-2 and continue the recent trend of knocking MeBron out of the playoffs.

 

[51Hits]

Valid points - I agree on Rondo. I will say his jumper in round 1 was in one of its better forms all year - which is good news for C's fans. The bad news is I've never seen a "hot streak" (which I define as only moderately poor jump shooting) last long, and he reverts back to truly poor jump shooting.

He needs to realize that he can use the cushion players give him to his advantage in others ways. It lets him get a running start on his drives and penetrations. It allows him to hang by the hoop and contest rebounds, make hustle plays, or get open for layups.

When he settles and is shooting halfway decently (rare), they can survive. But I agree that when he settles and is shooting poorly, they'll lose.

Doc knows that Rondo does not need to cave to the pressure of having his man play off of him.

Wade I think the C's can control, generally. Lebron is another issue. This could become a free throw shooting contest with him and Wade getting into the paint and forcing their will. The Celtics will not win if that's the case.

I agree. If Wade and Lebron get the refs going (Wade has his moments but it's automatic with Lebron) the Celtics have no chance, and will lose with James posting a ridiculous free throw advantage compared to us. Normally in games where CLE would beat us James would have a ridiculous free throw advantage

 

[scout]

I see Rondo taking over this series. Miami has no answer for him. As soon as they put James on him, it opens up Pierce or Allen. There has been a lot of 'if's about James and Wade, but "if" the Celtics just play team ball, they will win.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Celtics in 6..Rondo is going to have a field day


Give Lebron 30 a game and just stop bosh and wade

And i already made a thread last week

Too bad i can't watch the first 3 games really due to work..great..

 

[Run DMC]

This going to be fun watching the celts smoke these powder puffs. Rondo is going to have huge numbers in this series. :rocker:

 

[Boston Boxer]

come on Kontra..."one of the more anticipated playoff series in NBA history"? Really? Maybe for you and the Heat. The Celtics have played in at least 20 other series that have been more anticipated.


This will not be close. Celtics win in 5 because this is the Heats "Super Bowl" and its the Celtics next apponent. The Heat are too amped up in trying to beat the Celtics.

 

[ausbacker]

Celtics in 6..Rondo is going to have a field day


Give Lebron 30 a game and just stop bosh and wade

And i already made a thread last week

Too bad i can't watch the first 3 games really due to work..great..

Shutdown Wade and control the rebounding. It's really that simple to beat the Heat. Whether or not the sporadic big man performance of the Celtics can actually follow through with this is a different notion all together.

LeBron is a proven playoff loser. Get in his head and he'll take his points to the detriment of the team attempting to compete with guys like Kobe etc.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I mean it's going to be a great series..but i look forward to playing the lakers much much more

 

[Boston Boxer]

someone on the Celtic may want to guard Jones...just saying

 

[Boston Boxer]

wow, this game and the officals are an embarassment! What a farce?

 

[BradyManny]

This game is a joke. One of the worst officiating efforts I've seen this year.

And I'm not even talking about the game changing botching of the 3 flagrant/technical situations. The Heat are being allowed to play with about ten times the physicality of the Celtics.

 

[bigcountry75]

This game is a joke. One of the worst officiating efforts I've seen this year.

And I'm not even talking about the game changing botching of the 3 flagrant/technical situations. The Heat are being allowed to play with about ten times the physicality of the Celtics.

I totally agree but really J. O'neal slides in front of jones and it's a flagrant but pierce gets clubbed on the head and no flagrant, Then pierce sets a LEGAL screen and wade says something and so does Pierce and PP gets ejected...This is absolute horse****....I am so furious about this game and the officiating that my dad made me turn the game off for fear of anything in his house staying in one piece....

What's even funnier is the fact that the Heat are playing one of their best games, getting all the calls albeit mostly BS and they still aren't up by 20+ points....The celts are playing terrrible, getting screwed on almost every call, get BS flagrant foul calls and non-flagrant calls and are - one of the best players in the game and are still keeping it respectable enough....The head of officials really needs to ban these dumb ass mother ****ers from this series..

 

[ausbacker]

I totally agree but really J. O'neal slides in front of jones and it's a flagrant but pierce gets clubbed on the head and no flagrant, Then pierce sets a LEGAL screen and wade says something and so does Pierce and PP gets ejected...This is absolute horse****....I am so furious about this game and the officiating that my dad made me turn the game off for fear of anything in his house staying in one piece....

What's even funnier is the fact that the Heat are playing one of their best games, getting all the calls albeit mostly BS and they still aren't up by 20+ points....The celts are playing terrrible, getting screwed on almost every call, get BS flagrant foul calls and non-flagrant calls and are - one of the best players in the game and are still keeping it respectable enough....The head of officials really needs to ban these dumb ass mother ****ers from this series..

Did you not think the fix was in with NBA games after seeing the refs hand the Lakers the championship in the last 5 minutes of game 7?

Still, you have to start questioning Ainge's butcher job with the roster now. Jeff Green really hasn't offered the Celtics anything and we've given up the 1 considerable advantage we had in size.

Hmmm.

 

[BradyManny]

I totally agree but really J. O'neal slides in front of jones and it's a flagrant but pierce gets clubbed on the head and no flagrant, Then pierce sets a LEGAL screen and wade says something and so does Pierce and PP gets ejected...This is absolute horse****....I am so furious about this game and the officiating that my dad made me turn the game off for fear of anything in his house staying in one piece....

What's even funnier is the fact that the Heat are playing one of their best games, getting all the calls albeit mostly BS and they still aren't up by 20+ points....The celts are playing terrrible, getting screwed on almost every call, get BS flagrant foul calls and non-flagrant calls and are - one of the best players in the game and are still keeping it respectable enough....The head of officials really needs to ban these dumb ass mother ****ers from this series..

I'm not that discouraged by the game, to be honest.

Rondo was taken out of the game early, which besides from the foul he gave on Lebron, were questionable calls (Bibby was holding onto his arm, and somehow that's a foul on Rondo.)

Pierce played poorly most of the game and we still were hanging in there.

I thought overall, the team played well for huge chunks of the game. The problem was they were not allowed to play the same way the Heat were, and it cost them from the getgo.

Home-team officiating. We'll have to put up with it until Game 3.

And yes, that JO flagrant call was one of the worst calls I've seen. Was it a foul? Sure. But that bump he gave Jones happens all game, the only difference was Jones exaggerated it like a soccer player (or a Montreal Canadien).

I think in total Jermaine O'Neal moved his elbow 4 inches on that play, and that was enough to warrant an absolutely game-changing flagrant and lead to a 5 point play.

The play of Wade absolutely jumping into Pierce just shows me what an absolute punk that guy is. He used to be one of my favorite non-Celtics players, but after learning what a piece of sh*t he is off the court, I haven't exactly been a fan. But that play where he dove into Pierce's screen - I've played basketball against players like that. Just total punks. There's no really no place for that in the game.

 

[scout]

Well............I set my recorder, then watched both my girls get blown out in both of their soccer games. Came home and for some reason the recorder didn't record. Guess, maybe that was actually a good thing.

 

[Kontradiction]

come on Kontra..."one of the more anticipated playoff series in NBA history"? Really? Maybe for you and the Heat. The Celtics have played in at least 20 other series that have been more anticipated.


This will not be close. Celtics win in 5 because this is the Heats "Super Bowl" and its the Celtics next apponent. The Heat are too amped up in trying to beat the Celtics.

Not just for me and the Heat, but to fans in general. Check out the ratings if you don't buy that. As for your second paragraph: BAHAHAHAHA.

I'm not that discouraged by the game, to be honest.

Rondo was taken out of the game early, which besides from the foul he gave on Lebron, were questionable calls (Bibby was holding onto his arm, and somehow that's a foul on Rondo.)

There were questionable calls going both ways. It's playoff basketball. That's what happens.

Pierce played poorly most of the game and we still were hanging in there.

I'll see your Pierce performance and raise you a Bosh. If Bosh had played at his normal level, this game would have been a massacre.

Home-team officiating. We'll have to put up with it until Game 3.

You should also remember how badly the officiating was slanted in Boston's favor in the Celtics/Heat series last year.

And yes, that JO flagrant call was one of the worst calls I've seen. Was it a foul? Sure. But that bump he gave Jones happens all game, the only difference was Jones exaggerated it like a soccer player (or a Montreal Canadien).

Agreed. It was just as bad as the flagrant on Dwyane Wade against Garnett earlier in the year.

The play of Wade absolutely jumping into Pierce just shows me what an absolute punk that guy is. He used to be one of my favorite non-Celtics players, but after learning what a piece of sh*t he is off the court, I haven't exactly been a fan.

You're already admitting to having a bias here. What Wade did was simply physical, playoff basketball. I'd support that any day of the week, even if it wasn't the Heat. Hell, I'd defend it if Pierce did it to Wade. By the way, Paul Pierce is a HUGE doucher off the court as well.