The Celtics should be terrified of facing the Heat in the playoffs

[GrandTheftRondo]

They also lost as the #1 seed in 2022 and got swept the year prior in the first round.

Also were a Tatum injury from choking a 3-0 lead last year but I digress.

I get what you're saying but the Celtics never should have been down 3-0 in the first place. But then again they also beat the #1 seed Bucks.

The Celtics fumbled the first few games but the Heat playoff narrative is way out of control. They beat up an injured Bucks team last year, and as stated, the Celtics fumbled the first 3 games.

Jimmy is also WILDLY overrated as a playoff performer but that's somehow blasphemous on this forum.

It’s amazing how often it gets ignored that Giannis missed multiple games in that series last playoffs.

Pretty big deal I would have thought.

[ArksNetsSince99]

Can’t wait to watch Jimmy in a God mode , Heat is the dark horse once again

[SweaterBae]

If the Celts are vulnerable to a team like the Heat it's because Boston falls in love with hero ball low % stuff, while Miami grinds out all the edge cases to win games. I wish Boston would dial it back a bit and do more ball and player movement. They don't need to hit a home run every at bat. They're so talented, just get on base.

[Hitachi77]

But people are saying failures as in multiple.

Last season was a failure, not denying that.

But where are the other failures?

They had one other season where they miraculously turned around their season with a first year coach and lost to the battle tested Warriors in 6 games in the finals.

You can note whatever the hell you want. I’m just completely tired of people acting like this is some starting five that has choked away all these series.

Porzingis and Holiday weren’t even on the team last year.

Well I think they were favored vs Miami all 3 times? And only won one of them barely. They also almost lost to the Sixers before Tatum caught fire out of nowhere, after being terrible all game.

If anything I’d maybe be worried about their coach in the playoffs. He was definitely out coached last year, and this year one of his focus points seems to be blocking opposing teams dead ball shots of all things (sorry if he was already doing that last year).

Anyway, there are certainly the best team so far this year. But if I were a Celtics fan I def wouldn’t think they are going to just crush their way to a title, and Miami is one of the teams I’d be worried about.

In 2020 they were a young team playing against a Heat team that knocked off the 1 seed Bucks. They weren’t some team expected to do anything.

In 2022 as mentioned they had a miraculous turnaround and made it to the finals. Nobody was picking them for the finals at the start of the season.

Last season yes they underperformed. Funny how you mention almost losing to Philly yet Miami almost losing to Boston doesn’t seem to count.

Again I don’t see where all these collective failures are. They’ve had one season where they failed to live up to high expectations all season and win a title.

Miami meanwhile has this ridiculous playoff performer narrative despite losing in 2022 as the number 1 seed and getting swept the year before that. That commonly seems to get ignored.

I really struggle to take any of your post seriously though when you’re actually trying to argue that the Celtics coach is more focused on blocking opponents shots than coaching his team. What absolute nonsense.

I ignored Miami almost losing to the Celtics? The Celtics were heavy favorites with homecourt. They were supposed to win. I didn’t say collective failures. I said they got beat by a team soundly, one they were supposed to beat. I said that teams plays them very confidently, and I don’t understand why Celtics fans would “want” to play them when they clearly have one of the better chances of knocking them off. Certainly more than nearly every other east team, possibly including Milwaukee. Some teams play my team better than others. I want the easiest path because I want the highest chance of winning a title, but that’s me.

I was exaggerating about Joe, but he’s clearly not on Spo’s level at this point. And I just found the blocking opponents shots thing more funny than anything. Either way, coaching matters more in the playoffs than in the regular season. Sometimes coaching gaps show in a big way.

[sammo89]

The Heat are like vultures. They’re not actually that good of a team, but if one of the real contenders stumbles (Bos, Mil, Phi), they will be there to feed on the carcass.

The only thing Boston has to fear is themselves. If they play even remotely close to their regular season standards they will run through the East. Losing to Miami again would say more about their mental makeup as a team than it would about the Heat.

They should also fear a Porzingis injury

[Hitachi77]

I get what you're saying but the Celtics never should have been down 3-0 in the first place. But then again they also beat the #1 seed Bucks.

The Celtics fumbled the first few games but the Heat playoff narrative is way out of control. They beat up an injured Bucks team last year, and as stated, the Celtics fumbled the first 3 games.

Jimmy is also WILDLY overrated as a playoff performer but that's somehow blasphemous on this forum.

It’s amazing how often it gets ignored that Giannis missed multiple games in that series last playoffs.

Pretty big deal I would have thought.

Well he played games 4 and 5 and they lost both. Had he not, you’d have more of an argument. They should have won game 5 in a blowout and put pressure on Miami in game 6 to close it out.

[ChipotleWest]

Porzingis' highest games played in a season was his rookie year 72 games second highest 66 his second year.

[doogie_hauser]

I feat the Bucks and Knkcks far more than Miami

Also Porzingis' health is the best it has been in years. He has said publicly he could have played at least 5 more games this season which he missed, but we arr not taking any chances.


Jaylen Brown is also Dumb-Can Rubbishbin's father.

[Sweet Serenity]

Can’t wait to watch Jimmy in a God mode , Heat is the dark horse once again

“Playoff Jimmy” might be the most overrated phrase in American Sports today.
Spo is the reason behind Miami’s success.

[ChipotleWest]

I like Porzingis I hope he stays healthy, but we're talking about a career with a potential for 820 games (82 games a year times 10) he has played in 451 of them. A little over half. If someone is injury prone yet perfectly healthy, it doesn't mean he can't have another injury. He just had a minor one with a hamstring where he missed 4 games. Not a big deal on it's own but don't be surprised if he lets you down at the worst time.

Edit: I believe only 72 games were played during the pandemic year if someone wants to get technical. But he's played 10 playoff games (out of a potential 13) So just add the playoff games and remove the 10 games from 2020.

[ajones9219]

I like Porzingis I hope he stays healthy, but we're talking about a career with a potential for 820 games (82 games a year times 10) he has played in 451 of them. A little over half. If someone is injury prone yet perfectly healthy, it doesn't mean he can't have another injury. He just had a minor one with a hamstring where he missed 4 games. Not a big deal on it's own but don't be surprised if he lets you down at the worst time.

Edit: I believe only 72 games were played during the pandemic year if someone wants to get technical. But he's played 10 playoff games (out of a potential 13) So just add the playoff games and remove the 10 games from 2020.

He's been rested for large stretches this year when he's been fully healthy and his usage is basically at an all time low as a third option. Not saying it's a sure bet he stays healthy but there is little reason to suspect he won't be.

[ChipotleWest]

I don't think you'd be so sure if he was still a Wizard or Mav, just a hunch.

7'3 or more usually means knee problems. I think that can hold back Wemby too.


DATE
INJURY
3/23/24
Hamstring
3/21/24
Hamstring
3/9/24
Hamstring
3/2/24
Quad
2/14/24
Ankle
2/12/24
Back
1/26/24
Ankle
1/22/24
Knee
1/16/24
Knee
1/9/24
Knee
1/7/24
Eye
12/29/23
Calf
12/22/23
Ankle
12/18/23
Calf
12/15/23
Calf
11/25/23
Calf
11/14/23
Knee
8/16/23
Foot
3/31/23
Illness
3/18/23
Illness
2/25/23
Knee
1/21/23
Ankle
1/10/23
Ribs
12/20/22
Illness
12/13/22
Back
12/8/22
Ankle
11/10/22
Groin
2/12/22
Knee
1/29/22
Knee
1/3/22
Health and safety protocols
1/1/22
Rest
12/20/21
Toe
12/2/21
Knee
11/29/21
Ankle
10/27/21
Back
4/29/21
Knee
4/22/21
Ankle
4/12/21
Rest
4/4/21
Wrist
4/3/21
Rest
3/27/21
Injury Recovery
3/11/21
Injury management
2/28/21
Back
2/22/21
Back
1/23/21
Injury Recovery
1/16/21
Ankle
1/14/21
Ankle
1/12/21
Knee
10/9/20
Knee
8/23/20
Knee
8/22/20
Heel
8/20/20
Heel
8/18/20
Knee
8/12/20
Heel
8/9/20
Knee
3/11/20
Knee
2/8/20
Knee
2/5/20
Nose
2/1/20
Knee
1/1/20
Knee
2/6/18
Torn ACL
2/6/18
Knee
1/23/18
Left knee irritation
12/14/17
Sore left knee
11/29/17
Sore ankle
11/25/17
Low back tightness
11/8/17
Sprained left ankle

He might make it this season though, but then there's the next and the next and it's almost a guarantee something major will eventually come up.

[ajones9219]

I don't think you'd be so sure if he was still a Wizard or Mav, just a hunch.

7'3 or more usually means knee problems. I think that can hold back Wemby too.


DATE
INJURY
3/23/24
Hamstring
3/21/24
Hamstring
3/9/24
Hamstring
3/2/24
Quad
2/14/24
Ankle
2/12/24
Back
1/26/24
Ankle
1/22/24
Knee
1/16/24
Knee
1/9/24
Knee
1/7/24
Eye
12/29/23
Calf
12/22/23
Ankle
12/18/23
Calf
12/15/23
Calf
11/25/23
Calf
11/14/23
Knee
8/16/23
Foot
3/31/23
Illness
3/18/23
Illness
2/25/23
Knee
1/21/23
Ankle
1/10/23
Ribs
12/20/22
Illness
12/13/22
Back
12/8/22
Ankle
11/10/22
Groin
2/12/22
Knee
1/29/22
Knee
1/3/22
Health and safety protocols
1/1/22
Rest
12/20/21
Toe
12/2/21
Knee
11/29/21
Ankle
10/27/21
Back
4/29/21
Knee
4/22/21
Ankle
4/12/21
Rest
4/4/21
Wrist
4/3/21
Rest
3/27/21
Injury Recovery
3/11/21
Injury management
2/28/21
Back
2/22/21
Back
1/23/21
Injury Recovery
1/16/21
Ankle
1/14/21
Ankle
1/12/21
Knee
10/9/20
Knee
8/23/20
Knee
8/22/20
Heel
8/20/20
Heel
8/18/20
Knee
8/12/20
Heel
8/9/20
Knee
3/11/20
Knee
2/8/20
Knee
2/5/20
Nose
2/1/20
Knee
1/1/20
Knee
2/6/18
Torn ACL
2/6/18
Knee
1/23/18
Left knee irritation
12/14/17
Sore left knee
11/29/17
Sore ankle
11/25/17
Low back tightness
11/8/17
Sprained left ankle

He might make it this season though, but then there's the next and the next and it's almost a guarantee something major will eventually come up.

No because on both the mavs and wizards he was the #2 option. He's the #3 or #4 option some nights in Boston. That makes a massive difference and he hasn't had any injury that caused significant time lost in multiple years.

The wiz shut him down to tank and Boston has load managed this season and attributed it to fake injuries like every other starter besides a few games for hamstring tightness.

[ryan in Maine]

We don't even need Tatum to play to beat this Heat team 4 out of 5 games. C'mon.

I find it odd that Celtics fans have this kind of confidence in this team despite the history of playoff failures. The level of confidence Celtics fans have for this team reminds me of the confidence Warriors fans had around 2015-2018, except that actually made sense.

Anecdotally, Celtics fans seem far more confidant than Nuggets fans. Is that really justified? I just don’t see it.

Celtics is different now.

[AussieCeltic]

I like Porzingis I hope he stays healthy, but we're talking about a career with a potential for 820 games (82 games a year times 10) he has played in 451 of them. A little over half. If someone is injury prone yet perfectly healthy, it doesn't mean he can't have another injury. He just had a minor one with a hamstring where he missed 4 games. Not a big deal on it's own but don't be surprised if he lets you down at the worst time.

Edit: I believe only 72 games were played during the pandemic year if someone wants to get technical. But he's played 10 playoff games (out of a potential 13) So just add the playoff games and remove the 10 games from 2020.

He’s played 1 less game than Jimmy this season and that’s with the Celtics being extra cautious with him. He hasn’t been too bad post ACL ( in that mid 50 range per year), which isn’t great but also not the worst.

Also look who he’s replaced.

Rob Williams - 6 games played this season
Marcus Smart - 20 games played this season
Malcolm Brogdon - 39 games played this season

The thing is, injuries can happen at anytime to anyone. To say, the Celtics have to be cautious of him more than say a Bucks with Giannis, Nuggets with Murray/MPJ, Wolves with KAT, Suns with KD/Beal is short sighted. I mean all the contenders have had stars out with injuries now or in the playoffs recently. The difference is, the Celtics have real depth to overcome KP missing a few games in the playoffs.

[3ddman23]

I'm not seeing it. Like someone said, previous success( especially pos season) does not automatically mean they are gonna have the same success again. There is no carry over effect from one post season to the next. We can't automatically assume what the heat did last year there going to for sure do it again.

Now personally I think the heat are gonna end up the 5th or 6th seed in the east so it's not gonna be some 8th Cinderella story again, so if they get matched up with the cavs in the first round then yea I could see them potentially making it to ecf.

But if the heat end up 7 or 8 ( don't see it with how easy there schdule is) and play the bucks or Celtics I think they get knocked out in the first round if the bucks/ celts are fully healthy.

[beantownski]

last year's heat team was an 8th seed, but they showed they could beat top teams throughout the season. they were 17-14 vs the top 10 teams last year. this year they are 8-18 vs the top 10 teams. the heat playoff narrative has gotten a little bit out of control. this celtics team (that is 3-0 against them) shouldn't be too concerned about the heat. Spo is amazing, but he's not enough to close the huge gap between these teams this year.

[batterybro42]

Spo has a deep roster with multiple ways to attack and different styles and rotations that all have merit and value. Miami is a versatile team, that barring something new happening will look to be very healthy entering the playoffs. They have played almost the entire season shuffling in and out of different lineups due to injury and the veteran nature of their team. The Celtics are a fun regular season team, that has overwhelming talent, and looks good in the free flowing nature of regular season basketball.

When these teams met in February against a beleaguered Heat team I saw some familiar issues creep up with the Celtics. I saw them get rattled when the defensive screws got tightened by the Heat.

What will happen is Spo is going to drag the Celtics into the deep end of the pool, it will get muddy and bloody and the Celtics are going to have to figure some things out. I think this series happens again this year, and it will be more about the Celtics than it will be about the Heat. The Celtics should win like they should have won last year, but it won't be easy, and it can get really scary for them quickly. Will Joe be able to counter whatever madness Spo will unleash on them?

Jimmy Butler is the other question because seemingly at any time he can become the best player in the world, capable of dominating any series. I think people forget that Jimmy played the back end of that playoff run significantly injured which happened in the 2nd round Knicks series. I do believe that if Bucks series Jimmy Butler shows up, I am not sure anything is going to stop him. Probably the closest thing to Jordan I have seen. That being said that is not a given, because you could also get a non interested mediocre Jimmy just as easy. Celtics or anybody else would be smart to not poke the bear.

Either way it should be exciting, this is the best rivalry currently in the NBA

[iamoti]

Heat in 5

Jokes aside. If we are healthy i think we have a chance against any team in the east. Boston doesn't scare me but i dont want them in the 1st or 2nd round and they are easily the favourites to win it all this year. I dont think some realize tho we had 32 , yes 32 different starting lineups this season. Injuries have been crazy. If somehow we manage to be healthy come playoff time , of course we have to make it first, i do like our chances there. Also the narrative of playoff Jimmy is mostly because he coasts through the regular season like no one in the league and thats not even debatable. The dude just doesn't care.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Celtics in 5, maybe 6 if Pat Riley sends South Beach’s finest escorts to the Celtics’ hotel.