2008 Celtics vs. 2013 Heat

[LakerLegend]

Who wins in a seven game series?

[TheGOATRises007]

Depends which version of the Heat.

If it's the playoff version with a hobbled Wade, I'm less confident in them.

If it's the RS version that rolled off 27 straight wins, I'd pick them confidently.

[One_and_Done]

Heat fairly clearly. The league changed quite a bit from 08 to 13.

[hugepatsfan]

FWIW, the 2012 Heat were down 3-2 to the 2012 Celtics that still had a lot of the same core pieces from the 08 team so it was a fairly close starting point to go from. For 2013 MIA added their version of Ray though and had the monkey off their back so they get the "freeness" that comes with that. On the BOS end, going back to 08 gives them a younger/better version of Pierce, younger/better version of Ray, and a younger/better version of KG especially since it was before the knee injury that sapped most of his athleticism for the rest of his career to the point he could barely even dunk anymore. However, do have to offset that all to some degree with a lesser version of Rondo.

In general, i think the way KG fell off a cliff after his knee injury is often overlooked.

[Dr Positivity]

If you allow Doc to adjust with KG at center, I'll take the Celtics since Wade had fallen off, and they played the Heat well with older version.

[ceoofkobefans]

I think I'd probably take the celtics in 6 or 7 but it's definitely a series that could go either way

Think it would come down to how D wade and (Celtics) Ray Allen perform mainly

would be fun to watch Old Man ray guard a prime version of himself and vice versa though

[Elpolo_14]

If the Cavs 08 and the Hawk 08 much worse team able to push the Celtics to 7 and nearly beat them due to the coaching by Doc rivers. The 2013 which are the upgrade version of 2012 heats. With better depth/ better rotation system and a more experience/mindful coach on Spoelstra ( who I Do bet my money on that he will be able to out do Doc scheme ) add to that a better lebron James with a style that have defense intensity+ more space out offense. The Celtics are cooked.

The biggest problem will be wade knee but this time ( in this hypothetical ) Bosh will be playing the whole series and able to fight with KG. ( Which were lacking in 2012 that why the series got push to 7 )

[Djoker]

Both are great regular season teams that disappointed in the playoffs. The Heat because of Wade injury and the Celtics likely because of complacency. Thus in a hypothetical matchup, I'd probably favor the Celtics by a hair based on intangibles. And I also think they match up well given how the older Celtics in 2012 played the Heat very well. The metrics like rNet also see the Celtics as a slightly better team so there is that. Celtics in 6 or 7.