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

[jirrit]

Eventhough I wouldn't like to come out against them, I do think in a full series Boston will outplay Miami.

[GusT15]

The Heat are like the Verbal Kint of teams.

fixed

Heat limping through the regular season.

Heat stepping over people in the playoffs.

Iunderstoodthatreference.gif

Oh and yes,the Bucks should really be the ones concerned about the Heat.
They're the ones getting eliminated in the 1st round.

The C's if healthy are way too talented.
They'll win the whole thing.

[Gant]

Anyone would be foolish to take the Heat lightly especially after last season. Terrified is overstating it, but Miami has proven how great they are in the playoffs.

As has been mentioned though, Porzingis does make a sizable difference in the match up with Bam Adebayo. The Celtics have made other upgrades too, in personnel, improvement from their top players, load distribution, and chemistry.

No team is unbeatable and there are several contenders.

[Mir]

Boston is gonna sleepwalk til the finals.
Then only a healthy Nuggets team could give them a run for their money.

[ajones9219]

The Celtics would sweep this Heat team

[Bloodbather]

The Heat got lucky from 3 at a historic rate from guys that stunk before the playoffs. Very unlikely they get that lucky again. They are what their record says they are this year. I bet the Celtics welcome a heat match up this year just to put this Heat team to bed. Any team could get lucky and make a run to the finals this year.

The Heat were the best three-point shooting team in the league the previous year with the same roster. They didn't get lucky from three, they just recovered their form that eluded them the whole regular season at the best time possible.

[Bloodbather]

I'd favor the Celtics in a series against the Heat, but it's far from being given. The gap is definitely not as large as it currently appears to be. I think having added Porzingis is huge for them, otherwise I'd think of it as dead even. The Celtics have the better starting lineup, but the Heat have more depth in their 8/9-man rotation and the better coach.

At this point, if the Heat's regular season shortcomings fool you, it's on you. Their current core has always been better in the PS. Butler coasts through the RS, Bam's defensive versatility is more impactful in the PS, and they let their guys rest and take their time recovering from injuries during the RS. We've barely seen Bam, Butler, and Herro play together this season. If guys like Rozier, Robinson, Martin, Jaquez, Jović, etc. get hot from three, they can hang with anyone.

Ultimately, the Celtics would go into the series as favorites, and I think they'd win as long as their key guys, especially Tatum and Brown, don't underperform. They might, though.

[ryan in Maine]

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

[bisme37]

I swear the GB has been such a cold shower for Celtics fans this season lol.

Last night we beat the Bulls on a road back to back without 3 starters. Wrapped up our first 5-0 week since 2005. On a 9 game winning streak while resting guys and using 8 different starting lineups.

Celtics have a mind-boggling 11.5 game lead in the East and a 6.5 game lead over the West. Historically good net rating and point differential etc. The entire roster from top to bottom is balling out.

Last night the Bulls announcers were raving about the Celtics like they were in legitimate awe. Then Sam Mitchell and Isiah Thomas raved about them on NBATV* and we C's fans went to bed thinking, "wow this is really cool, our team is so good."

...

Then we wake up to a thread about how we should be terrified of a Heat team in the Play-in that's 4-6 in their last 10 and just got blown out by the Ingram-less Pelicans after Jimmy Butler guaranteed a win.

*

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

[Triple M]

I wouldn't dismiss the heat nor am i terrified.

Miami's profile is different than past years because of added ball handling, and in theory arent reliant on only Jimmy. Bam is also a better focal part of the offense, so in a playoff setting there are now 2 to 3 more names on the scouting chart.

Miami is eager to start 0-0 in the playoffs, however, It was around this time last year that the Heat started to find their footing and while this year they've had stretches of going on a run, they then fall off again. That inconsistency is hard to ignore because time is running out on them integrating the changes theyve made.

From the Celtics point of veiw some of their changes were with Miami in mind because getting KP makes a lot of sense with Miami zone in mind. The Celtics also seen improvements internally to balance out some of what they lost from Smart, Brogdan, and Rob. Guys like Jauser and Pritchard have stepped up into the vacuum that was left.

I guess im saying both teams have great ceilings but i turst the Celtics more this year to play up to their ceiling because Miami needs more time to intergrate their changes. All the injuries and people in and out of the line up haven't helped.

[NyKnicks1714]

I swear the GB has been such a cold shower for Celtics fans this season lol.

Last night we beat the Bulls on a road back to back without 3 starters. Wrapped up our first 5-0 week since 2005. On a 9 game winning streak while resting guys and using 8 different starting lineups.

Celtics have a mind-boggling 11.5 game lead in the East and a 6.5 game lead over the West. Historically good net rating and point differential etc. The entire roster from top to bottom is balling out.

Last night the Bulls announcers were raving about the Celtics like they were in legitimate awe. Then Sam Mitchell and Isiah Thomas raved about them on NBATV and we C's fans went to bed thinking, "wow this is really cool, our team is so good."

...

Then we wake up to a thread about how we should be terrified of a Heat team in the Play-in that's 4-6 in their last 10 and just got blown out by the Ingram-less Pelicans after Jimmy Butler guaranteed a win.

All fair...but the Heat are just weird. Two Finals appearances in the last 4 years as a 5th and 7th(8th after play-in) seed. Upsetting Milwaukee with ease both times. Winning Game 7 in Boston after blowing the 3-0 lead when it honestly felt like a formality for the Celtics. I don't like cliches, but they do have "another gear".

[Repeat 3-peat]

I'm here for the toxic Celtics/Heat playoff threads.

[Curmudgeon]

The only team that can beat this year's Celtics is this year's Celtics, and they could accomplish that against almost any team in the league.

[bisme37]

I swear the GB has been such a cold shower for Celtics fans this season lol.

Last night we beat the Bulls on a road back to back without 3 starters. Wrapped up our first 5-0 week since 2005. On a 9 game winning streak while resting guys and using 8 different starting lineups.

Celtics have a mind-boggling 11.5 game lead in the East and a 6.5 game lead over the West. Historically good net rating and point differential etc. The entire roster from top to bottom is balling out.

Last night the Bulls announcers were raving about the Celtics like they were in legitimate awe. Then Sam Mitchell and Isiah Thomas raved about them on NBATV and we C's fans went to bed thinking, "wow this is really cool, our team is so good."

...

Then we wake up to a thread about how we should be terrified of a Heat team in the Play-in that's 4-6 in their last 10 and just got blown out by the Ingram-less Pelicans after Jimmy Butler guaranteed a win.

All fair...but the Heat are just weird. Two Finals appearances in the last 4 years as a 5th and 7th(8th after play-in) seed. Upsetting Milwaukee with ease both times. Winning Game 7 in Boston after blowing the 3-0 lead when it honestly felt like a formality for the Celtics. I don't like cliches, but they do have "another gear".

It's just funny how much of a wet blanket this thread is (and the GB in general all season) right on the heels of C's fans feeling ourselves lol.

Like, what is the timing of this thread? To me it indicates people aren't really watching or paying attention to the Celtics, or the Heat for that matter, and just have preconceived narratives that overrule reality in their mind.

Of course the Heat are a perennial postseason challenge for the rest of the East, including Boston. And they probably have another gear to hit. But even then this revamped Celtics team is still like 2 gears better.

[JimmyFromNz]

I mean of course we should certainly be wary. I'm not sure terrified is the word I'd use.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

What has changed fundamentally is the Celtics roster, that presents a much different proposition for Miami this year.

[JXL]

How are we even sure they even care about the regular season?

[NyKnicks1714]

It's just what is the timing of this thread? To me it indicates people aren't really watching or paying attention to the Celtics, or the Heat for that matter, and just have preconceived narratives that overrule reality in their mind.

Of course the Heat are a perennial postseason challenge for the rest of the East, including Boston. And they probably have another gear to hit. But even then this revamped Celtics team is still like 2 gears better.

I think the timing relates to the 1st Round matchup seeming more and more likely at this point. For a while it looked like Miami could get out of play-in territory but with their recent struggles it seems that's where they'll be. And even with their struggles, I bet Boston would much rather face Orlando or Indiana or Philly with a rusty, poorly-conditioned Embiid.

[One_and_Done]

Why? Is Tatum going to hurt his ankle again?

[reload141]

Are we being fooled by the Miami Heat once again?

The Heat are like the Jamal Murray of teams. Every regular season we say “Jamal isn’t an all star. I’m sorry he simply doesn’t deserve it over the guys ahead of him.” And with the Heat we say “The Heat simply aren’t at the level of the true contenders in the East like Boston, Milwaukee, and Philly.” And then after the playoffs we see many “hot takes” like “Jamal is a top 5 point guard!” And “Miami is the best team in the east once again!” How many times does the Heat/Jamal need to prove us wrong before we realize that this is simply who they are?

The Heat are objectively more talented than they were in last years playoffs. Tyler Herro is healthy, Terry Rozier is an obvious upgrade on Lowry, and JJJ is like found money. Duncan Robinson has taken a step. Nikola Jovic is improving all the time. Bam and Jimmy are still there. They still have a clear coaching advantage. Are we going to overlook them once again?

As for the Celtics, they are more talented than last season as well. However Jrue Holiday recently got hurt with a mysterious injury, and this is a team that has proven to be inconsistent in the playoffs and can get flustered by Miami’s high intensity. I still think Miami is a bad matchup for them despite the talent increase from Boston.

To be clear I’m not a fan of Boston or Miami. But if I were a Celtics fan, I’d be terrified, shaking in my Irish boots about the possibility of matching up with these guys again. If I were a betting man, the smart bet is still the Celtics obviously. But Miami is even more dangerous than last season and despite their run to the finals and having a more talented roster they’re being overlooked again.

What do you guys think? Will Miami prove once again that they’re legit or will Boston “walk to the finals” like they were supposed to last year after Milwaukee was knocked out by Miami?

Lol, nuh.

[Tottery]

Miami is a top 10 defensive team again. Offense is the only thing standing in their way. Curious to see if Butler can pull a playoff Jimmy again, but without injury.