Looking for a sweep: Heat-Celtics Preview

Posted by Brian Robb on Apr 10, 2009 12860 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F04%2F10%2Flooking-for-a-sweep-heat-celtics-preview%2FLooking+for+a+sweep%3A+Heat-Celtics+Preview2009-04-10+19%3A08%3A12Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D1286

Miami at Boston
7:30pm CSN

Celtics: 59-19 (33-6 at home);
Off. Efficiency 110.6 (5th);
Def. Efficiency 101.7 (1st)

Heat: 41-37 (15-24 on road);
Off. Efficiency 107.6 (19th);
Def. Efficiency 107.5 (12th)

Season Series: Final of 4 meetings.
Boston leads series 2-1
January 21st: BOS 98 MIA 83
March 11th: BOS 99 MIA 107
March 18th: MIA 108 BOS 112 (OT)

Injury Report:

Celtics: OUT: Leon Powe (knee), Brian Scalabrine (concussions) Kevin Garnett (knee) PROBABLE: Ray Allen (flu) Stephon Marbury (flu)

Heat: OUT: PF/C Udonis Haslem (thumb), SG Luther Head (hand) QUESTIONABLE: SG Daquean Cook (shoulder)

The Celtics will be looking to extend their winning streak to 6 upon closing out their five game home stand with a Friday Night tilt against Miami. Amid all of speculation on KG’s injury and potential return next week, the Celtics have quietly been playing very solid basketball lately winning 9 of the last 10. Not all of the victories have been pretty, but a win is a win, especially considering the fact that KG has not been in uniform for the five recent triumphs.

The key to the C’s current winning streak has been the stellar play of the bench. Newcomers Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore have become consistent contributors during this recent span, and Eddie House has been on an absolute tear in the past five contests, averaging nearly 14 points/game and shooting 50% from 3 point range, another terrific stretch in his potential record breaking season in Green.

It is evident that the C’s new look bench unit are ahead of the learning curve and the team has reaped the benefits as they have all played off of each other strengths brillantly these past couple weeks. This has allowed the 2nd unit to be a sparkplug by closing deficits and building on leads for the starters, rather than coughing them up as they had earlier in the year. Their improved play will be a pivotal factor against Miami this evening.

The Heat return to Boston as a familiar face, having faced the C’s two times all ready in the past month. The teams split those contests, but very few items of significance can be learned from those meetings considering both teams were missing key players (KG, Rondo, Ray Allen, DWade) in parts or all of both games.

Miami is clinging to the fifth spot right now, as they currently remain a game ahead of the Sixers. They will likely hold on to that position due to the brutal schedule Philadelphia that I touched upon when I broke down the Eastern Conference playoff race yesterday.

Miami’s play of late has been mediocre at best, as they have gone 5-5 in their last ten games. Four of those wins came against sub .500 teams, so it’s apparent the Heat have had trouble competing with superior opposition. Dwayne Wade has done his best to keep this team competitive in these games against tougher foes as he continues his MVP campaign, but offensive output from his supporting cast has been hard to count on.

Ray Allen will have his hands full tonight in attempting to guard Wade, but the C’s will likely let Wade get his 30 points if it means they can shut down the rest of the Heat offense. The Celts also stand to benefit tonight from the absence of Udonis Haslem, who injured his thumb earlier this week and will miss the rest of the regular season.

This development severly limits the Heat’s depth upfront and forces Erik Spolestra to insert Yakhouba Diawara in the starting lineup. Don’t worry I hadn’t heard of him either, but after some research I found he is a non-factor on the offensive end averaging 3.3 points a game and shooting 35% from the field, which further limits the Heat’s offensive weapons around Wade. Miami may try to insert rookie Michael Beasley into this spot tonight, but that would take away most of the offensive firepower from the Miami bench. Either way, not a fun predicament for the Heat to be in.

All in all, this one is one the C’s should win if they take care of the ball, play good team defense against Wade and continue to get some support from the bench. Another victory would also look nice going into Sunday’s showdown against Cleveland, the last game before frontcourt reinforcements arrive.