Time to worry? Heat 100, Celtics 77

Posted by Mike Salvucci on Apr 10, 2011 1916389 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2011%2F04%2F10%2Ftime-to-worry-heat-100-celtics-77%2FTime+to+worry%3F+Heat+100%2C+Celtics+772011-04-10+22%3A33%3A21Mike+Salvuccihttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D19163

ESPN Box Score – The Heat Index

For the second time in four days, the Celtics received a beat-down from one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Today, it came at the hands of the Miami Heat, who now control their own destiny in terms of locking up the #2 seed in the East. If you want to look at the glass half-full, the Heat played exceptionally well on both ends of the floor, as well as I’ve seen them play this entire season. And if you want to go even one step further, you could make the argument that homecourt advantage isn’t essential to winning a potential second-round matchup against Miami.

But that’s pretty much the only bright spot you can take away from today’s game. Here are some initial reactions:

*Miami out-rebounded the Celtics 42-26, resulting in an extra 11 shots for the Heat. Joel Anthony basically just did what he wanted on the boards, collecting 10 overall and four on the offensive glass.

*Not surprisingly, the Celtics struggled on offense on a day when Rajon Rondo simply didn’t have it. Rondo had only 7 points and 5 assists, and at no point looked comfortable trying to penetrate Miami’s defense.

*And of course, there’s Glen Davis, who shot 3-11 from the field (count this as another game in which BBD attempted more shots than Ray Allen). It eventually reached the point where the Heat defenders were leaving Davis open and daring him to make it.

*Hopefully Doc Rivers was paying attention when the Celtics made a mini-run at the end of the 4th quarter. If you noticed, it was Jeff Green playing with that starters when the C’s were able to spread the floor and run the court. Yes, it was a blow-out at the time, but it was some of the only good offensive basketball we saw from the Celtics all game.

More analysis to come after we all digest this game a little more.