Similar to yesterday's mid-series check-in on Spurs/Thunder with our man Thunderstolt, today two pathetic Lakers apologists bring you our updated thoughts on the Eastern Conference Finals match-up between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.
The CDP and I have been fascinated in a series that like the Western Conference Finals, has taken a turn for the unexpected. In a two-game swing, Rajon Rondo and the C's have stormed back into the scrum where they were once not only left for dead, but reanimated as a Zombie and then put back down by Mila Jovovich.
As a hardcore pathetic Lakers apologist, I'm going through a bevy of emotions on a night to night basis rooting for
either the Celtics or Heat. I find that I'm consistently pulling for the
team that's losing to win, hoping that every contest ends in a
heart-breaking last second shot and ultimately in Game 7, just hours
before the tip, all members of both teams get a debilitating, but
eventually curable case of syphilis and they just have to cancel the
Eastern Conference Finals.
My sociopath tendencies aside, let's press on. Last night, the Thunder were able hand the Spurs their third consecutive loss after their 20 game winning streak, heading back to Oklahoma City with a 3-2 lead in their back pocket. Will the Heat be able to do the same?
KOBEsh: Most of us on MAMBINO were calling for Miami in five games, or perhaps
even the disgraceful sweep. If you had to distill the key to the
Celtics' evening of this series, what would it be? Or could you even do
that?
The CDP: Interesting question. I think we're all a little surprised that
Boston was able to strike back and really hit Miami in the mouth.
There's no doubt that this C's squad is a veteran squad brimming with
pride, but their team has less depth than ever and serious injury
problems. Although there is no doubt that Miami is missing Chris
Bosh, Ray Allen needs surgery and only came alive in Game 4. I'll be very
interested to see how Miami reacts - will they fold like a house of
cards or show the resolve of a champion?
Boston has made an impressive series of adjustments
and their stars have risen their game to accompany the stakes. Here's
what I've seen Boston do right to even up the series:
- Starting Strong: Instead
of digging themselves a hole and trying to claw their way out, which
would play into Miami's strengths, Boston has been impressively focused
to begin games. Dwayne Wade was totally shut down in the first half of
Games 3 and 4, while Boston went back into the locker room with the
luxury of a double-digit lead. With Miami relying on Wade and LeBron so
much, it takes a lot of effort for them to come back from these kinds of
deficits.
- Find a Way to Score: Miami is still a defensive team at heart
and uses their athletic defenders to force turnovers and fuel its
transition game.
On the back of a resurgent KG, a stunningly dominant Rondo, and some big
games from Paul Pierce, Boston has been able to score points against
this Miami defense, putting well over 100/game after only managing to
score 79 in Game 1.
- Role Players:
There's no doubt that Miami overpaid Mike Miller/Joel Anthony and
Shane Battier has been a bit of disappointment, but Boston played Keyon
Dooling/Michael Pietrus/Marquis Daniel nearly 60 minutes in both Games 3
and 4. And won. Think about that! Boston always seems to get these
kinds of performances from their role players when it matters. I'll
never forget Leon Powe and PJ Brown burning my Lakers in the NBA Finals a
few years ago. I'm still convinced the C's don't win in 2008 without
those two.
- Effective Team Defense: Although Boston hasn't been able to shut down Miami exactly, they did a few things in their victories that made the difference for them. First of all, they played tough defense on LeBron and Wade without giving them free throws. Boston actually went to the line more in Games 3 and 4, where Wade only got 5 free throws total. In addition, Wade really struggled and shot poorly in both games in Boston, partially a result of Boston's swarming defense. LeBron still looked all-world, but limiting his free throws and his teammates was enough for Boston to get two W's at home.
Totally in agreement on all points. Watching the last two games, it's
more apparent than ever that this is a Boston is the better overall
TEAM, whereas the Heat clearly have the best player. LeBron has gone
atomic these playoffs, but aside from his late 3 the other night, has
largely disappeared in the fourth quarter, in a twist that I'm sure
delights Bron's paid-by-the-hour manicurist.
Chris Bosh is a game-time decision for the Heat tonight. As I've said many many times before, Bosh is the key to Miami's offense and the most indispensable of South Beach's All-Stars; without his perimeter shooting, the floor isn't spaced enough for LeBron or Wade to get into the paint. Both of those guys aren't great jump-shooters, Wade in particular, and it's showed heavily in their two losses. With Bosh, I think this series would have been an easy 5 games for the Heat. If he plays in Game 5 (as well as whatever games are left after tonight), are you feeling like he'll have as big of an effect on the game as I do?
Chris Bosh is a game-time decision for the Heat tonight. As I've said many many times before, Bosh is the key to Miami's offense and the most indispensable of South Beach's All-Stars; without his perimeter shooting, the floor isn't spaced enough for LeBron or Wade to get into the paint. Both of those guys aren't great jump-shooters, Wade in particular, and it's showed heavily in their two losses. With Bosh, I think this series would have been an easy 5 games for the Heat. If he plays in Game 5 (as well as whatever games are left after tonight), are you feeling like he'll have as big of an effect on the game as I do?
There’s no doubt that Boston is playing team basketball to
perfection right now, which is what we knew they’d have to do to stand a chance
in this series. At the moment, Boston has Miami on its heels and is counting on
the return of a (mostly?) healthy Chris Bosh to regain control. I tend to agree with you on all-fronts about
the impact Bosh could have on the Heat and that this series might have been
over tonight with him healthy.
Miami is a star-driven team, the basketball equivalent of
having a Curt Schilling /Randy Johnson pitching combination. A couple of big
performances from those two can seal a series. Likewise, with the Miami Heat, LeBron
and Wade are good for 3-4 mind-blowing performances that can win a game on
their own. All that they need is a big game or two from Bosh, Chalmers, or the
Battier/Miller tandem to prevail in a series with relative ease. Unfortunately,
the role players haven’t amounted to much this series. Chalmers has had decent
offensive production, but failed to stop Rondo on the other end. Aside from
Mario, the Heat role players have only mustered one double-digit performance in
each game. It’s not enough.
 |
| Slimmer is better, but ugly is still ugly |
Enter Chris Bosh. As a starter, he’ll soak up minutes and
allow LeBron to go back to his natural position as a SF. Through 4 games, LBJ
hasn’t played less than 43 minutes and has played 47 minutes twice, most of
those minutes at PF. LeBron is a great PF option for a few minutes at a time,
but it’s wearing him out and part of the reason he’s disappearing at the end of
games. The Heat are thin, but particularly in their front court. Here’s a list
of names they tried to throw at the problem over the last two years: Erick
Dampier, Eddy Curry (yes that one, but he’s thinner now),
Joel Anthony, Dexter Pittman, Ronnie Turiaf, and Juwan Howard. Not a keeper in
the bunch – especially in 2012 – but there’s no doubt replacing ANY of these
guys with someone who’s even smelled an All-Star game is a big improvement.
Bosh will make his biggest contribution on offense. Through
four games, Miami has played good enough defense to beat Boston and held their
own on the boards. Miami has been outrebounded only once through four games and
thumped Boston by over 10 boards twice. In addition to an offensive pulse and
SOME production from the center position, you’re right that Bosh’s shooting in
particular adds a whole new dimension to the Miami offensive sets. Bosh sets
great screens and is the only decent midrange shooter (sorry 2009 version of
Udonis Haslem) on the roster. This enables him to pick and pop or serve as a safety
valve for LBJ and D-Wade, both in the halff-court and in transition.
Through Game 4, the Heat have either gotten layups or
three-pointers, with not much in between. Boston has played them perfectly
defensively, clogging the middle to make Miami jump shooters and doubling
LeBron and Wade like no one else mattered. Now, Boston has to treat the Heat as
if there are more than two players on the floor. As a result, the Heat will
benefit immensely from more generous spacing and less double teams with Bosh
around. I expect this to be a totally different series if he can come back healthy,
but otherwise I think the Celtics have the swagger and game plan to push the
Heat to 7 or even pull the upset.
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