After battling seven games against the Greek beast, the set of Ime Udoka gets into the conference finals of the Playoffs 2022. The rival, an old acquaintance: Miami Heat.
Playoffs Ronda 3: Celtics vs Heat
Jaylen Brown and Bam Adebayo in action at TD Garden
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They say that basketball is the most logical of sports and in the case of the Eastern Conference in the current Playoffs, this statement is confirmed: both #1 and #2 reached the defining stage.
The roads have been completely different and the route may be the unexpected ally for one of the two rivals.
Miami comes from easily dispatching to a Atlanta that sailed throughout the year in irregularity and dependence on Trae Young and secondly, to a Philadelphia I had a downgraded version of Harden and even Embolite plagued by injuries.
On the other side, the Celtics unceremoniously dispatched Brooklyn Netsin a series whose scoreboard does not indicate the intensity and physical exhaustion that can be identified with a sweep, and in the semifinals, the Playoffs gave the champion, who despite not having Kris Middletonforced seven games and put the Celtics up against the wall several times emotionally and physically.
It is clear that the attrition has not been the same for both teams and here those of Spoelstra they can take advantage, which in the final of the bubble, was decisive.
The Celtics are not the same team as the one in the Florida Playoffs, it must also be said, but one of their defensive pillars is 35 years old and has just battled for 7 games with a Greek god of 2.13 and Herakles’ strength.
The Heat is a team that demands a very large physical deployment, not only because of the attacking style in which Adebayo It plays a central role, but also because you have to run the shooters so they don’t take comfortable shots and their wings are strong and physical.
How much tank bottom do these Celtics have left after the first two rounds? It is the big question to solve.
Jaylen Brown y Jayson Tatumthe Greens’ main scoring weapons, will not have it easy at all, since P.J, Tucker y Jimmy Butler, They are among the best defenders of the position and extremely physical players when it comes to neutralizing rivals.
Butler and Tatum face to face again in the Playoffs
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Udoka is going to have to work hard on rebranding and indirect blocking in order to free up his two offensive role models, and it’s no easy task against a Miami team that is one of the best defenses in the league.
Tyler Herrowho was the executioner of the Celtics in those 2020 Playoffs, is in his best form, has just won the sixth man of the year award and is a key scoring factor coming off the bench. Derrick White It is his first natural pairing and he will have to be very attentive to try to stop the scoring power of the Miami player.
The Adebayo factor is another point to be taken into account by the Celtics’ defense. Depending on the availability of Robert Williamswill vary your pairing, which can be Al Horford o Grant Williams; in the case of the first, he is short on speed and in the case of the second he is short on height, the Heat seem to have an advantage in this matchup and it is not something to be underestimated.
Miami and Boston are the defenses that make the most defensive changes in the NBA and in these Playoffs, the trend continues, but with the difference that the Celtics have had to adjust to the absence of Robert Williams, while Miami has had to do its thing for the absence of Lowry and zonal dial passages.
Spoelstra has been a true karma for Brad Stevens, who has always lost tactical duels against him. Now Udoka, who has been doing a good job, will have to face one of the most agile and expeditious minds in the NBA. Can you win the duel?
The defenses will prevail in a series that the different ones will have to manage to get moderately released shots. We are in for an epic caution battle on both ends of the pitch, with no clear winner up front.
If the Bucks They were a danger every time they stole a ball, the Heat are not far behind, being one of the ones that recover the most balls and the ones that get the most easy points for second chances. Taking care of the ball is something that the Greens have not done well and this is a big problem for this series.
Kyle Lowry and Marcus Smart, old acquaintances
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Kyle Lowry has been dragging physical problems and will be absent in the first game, on the other side Marcus Smart suffered a sprain and it is doubtful, both are vital for the defensive and offensive structure of their teams, whoever can recover faster will have an advantage that can be decisive.
Some Conference Finals are coming to us with an uncertain destination, making a forecast of it becomes very complicated, they are two very even teams that defend at an elite level at a time when legs and fatigue begin to be a determining factor.
Spoelstra’s tactical variations, the use of zonal marking and adjustments during the game and post game will have a superlative level of influence. Udoka and his coaching staff are facing a final exam before the most feared teacher.
If you were left wanting more analysis, here we left the podcast that we recorded from the preview.
*AUTHOR’S NOTE: Once the article was finished, Al Horford was notified of the withdrawal due to the COVID protocol, so he will be absent for at least two games.
In addition, Marcus Smart is out for game 1 due to his ankle injury and is questionable for game 2 to be held next Thursday.
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