The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. In historical context alone, this series has an incredible cast of characters that, quite frankly, is unprecedented in an NBA playoff series. Shaq, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James are all first ballot Hall of Famers. In time, the same could be said for Dwayne Wade, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen and all will be in the Hall of Fame either way. Even Chris Bosh could make a case when it’s all over. Six slam dunk Hall of Famers in one series.
That is not to mention the Celtics engine in All Star point guard Rajon Rondo, arguably their most important player. The Heat trio have talked a big game from the beginning with their assertion that no amount of titles is enough. That chase ultimately begins on Sunday in Miami. Everyone knew the Heat would crush ordinary teams in the regular season and win roughly sixty games. What we do not know is how the Heat will respond against a seasoned, veteran playoff team like the Celtics. We are about to find out.
It is probably a safe bet that whoever wins this series will win the 2011 NBA Championship. Miami will probably end up winning at least one title with their newfound triumvirate of James, Wade and Bosh. Here’s why I believe it will not happen this year and that this is going to be a great series regardless.
BAD BLOOD: In the teams’ last meeting of the season, Jermaine O’Neal gave LeBron a cheap foul on a fast break attempt that induced a scuffle that also included Pierce and Wade going at it. Make no mistake: There was already plenty of bad blood between Paul Pierce and LeBron James and the two teams in general already. This incident just sets up what promises to be as intense a series as we have seen in quite some time.
PAYBACK FACTOR (MIAMI): LeBron has been ousted by the Cs in two of the past three seasons including last year’s playoffs. Miami, with Wade, and Cleveland were actually both footnotes in the Celtics surprising run to the Finals last season. The Celtics have gotten the best of LeBron on the way to both of their trips to the Finals in 2008 and 2010. Will it happen a third time? Last year it was all about his supposed injury and he likely will be as fired up going into this series as he has ever been. Neither Wade nor James can struggle in this series if Miami plans to advance. It’s that simple.
PAYBACK X-FACTOR (BOSTON): The Green have two ex-Miami centers in Jermaine O’Neal and Shaq. It generally did not end well in any of Shaq’s previous spots and Miami was no different. In any case, he would love to stick it to Pat Riley and Wade by helping the Celtics dash their title hopes.
LORD OF THE RINGS: Speaking of the Diesel, with a Boston series victory, Shaq will be on his way to tying Kobe Bryant as the other active player with the most championship rings. That was his intention when coming to Boston last summer and now it’s time to deliver. The Celtics are going to need his low post scoring at some point in this post season and now may be the time. Miami simply cannot guard him one on one especially if Zydrunas Ilgauskas is not playing. If he can go in this series, he provides the Cs a huge lift as the Celtics will struggle to score at times against the Heat defense.
THE CELTICS ARE GOING TO WIN: The Celtics dominated their first round opponent while Miami looked sluggish for the most part in their five game series win over Philly. The biggest reason that the Celtics should win is that Kevin Garnett has the ability to take Chris Bosh out of this series. If KG does, it puts a ton of pressure on James, Wade and even Mario Chalmers as Miami simply does not have enough firepower to stay with the Cs. Another edge the Celtics have and displayed against New York was the ability to close games and play well late in tight games. Miami has had problems in those situations all season and there are bound to be at least one or two of them in this series. Finally, the Celtics have the two best players coming off the bench in this series in Jeff Green and Delonte West and you could make an argument for Glen Davis as well. They’re deeper and, after watching the similarly aging Spurs on the brink of elimination, surely will not be taking anything for granted in this series. I like the Celtics in a Chicago Bulls/New York Knicks type of series from the 90’s. A display of incredible defensive will on both sides between arguably the league’s two most hated teams. Miami has an incredibly bright future but the present belongs to the Celtics. Celtics in six.