Boston Celtics’ center Kendrick Perkins (C) drives to the basket between Miami Heat’s guard Mike Miller (L) and Heat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the second half of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Massachusetts February 13, 2011. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)
We can forgive the season-opening eight-point loss back on Oct. 26th. Then there was the Nov. 11th loss at home when Ray Allen scored 35 points, hitting 7-of-9 from three point range. Less forgivable, but still understandable given that it was only the ninth game of the season for the Heat.
But what do we make of Miami’s 85-82 loss in Boston on Sunday? The Heat shot just 42% from the field and only 19% from three-point range. Boston’s percentages (42%, 27%) weren’t much better, but when we consider Paul Pierce’s awful game (0-10 from the field, one point) and the fact that Miami’s three stars played pretty well — LeBron, Wade and Bosh combined for 24-49 from the field, 62 points, 22 rebounds and 13 assists — how didn’t Miami win this game?
The answer is that it was a team effort from the Celtics, with six players scoring in double digits including 16 from Glen Davis and 10 from Von Wafer off the Boston bench. Conversely, the Miami supporting cast played poorly. The Heat are playing pretty good basketball overall, but I don’t see them getting by the Celtics in the postseason unless they can get a dependable fourth and fifth option offensively. Mike Miller (1-5, five points), Eddie House (1-6, two points) and Mario Chalmers (1-3, three points) were collectively dreadful for the Heat.
The win is crucial for the Celtics, who are now a half of a game ahead of the Heat in the Eastern Conference standings. Remember, that’s how home-court is decided in the playoffs, so as it stands, Boston would be hosting Miami in a potential Game 7 if the two teams meet in the playoffs.
