Subscribe
Follow Us
The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have emerged as the protagonists in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals after successfully eliminating their respective opponents in the previous round. Erik Spoelstra's squad will be up for a tough challenge against the team that pushed the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks to a seven-game series and removed them out of contention for the title.
The Heat will have their hands full when they go up against the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, which has been showing out in the playoffs thus far. Despite the level of talent on the Celtics, the Heat are not going down without a fight and will look to eliminate Boston in this round for the second time in three seasons to reach the NBA Finals again.
With that said, let's take a look at three reasons why the Heat will get the better of the Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
3 reasons Heat will scorch Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals
3. Erik Spoelstra's squad is more well-rested than the Celtics and has home-court advanatage
The Heat finished their second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers quite early by getting the job done in six games back on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Celtics needed a full seven-game series to eliminate the Bucks, which only ended on Sunday. The two teams are set to meet for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.
With little time to rest and prepare after a grueling series against the physical Bucks, the Celtics have a clear disadvantage heading to their upcoming series. At this point in the playoffs, getting ample time to recover is crucial for any team, especially one that is about to play in a series that might go the distance.
At the same time, both squads also can't afford to lose a key player due to injuries that may eventually cost them a trip to the Finals. By being more well-rested, the Heat have already gained a slight advantage, which may help increase their chances of surviving a tough series ahead.
Furthermore, the Heat will start the series at home and have home-court advantage. Miami was dominant at home in the regular season and hasn't lost yet at FTX Arena in the playoffs.
2. Several players have been filling in the void for the injured Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry has been missing significant time after sustaining a hamstring injury in Game 3 of Miami's first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. He managed to return in two games against the Sixers but missed Game 6 and remains doubtful ahead of Game 1 against the Celtics.
The leadership and veteran presence that Lowry brings to the team will be greatly missed, especially in a crucial series ahead against a two-way juggernaut like Boston. Fortunately for Miami, several players have been heeding the call to contribute to the scoring and playmaking department.
Amid Lowry's extended absence, backup point guard Gabe Vincent has been filling in the hole by averaging 7.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 11 playoff games thus far. Max Strus is also stepping up with 12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while Victor Oladipo is tallying 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in eight appearances.
The contributions of these players will be much-needed once again in the Eastern Conference Finals as Lowry continues to miss time due to his injury. If they all sustain their performances or even play at a higher level, the Heat will have a great chance of overcoming this series while also keeping Lowry fresh for a potential NBA Finals appearance.
1. Jimmy Butler has been on fire
Jimmy Butler has been playing at another level in this year's playoffs thus far. He's currently averaging a career-best 28.7 points on 52.5% shooting from the field to go with 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. Butler is also getting it done on defense with a career-high average of 2.1 steals along with 0.6 blocks in 10 playoff games played.
Everyone knows how hard the six-time All-Star plays when huge stakes are on the line. The same level of performance is expected of him in this series against the Celtics as he tries to lead his team back to the NBA Finals.
Yes, Ime Udoka is expected to throw bodies at Butler just to disrupt his scoring and playmaking on the floor. In fact, they have guys who can do so like Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart along with a hustle defender in Grant Williams. Al Horford and Robert Williams could even get some time on Butler. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are capable defenders as well. We have seen the Celtics already do an admirable job slowing down superstars like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In the end, it is clear that the 32-year-old will be Miami's focal point and that Boston will be pulling out all the stops to contain him, especially on offense. If they fail to limit Butler's offensive production, the Heat will have a good chance of escaping this series and booking their trip to the NBA Finals once again. While the Celtics are a juggernaut, don't count out Jimmy Buckets.
