Los Boston Celtics missed their first match point in the Eastern Finals, falling on Friday night at home against the Heatso the series returns to Miami for sports fans’ two favorite words: Game Seven.
The Warriors have been waiting for the winner of this key since Thursday, that they will have to live another war of 48 minutes (or more) to reach the Finals. We review the keys to the match.
Robert Williams injury
The Celtics pvot takes Boston’s defense to another level, but a knee injury has sidelined him for several games this postseason. The discomfort returned in the second half of Game 6, with no minutes in the fourth period.
‘Time Lord’ closes the painting in a way that neither Daniel Theis nor Grant Williams can: Bam Adebayo’s 31-10-6-4 in Game 3 came without Robert Williams.
If he’s not one hundred, Miami’s options increase.
The triples, especially of the secondary actors
The Playoffs have been criticized for the lack of close games, at least in the conference finals. Good part of the reason: the triples. Boston and Miami are clear examples of variability: if the shot falls from range, there are options.
The Celtics are 5-1 this postseason when holding opponents to 30% or less from 3-point range and 6-1 when shooting better than 36% from behind the arc. The Heat are 7-1 scoring better than 31%, but 1-4 when they allow more than 37% to the rival.
An equal or more important role than the stars is for the ‘other’ players. Boston, in the seventh against the Bucks, found the game of a lifetime for Grant Williams, when Milwaukee ignored him again and again and, after a slow start, made them pay … but it was at home.
the toe of Williams, Smart, Pritchard, Horford y Theis contra la de Lowry, Strus, P.J. Tucker, Duncan Robinson, Oladipo y Gabe Vincent you can define this.
The duel of superstars: Jayson Tatum has to go hand in hand with Jimmy Butler
Butler continues to grow his legend in the Playoffs with 47 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals in Game 6. Tatum was not far behind with a 30-9-4-2, but he has already had a couple of times these Playoffs that ‘disappears’ (10 points in Game 3 against Milwaukee, also 10 in Game 3 against Miami). When on point, Boston has hardly lost (7-1 when shooting 50% or better, with the only loss being Game 6).
The losses, in key Jaylen Brown
Boston needs its other All Star, who has suffered from buttery hands this series (19 losses in six games against Miami, 3.2 per game); in the two games he only committed one, Boston won.
Taking care of the ball is vital, but also making it an option on offense. Brown disappears for too long periods of time, best exemplified in the Game 6: had 18 points at the half, finished with 20, shooting only three times after the break, without achieving one, with 2 of 4 free kicks and five personal fouls in the last 24 minutes.
Miami has struggled a lot in halfcourt offense, so generating points in transition is vital for them. If they don’t generate them, they suffer against the best defense in the league.
Game 7 history favors the locals
144 previous occasions saw a Game 7 in the NBA Playoffs. The premises have a mark of 110-34although in the two seasons after the Orlando bubble, they are 2-3.
Miami is 6-4 in Games 7, 6-2 at home, with its last loss coming in South Florida in 2005 against the Pistons. The Celtics are 25-9 in Game 7, but they don’t have a good time on the road in a Game 7: the last one they won was the 1974 Finals, as the 2020 one was at the neutral venue at Disney.