Four teams remain in the NBA playoffs, as the conference finals start Tuesday, with Boston and Miami tangling in the East. Dallas and Golden State start the West finals on Wednesday. Boston came back from a 3-2 deficit to knock off the Milwaukee Bucks, while Miami made it by the Philadephia 76ers in six games. Two stifling defenses in the East final bring to mind the great battles between the Detroit Pistons and such teams as Chicago and New York in the 1990s. Which team will seize the first game? Don’t miss our NBA playoffs betting preview.
NBA Playoff Preview: Boston Celtics at Miami Heat
(Tuesday, May 17)
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 8:30 pm ET
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami
TV: ESPN
Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub Boston / 104.5 FM The Team Miami
Live Stream: Sling TV
NBA Odds: Miami -2 / O/U 204 / Miami -130 / Boston +110
Why should you bet on the Celtics?
Boston resurrected their defense in two emphatic wins over Milwaukee in Games 6 and 7. The series could have been over in five games, but Boston was a split second short of a massive comeback win in Game 4, and then their defense fell apart in the fourth quarter of Game 5. Now Boston turns their attention to the team that beat them in the East finals in the bubble in 2020.
For Boston, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart have been elite on both offense and defense. Jayson Tatum has had some elite games as well, but there have also been some games when he has vanished. The Celtics will need Tatum to have the switch on for Game 1, but they also have a couple of wild cards, such as Grant Williams, who came out of nowhere to drop 27 on the Bucks in Game 7, and with Smart questionable with a mid-foot sprain, the Celtics will need all hands on deck against a rested Miami team.
Why should you put your money on the Heat?
Miami’s offense was average during the regular season, scoring the 18th most points in the NBA. Boston was able to feast on Milwaukee’s subpar three-point defense, but the Heat’s three-point defense ranked second in the NBA – just behind Boston. Jimmy Butler was the key in the Heat’s win over Philadelphia, motivated by the team’s choice to go with Tobias Harris several years ago and cut Butler loose. Butler needs to be just as driven in this series, and given how the press has lavished attention on Boston, the Heat should have a chip on their shoulder as a disrespected top seed.
Boston still does not have Robert Williams III at 100 percent, so Bam Adebayo should be able to control the paint. Tyler Herro, with his new Sixth Man of the Year trophy, needs to keep making big shots. If Kyle Lowry can bring a throwback performance, that would be even better. The Heat have not faced a defense as intense as Boston’s in these playoffs so far, so it will be interesting to see how they respond. Boston has the momentum, but Miami has had more days off after winning in six.
Final Score and Prediction
Boston’s path has been more challenging to this point, beating the KD-Kyrie duo and then dealing with the defending champions. Miami got to open with an Atlanta team that was not playoff-ready, and then they got to play a Philadelphia team that did not have Joel Embiid close to full strength. Boston won two of the three meetings with Miami during the season, and getting points for this game makes me go with them to steal home court in the opener, 106-101.
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