Boston continues to win 'the battles' versus Heat

First Quarter 53 points

The Celtics shot 71.4% in the first quarter on the way to 53 points. The Heat shot 37.5%. With the score at 29-30 in favor of Miami, the Celtics raised the level of competition. By the time the quarter ended, the Celtics scored 24 points and suffocated the Heat’s offense. They shot 11 of 14 from three-point range and Jaylen Brown had 20 points.

The Heat lead the NBA in pace but their net rating is 1.9. They give up as much points as they score. The top 3 teams in the NBA in Defensive rating? The Thunder, Spurs and Pistons. The Heat are a lot better on offense than previous seasons “as a team.” But, as with Dwayne Wade, Jimmy Butler or Lebron, there is a player that acts as a catalyst that the Heat do not have.

Should the Heat tank? or face Celtics again in the playoffs?

The “tanking” approach that many teams (Indiana, Utah, Washington) follow this season doesn’t apply to Miami. The Heat are very committed to competing, but as per Ira Winderman in the Sun Sentinel, a successful play-in tournament would lead to the seventh seed (and a matchup with Boston.) It wouldn’t be such a stretch to play all the younger players and bravely fall out of the play-in tournament.

Norman Powell is injured and looking very aged. He and Tyler Herro score a lot but play poorly defensively. Kel’el Ware has “rammed into a sophomore wall” with his development. Nikola Jovic is not a good player for the Heat team and would be better on another team. The Heat have earned the right gracefully compete but fall short or “tank” and fall completely.