The month of March has not been pretty for the Miami Heat, who are currently riding a season-worst five game losing streak. That skid has a high possibility of being extended on Friday night, as the reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics are in town.
The Heat have lost 12 of their last 16 games, and have plummeted all the way to the Eastern Conference’s ninth seed. They are just 1.5 games above the Chicago Bulls for the 10th seed and final play-in spot.
In what used to be arguably the best rivalry throughout the entire NBA in recent years, the Celtics have undoubtedly had Miami’s number of late.
Boston is already 2-0 against the Heat this season and will be looking to sweep the season series, despite a few of their key players landing on the injury report. Each of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White are all listed as questionable.
However, they have the depth, talent and coaching to still secure the win even if multiple of those starters are sidelined. For the Heat, it will take a monumental upset to avoid their inevitable six-game losing streak.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Alec Burks (back) — OUT
- Nikola Jovic (hand) — OUT
- Dru Smith (achilles) — OUT
- Josh Christopher (g-league) — OUT
Boston Celtics:
- Drew Peterson (g-league) — OUT
- Miles Norris (g-league) — OUT
- JD Davison (g-league) — OUT
- Jaylen Brown (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Al Horford (toe) — PROBABLE
- Jayson Tatum (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Derrick White (knee) — QUESTIONABLE
- Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — QUESTIONABLE
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Tyler Herro, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Boston Celtics:
- Jrue Holiday, G
- Derrick White, G
- Jaylen Brown, F
- Jayson Tatum, F
- Kristaps Porzingis, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:00 PM EST
- TV: NBA TV & FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
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In my opinion two things have accounted for the Tatum’s Celtics era recent success against the Heat.
Size and fast tempo.
In this evening game, I will encourage fans to watch two things from the Celtics.
For the Celtics, when it comes to the Heat it is all about speed. I do not see them play fast against other teams as they do against the Heat.
The only weak link in the Celtics fast tempo offense against the Heat is Jaylen Brown who has the tendency sometimes to put the ball on the floor and take one dribble too many. His ball handling skill is suspect and sometime betrays him.
I am eager to see how the Heat adjust.
Do you think Boston uses its speed particularly against us because they feel we don’t handle it well?
We may lose but I will still enjoy watching, even if I experience some distractability.