The Miami Heat were dealt with an abysmal 10-game losing skid just a few weeks back. The embarrassing stretch was the worst of coach Erik Spoelstra’s entire career. That is until they responded with an encouraging six consecutive wins of their own immediately after.
There were some significant statement victories in that span, most notably in taking down Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors and the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Miami stormed into TD Garden as significant betting underdogs, only to stun their formal rivals in the process. Interested in making another low-risk, high-reward bet? Check out the 3 x 3 basketball betting odds here!
Led by strong efforts from the All-Star duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, the Heat pulled off the 124-103 upset. It snapped a nine-game Celtics win streak, and avoided a Heat season series sweep in the hands of Boston.
Additionally, the Celtics won 14 of their last 15 games prior to the matchup. And even won 10 of their last 11 against Miami specifically. The Heat’s last win against them came in game 2 of the 2024 postseason first round series.
Boston undoubtedly has had their number over what used to be one of the greatest rivalries in the association during the peak of the Butler era in South Beach.
The Miami Heat secured arguably their biggest win of the entire 2024-25 campaign in Boston.
It was refreshing to see Miami finally get over the hump of taking down that Celtic’s juggernaut squad. Jayson Tatum was limited to just 16 points on a rough 4 of 17 shooting from the field. Adebayo was his primary defender most of the game, and the first time All-Defense catalyst kept the Celtic’s superstar in check.
The Heat big man had his versatility on full display once again— showcasing the ability to switch onto elite perimeter players and shut them down.
In the win, Adebayo did a little bit of everything, totaling 21 points, six assists and five rebounds on an efficient 9 of 15 shooting. Herro also impressed with a statline 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds. And that pairing got the necessary help from the supporting cast, as Miami had seven players scoring in double-digits on the night.
Veteran Kyle Anderson’s impact was huge, where he dropped 19 points on nearly 70% shooting off the bench.
Miami remained sizzling from 3-point range as a team, going 47% as a group on the night. Their uptick in long range efficiency is what has spearheaded the team’s breakthrough following the losing streak. But where do they really match up against the Celtic’s elite shooting prowess right now?
Well, the Heat may have secured the win, but as mentioned— Boston has truly had their number over recent years. The rivalry between both teams has steadily drifted away, with the Celtics ultimately getting the upper hand with a championship ring to show for all those former battles between the respective franchises.
Despite Miami showcasing their potential as a strong shooting team as of late, the Celtics are on a different level already.
It took the Heat to shoot the ball at an uber-efficient pace and play perfect basketball to secure the win. On the flip side, Boston put together an off night shooting wise compared to what they have displayed on a consistent basis over the last two years.
The Celtics shot just 28% from deep in that game. Whether that was stemmed from Miami’s defense, Boston’s struggles— or even a little bit of both, it’s fair to assume the latter based on the track record.
The Boston Celtics have statistically been one of the best 3-point shooting teams for two straight seasons.
For this season, Boston has gone 37% from 3-point range as a team. However, it is the volume that is most worthy of being discussed.
They are attempting a league-high 48.3 attempts per night. It has truly been a historic shooting pace, and it’s put the entire association on notice.
In fact, Spoelstra mentioned heading into this season that his main priority was to see the Heat up their 3-point volume. The Celtics have created an architecture of the new modern day style of basketball, and they have a championship to show for it now.
This could even go all the way back to Stephen Curry’s emergence as an all-time long range shooter over a decade ago. The three-ball has taken the entire game by storm, and it is easier said than done to replicate that success that each Curry himself and the world champion Celtics have displayed in recent years.
Luckily for the Heat, there is one crucial player that has seemed to get the memo in Herro.
The six-year combo guard has submitted the greatest season of his entire career, and it led to his first ever All-Star nod and the title of 3-point champion at this year’s All-Star weekend.
Herro is attempting nearly nine attempts from deep on the season, which has shattered his previous career-high in that regard. The 25 year-old sharpshooter came into the year looking to alter his shot diet for the better of himself and the Heat as a team.
He has adjusted to strictly 3-pointers and high quality looks at the rim to make up for the majority of his shot chart. The results have been impressive, including career-high’s in nearly every statistical category. Herro is putting up 23.9 points, 5.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals on 47/37/88 shooting splits.
Boston’s team-wide shooting volume has set the tone for what the future of the modern league will look like moving forward. Regardless of the Heat stealing a victory in their last matchup, the Celtics offense will have the edge over Miami— even at their best— until proven otherwise.
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Why y’all talkin about Boston? If Miami makes it past the play-in round, the Heat will get the #8 spot and play against #1 Cleveland. If they beat Cleveland, they will play the winner of Indiana vs Milwaukee. Only if they win those two series would they face Boston, assuming the Celtics get by their first two opponents (the 7th seed team plus the winner of the Detroit vs New York series).
P.S. After beating Boston on April 2nd, Miami ended the regular season 2-4, beating two tanking teams, the 76ers and the Pelicans.
Lost to the wizards dgaf who played and who didn’t play that’s embarrassing.
It was a rhetorical question. Like most rhetorical questions, they are abstract and do not have to address reality. The main reason, whyI pondered if this was a trick question in my earlier comment.
What are you smoking?
Hope this is not a trap question.
The Celtics have a more fierce offense without question. Can the Heat match it? Yes.
For the Heat to be very competitive against the Celtics, the Heat have to do the following:
Note: When we talk about Portzingis and Luke, we are talking about 7 footers! That is a clear statement from a team, when she puts two 7 footers on the floor at the same time.
Very well thought out study. However, it reinforces the reasons I feel it would be highly unlikely (though nothing is impossible) that the Heat could beat the Celtics in this year’s playoffs.
Not likely with 7 games.
playoffs benches shortened let the great 8 out.bam on tatum all fn night wiggins on brown if he plays/ware on injorzingis ty on white dawg on holiday.i like those matchups .burks pritchard slo mo al hh on anybody under 6 7 .osunds like a gr8 gr8 matchup.cleve bam ware allen mobley ,wiggy hh donovan dawg garland bam hunter mobley.gr8 gr8 matchup just play the great 8 spo bot.defense defense defense