NBA: Time for the Heat to Finish Off the Celtics

Al Dannity says Boston’s day is done. Having won Game 4 in OT, the Miami Heat should finish the job at home tonight.

Heroism only goes so far
Rajon Rondo’s decision to re-insert himself into Game 3 has been, without question, the gutsiest act of the NBA Playoffs this year. It was up there with Willis Reed. Rondo proved himself to be a warrior and showed that injury or no he wouldn’t give in.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, their banged up point guard can only do so much to counter the clear gulf in talent present in this series. Ever since Boston traded Kendrick Perkins to OKC, the Celtics have lost their physical advantage over Miami. Nenad Krstic and Jermaine O’Neal are fine role players but they don’t fit the needs of the Celtics right now. Boston needs bangers, men who can out-muscle Miami’s big three. With Shaq limited to being a virtual non-factor, the Celtics simply don’t have the bodies required to compete over the course of a full series.

Still a three man team
While the bit parts around Miami’s Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James are starting to look more relevant, the stats say otherwise. In the clutch it’s still the big three getting all the work done. They accounted for 80 percent of the Heat’s field goals in Game 4, 80 percent of their shots taken, 100 percent of their free throws, and 78 percent of their rebounds. NBA betting fans know that’s a huge weight to place on three players’ shoulders but, to their credit, the big guns are showing they have what it takes to step up in the playoffs.

Closing time
The process is near completion. Miami’s evolution from a collaboration of superstars and scraps to championship contender has been far from smooth. It took a long time for the big three to find their rhythm, especially when up against disciplined and experienced opponents. Leadership was lacking for large parts of the year but King James and his princes finally stepped up.

When Erik Spoelstra said his players were crying, it would have been easy for LBJ to bash his coach but he didn’t. A real king knows when to take a stand. He rowed in behind Spoelstra and after that things started to fall into place. Miami could still do with getting more out of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mike Bibby but they can win without these spare parts being at their best. The next stage will be tougher but I have no doubt they will get a chance to prove their critics wrong. The Celtics old guard will have their last stand tonight; in the morning the Heat will march onwards.