J-Speaks: Beantown Meets South Beach In 2020 NBA Eastern Conference Finals

The 2020 NBA Eastern Conference Finals will not feature the two-time No. 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference in the Milwaukee Bucks. It will not feature the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors. Instead, the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2020 NBA Finals in Orlando, FL will be decided between the team that just knocked off the defending champs hoping their third crack in the last four seasons at winning the East will be the charm against the boys from South Beach, who are looking for their first trip to The Finals since 2014.

While there would have been plenty of juice to quench the thirst of basketball fans had either the Raptors or Bucks reached one half of the NBA’s Final Four, the No. 3 Seeded Boston Celtics against the No. 5 Seeded Miami Heat will provide plenty of juice and contrast for basketball fans in a series that figures to go the distance.

The Celtics are back in the East Finals after a one-year absence because of their dynamic threesome in first-time All-Star Jayson Tatum (25.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 41.9 3-Pt.%), Jaylen Brown (21.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 spg), and Kemba Walker (19.6 ppg, 5.3 apg, 45.1 FG%), who have literally and figuratively carried them at the offensive end.

Tatum specifically has risen his game to another level from the First-Round against the 76ers, where the Celtics swept their Atlantic Division rivals 4-0 to making big plays at big moments in the Semifinals against the defending champion Raptors averaging 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists, on 37.0 percent from three-point range in the seven games.

He finished the series with four straight double-doubles, including his effort of 29 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists two steals and two blocks on 4 for shooting from three-point range in the 125-122 double-overtime loss in Game 6 last Wednesday night on ESPN that squared the series at 3-3. Tatum registered 29 points again, with 18 of those 29 coming in the second half, with 12 rebounds and seven assists on 4 for 8 shooting from three-point range again in the 92-87 win in the clinching Game 7 at the Raptors on Friday night on TNT. Brown had 21 points, eight boards and four steals on 10 for 17 shooting as well in Game 7 for the Celtics.

While Tatum had a great stat line in Game 7, his biggest rebound came late in the game when he grabbed an offensive rebound off the second missed free throw by rookie Grant Williams, where he got fouled and split a pair at the line that gave the Celtics a 90-87 lead, which they would preserve.

“That’s’ what we do. If you want to survive and advance in the playoffs, you got to get dirty and do whatever it takes. And that’s what we try to do, and we got the win,” Tatum said to TNT’s Rebecca Haarlow after the win.

As impressive as Tatum, Brown, and Walker have been for the C’s so far this postseason, they would not be one round away from The Finals without the contributions of now back-to-back NBA All-Defensive First-Team selection Marcus Smart (13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.2 apg) and starting center Daniel Theis (9.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 49.4 FG%).

When the Celtics lost All-Star forward Gordon Hayward to a Grade 3 right ankle sprain in the early part of the opening-round against the 76ers, the Celtics needed to find scoring from another place other than their main three of Tatum, Brown, and Walker. Smart provided that along with his stellar defense and hustle, which were on full display in the Semis against the Raptors, particularly in the Game 7 clincher.

To put this into context, Smart in the First-Round against the 76ers averaged 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and just 2.5 assists, going just 2 for 15 from three-point range but did average 1.5 steals.

He began the Semis against the Raptors with 21 points and six rebounds going 5 for 9 from three-point range in the 112-94 blowout win in Game 1 on Aug. 30 on ESPN. In the aforementioned Game 6 loss, Smart had the second triple-double of his career with a series-high 23 points, 10 assists, 11 rebounds going 6 for 11 from three-point range, which matched his efforts from distance in the Game 2 win, where he had 16 for his 19 points in the fourth quarter on 5 for 6 from three-point range. While he registered 16 point and six boards in Game 7, going just 2 for 10 from three-point range, Smart had three steals and blocked the breakaway layup attempt of the Raptors Norman Powell with under a minute left in regulation.

While his number have not been eyepopping for head coach Brad Steven’s squad, Theis has been steady for the C’s in the middle on both ends. He had 13 points and 15 rebounds in the aforementioned Game 1 victory in the Semis. Registered 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in the Celtics 111-89 win in Game 5 at the Raptors that put them up 3-2 in the series on Sept 7 on TNT. He followed that up with 18 points and seven boards in the aforementioned Game 6 loss in double-overtime. On five occasions so far this postseason, Theis has registered two or more block shots.

“Theis has been unbelievable for us all season, and you know, Smart is First-Team All-Defense. The best defender in the league in my opinion,” Tatum said to “Inside the NBA” on TNT crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal after the Game 7 win. “He made the play of the series getting that block on Powell 30-something seconds left.”

“And you know, Smart just makes those plays that don’t really show up in the stat book. But, you know, can change a series, change the dynamic of a game, and if you’re going to war, if you’re going into a Game 7, that’s who you want on your team.”

The Celtics upcoming series opponent have their own version of Smart, who is a better score but as much of a leader in five-time All-Star and four-time NBA All-Defensive Second-Team selection in Jimmy Butler (21.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.1 spg, 47.7 FG%, 50.0 3-Pt.%), who has fit in like a glove in his first season with the Heat after his first eight seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and the previously mentioned 76ers. 

Before this year’s NBA Playoffs, the former late First-Round pick out of the University of Marquette in 2011 had not earned the precise answer to the question of “Can you win a title if Butler is your best player?”

The answer to that question for this postseason is “yes” because he is the perfect fit for a team who is four wins away from the chance to compete for their fourth title in franchise history thanks to the tenacity and resourcefulness of Butler, who has emerged as the team’s cornerstone during the Heat’s restart with as much of his will as his skill set and as much by his tenacity and talent.

Along with the play and leadership Butler has brought to the Heat in the first two rounds of this postseason, All-Star guard Goran Dragic (21.1 ppg, 4.7 apg, 45.8 FG%, 38.1 3-Pt.%), who battled injuries earlier in the season before the hiatus, and spent much of this season coming off the bench has been nothing short of sensational in the postseason.

Butler and Dragic got the Heat’s postseason off to the right start combining for 24 of the team’s 32 fourth quarter points in their 113-101 win at the Pacers in their opening-round series on Aug. 18 on TNT.

In the 4-0 sweep of the Pacers, Dragic averaged 22.8 points and five assists, on 48.0 percent from the field and 40.3 three-point percentage. Butler averaged 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals on 57.1 percent from three-point range.

Not a whole lot of people gave the Heat a chance in the Semis against the No. 1 Seeded Bucks, despite that they won the season series 2-1 and they had the formula of slowing down the more than likely back-to-back Kia MVP in perennial All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Heat rose to the moment again led by Butler and Dragic, who averaged 23.4 and 19.8 points respectably to the lead the Heat in the Semis winning Game 1 (115-104) and Game 3 (115-100) by double-digits and winning Game 2 in a nail biter (116-114) to put the top seeded Bucks in a 0-3 series hole.

While the Bucks avoided being swept winning Game 4 (118-115) in overtime on Sept. 6 on ABC, without Antetokounmpo from early in the second quarter on because of a right ankle sprain, the Heat took down the Bucks in Game 5 two nights later 103-94.

“It was tough. They’re a really good team. Obviously, they missed their MVP but we knew we were going to have to get one out of the mud and I think this was the one,” Butler, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the Game 5 clincher said to Haarlow after the win. “So, this was the best win we’ve had as of late.”  

Along with the play of Butler and Dragic, the Heat are four wins away from The Finals thanks to the stellar play on both ends from youngsters in first-time All-Star and runner-up for Kia Most Improved Player Bam Adebayo (16.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 4.8 apg, 54.1 FG%), rookie Tyler Herro (14.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 40.0 3-Pt.%), and second-year sharp-shooter Duncan Robinson (10.6 ppg, 39.3 3-Pt.%), and veterans Jae Crowder (12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 40.0 3-Pt.%), Kelly Olynyk (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 55.6 FG%, 36.4 3-Pt.%), three-time NBA champion and 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, and Kia Rookie of the Year runner-up Kendrick Nunn.

During the regular season, the Celtics took two of the three meetings, with their victories of 112-93 and 109-101 coming on Dec. 4, 2019 and Jan. 28 respectably before the 4.5-month hiatus because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

The Heat’s lone win (112-106) came during the seeding games on Aug. 4, without Butler because of a sore right ankle. Adebayo in the win had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Robinson also scored 21 points going 5 for 11 from three-point range. Dragic contributed 20 points, while Olynyk had 15 points, six boards, eight assists and two steals. Herro had 11 points on 3 for 7 from three-point range.

“At the end of the day, we’re a totally different team. Certainly, than the first time we played them in December [2019], and they’re a much different team,” Coach Spoelstra said. “That’s what you expect out of, you know, high quality, high level teams.”

The Heat’s advantage coming into the East Finals will be their depth and versatility of the aforementioned Adebayo, Olynyk, Crowder, Robinson, Iguodala, Nunn, and Herro.

The Celtics though have held their own with a short rotation that has consisted of the likes of reserves Brad Wanamaker, Robert Williams III, the aforementioned Grant Williams, and Semi Ojeleye getting spot duty.

One player that could make a difference in this series if called upon is reserve center Enes Kanter because of his ability to score and rebound, especially on the glass against Adebayo, Crowder, and Olynyk.

Another player that could tip the scales for the C’s is the aforementioned Hayward (17.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.1 apg, 50 FG% regular season), who is now out of quarantine after returning to the Orlando campus not too long ago. His recovery has been slow but he has been working with the team’s training staff but has not been cleared for full contact yet. The team hopes he can play at some point in the East Finals, which would provide yet another offensive threat against the Heat defense.

“I think he’ll be back at some point in the series, but I don’t know when,” Coach Stevens said.  

The one stat that will make the difference in who moves on to The Finals and who goes home in this series is who can consistently light a match from three-point range.

During the regular season, the Heat ranked No. 2 in three-point percentage at 37.9 percent and are ranked No. 3 so far this postseason.

The Celtics during the regular season ranked second in three-point percentage allowed at 34.0 percent and are No. 1 during the playoffs at 30.5 percent.

In the Semis against the Raptors, the Celtics shot 39 percent from three-point range in the three wins entering Game 7 and just 32 percent in the three defeats.

While they shot just 9 for 38 (23.7 percent from three-point range in their Game 7 triumph at the defending champions, they held the Raptors to just 8 for 28 from three-point range (28.6 percent). That three-point defense shadowed a poor night from the foul line by the C’s who went just 13 for 23 in Game 7.

For the series, the Celtics made 87 three-pointers, the second most in a single series in the storied history for the 17-time NBA champions. They made 94 threes in their seven-games series win versus the Washington Wizards in the 2017 East Semis.  

The Celtics know that if they have any chance of beating the Heat, they must make their threes and their free throws.

This series the Celtics feel will prepare them for the kind of physicality and resourcefulness the Heat will bring to the floor in this upcoming series against them.

“They’re bigger than us for the most part and they’re a great team, well coached,” Tatum said. “Got some great players, and they compete. So, I think Toronto was a great test for use because Toronto, they compete as hard as anybody, and they make you bring it every night.”

Walker, concurred by saying about what the Heat did in the Semis against the Bucks, “Those guys, they balled last series, man. Those guys are nothing to play with.”

The advantage the Heat have entering this series is the fact that they believe in themselves and no matter whose in front of them as long as they play hard on both ends, share the ball and understand the game plan, they will land on the winning side of this series.

“There are adjustments that need to be made but I don’t know what percentage-70, 80 percent of what you do and who you are is already established. And the further you get along, like deeper the series goes, there’s fewer surprises,” Coach Spoelstra said. “Then it comes about what it’s supposed to be about, and that’s competition.”  

When this season began, the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat were not a top the list of many that follow basketball as the two teams that would tangle for who would represent the Eastern Conference in the 2020 NBA Finals. That as they say is why they play the game, and both the Heat and Celtics have played the game well this postseason, registering records of 8-1 for the Heat and 8-3 for the Celtics respectably through the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs.

The Heat are the third team in NBA playoff history seeded No. 5 or lower to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the last 25 seasons. This will be their seventh trip to the East Finals since 2005, which is the most by any team in the East in that span and is tied with the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs for the most in “The Association” in that span as well. They are trying to reach The Finals for the first time since 2014, where they lost in five games to the Spurs.

“If you’re not ready for this game. I mean’ it’s the Eastern Conference Finals, there’s something wrong with you, you know?” Dragic said. “Everybody’s going to, you know, be pumped. Everybody’s going to give 100 percent on the floor. So, that’s going to be something that’s going to be really exciting.”

For the Celtics, this will be their third crack at winning the Eastern Conference in the last four seasons. Now Los Angeles Lakers’ four-time Kia MVP and three-time NBA champion LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers blocked their path to their 18^th title in franchise history in 2017 and 2018 as they lost in five and seven games respectably. The Celtics title run ended at the Bucks in 2019 East Semis in five games.

While there is no James or Antetokounmpo in their path this time around, the Heat are not to be estimated, and the Celtics know their chance at adding to the league’s all-time best 17 Larry O’Brien trophy case will not be an easy task. But they did not come this far just to back down now.

“We always think we’re going to win every game we play. You know, we didn’t come down here just for the First or Second-Round,” Tatum said. “We really, don’t pay attention to the outside noise, whether we’re favored or not. That doesn’t matter to us. It’s all about the guys in that locker room. We know what we’re capable of. We’re going to go out there and do it.”  

The Heat also understand that adding a fourth Larry O’Brien trophy to their case will not be easy either. But they are up for the challenge.

“We all think that we’re the better team. We all think that we’re supposed to be here. We just out there hooping, having fun, [and] competing,” Butler said.

“It’s kind of like whose in our way next. You can’t go around them. You got to go through them. So, for us right now, it’s the Boston Celtics.”  

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 8/4/2020 scores via www.nba.com;  8/18/2020 2 a.m. ESPN news crawl and “Sportscenter” from Los Angeles, CA with Neil Everett and Stan Verrett; 9/12/2020 9 p.m. East Semis Game 7 “Boston Celtics versus Toronto Raptors,” on TNT with Brian Anderson, Stan Van Gundy, and Rebecca Haarlow; 9/11/2020 11:30 p.m. “Inside the NBA,” presented by Kia on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 9/12/2020 7 p.m. “NBA Countdown” on ESPN, presented by Mountain Dew with Maria Taylor, Jalen Rose, Jay Williams, and Stephen A. Smith; 9/12/2020 www.nba.com story, “Series Preview: Can Miami’s Tenacity Stop Boston’s Talent?” by Steve Aschburner; 9/13/2020 2:30 a.m. NBATV’s “Playoff Central Live,” brought to you by AT&T 5G with Ro Parrish, Kevin McHale, and Sam Mitchell; https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/bos; https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/mia; https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2020-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-html; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boston_Celtics_seasons; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Butler.