Series Preview and Pregame Analysis: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
It was Jayson Tatum stepping up again for the Celtics as the green took down Philly in Game 7 in Boston. Miami travels to TD Garden for Game 1, and Jimmy Butler and company enter as big underdogs. ESPN projects Miami winning this series at just three percent.
The Miami Heat have a 3% chance of reaching the NBA Finals, according to ESPN Analytics 😮 pic.twitter.com/CbeoYzZQOx
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2023
For a team that has been counted out many times this year, Miami looks to be counted out again this series. The Celtics are big favorites, according to Vegas, but 3 percent, according to ESPN, is somewhat insulting to Miami.
South Florida has been ready for all challenges throughout the playoffs, as the Miami Heat — and Florida Panthers — cannot be stopped in the first two rounds of the postseason. Florida fans have been enjoying a lot of sports success recently, but they are
Malcolm Brogdon had the following praise about Al Horford: “I think the guy we followed all season, our leader is Al Horford … You know you have a special leader when guys like Jayson Tatum, a top-five player in the world, Jaylen Brown, another top player in the world, listen to him. … They want his feedback.”
Horford is in his second stint in Boston, and he finally made the NBA Finals with a similar Celtics core last year. This season, Horford’s shot total decreased, but his impact has not. The 36-year-old big man has started all 13 of Boston’s playoff games thus far. He turns 37 on June 3, and he hopes to be in the Finals at that time.
All lines and odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Betting Info for Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
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Moneyline: Celtics (-375)
Heat (+290)
Spread: Celtics -8.5 (-105)
Heat +8.5 (-115)
Total: Over 210.5 (-115)
Picks and Predictions for the Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
Boston Celtics ML (-375)
Here we go again for the Celtics in the 2023 NBA postseason, as they are the title favorites for yet another round. The second-round series did not go as planned, but Jayson Tatum stepped up in one of the best Game 7 performances in NBA history.
Can Miami put up a fight against Boston? The Heat will absolutely not go down swinging, so it should be a closely-contested series. Once again the Celtics are big favorites, and the moneyline seems a good way to go.
Final Game Prediction, Celtics vs. Heat
Boston Celtics ML (-375)