4 notes from the Miami Heat’s loss to the Boston Celtics

The Miami Heat blew a 24 point lead against the Boston Celtics, but will still have homecourt in the playoffs.

After leading 62-38 at halftime, the Miami Heat scored a franchise-low five points in the third quarter on their way to blowing a game that would have guaranteed them the No. 3 seed and homecourt advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Luckily for them, they’ll still get it.

Despite falling to the Celtics 98-88 Wednesday, the Heat will still get the No. 3 seed thanks to the Washington Wizards beating the Atlanta Hawks.

But, for Miami, it’s a bad way to fall backwards into the post-season against another playoff team. The Celtics went on a 37-4 run in the second half to take the lead and eventually win the game. After a terrifically played first half, the Heat seemed confused on defense and flustered on offense and never truly found an answer. It leads to some questions that the Heat will have to answer in the playoffs. For example:

1. Is Josh McRoberts the backup center?

The short answer? Nah.

Look, I get the idea. Erik Spoelstra wants to reinsert Hassan Whiteside in the starting lineup and add a dose of small ball to what has been an energetic second unit headlined by Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson.

But it hasn’t worked. The problem with McRoberts as a small-ball 5 is that he’s not a center. He does zero center things. He doesn’t have the size, hasn’t set great screens and, even if he does, defenses help off of him because he is a reluctant shooter. He causes more harm than good at center.

Look, it’s not his fault. He’s just not a center. He passes well, rebounds well and can handle the ball. He’s a Luol Deng insurance policy on this roster. If Deng goes down, he can grab boards and push the ball down the court. That’s clearly been a welcomed thing in Miami’s lineup. Maybe McRoberts can play over a cold Gerald Green in this regard, just not at center.

Miami is better off going back to Amar’e Stoudemire as its second center, who doesn’t take anything off the table on offense and has been mostly fine on defense.

2. Blowing leads is a concern

From the Los Angeles Lakers loss, to the nearly blowing a lead to the Sacramento Kings, to tonight against the Boston Celtics and plenty of other games through the last 82, the Heat have a problem with blowing leads.

That will be something Erik Spoelstra goes back to the drawing board to figure out, but let me throw something out.

Put Whiteside back on the bench.

This is less to do with Whiteside, and more to do with the lack of punch off the bench. Miami needs a go-to scoring option and an identity to its second unit, and Whiteside was just that. The starting unit can survive with Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson just fine. Smooth out the balance of this roster. It’s about winning the full 48 minutes, not just the first 10.

3. Joe Cool

It may be hard to remember how good the Heat looked in that first half, but they did. And Joe Johnson was the headliner.

Between the second half against the Pistons and the first half tonight against the Celtics, Johnson put together a run that helped the Heat take the No. 3 seed in the East.

If Johnson can play like that in the post-season, he takes the Heat to another level and gives them a real chance.

4. Playoffs

The Heat will host the Charlotte Hornets in the first round. The Hawks will host the Celtics in the 4-5 series. The Cavaliers will host the Pistons and Raptors will host the Pacers.