Miami Heat Eastern Conference roundup: The Boston Celtics
How the Miami Heat stack up
Based on the additions each team made this summer, this should be a very fun rivalry to watch. However, the Heat match up pretty well against the C’s.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both elite scorers, but Miami has the necessary defenders to counteract them. It’s not a perfect science by any means, but they should be able to contain them well.
Jimmy Butler and PJ Tucker are two of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA. Sticking those two on Tatum and Brown should work in Miami’s favor.
As for the starting lineups as a whole, the Heat seem to have an edge. Both teams have two All-Stars, but past that, Miami’s other three players fit much better.
Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, and PJ Tucker outmatch Marcus Smart, Josh Richardson, and Robert Williams. The talent levels may be close, but in terms of team fit, the Heat definitely hold the advantage.
Then there are the benches. Miami has better depth than the Celtics, who will be depending on primarily young players to run their second unit.
The two teams are closer in talent than some people might think, but as a whole, Miami seems to have the edge going into the season.
Watching these two teams battle is sure to be very entertaining. Hopefully, the Miami Heat can take them down just like LeBron James did a decade ago.