If everything goes according to plan, the Miami Heat should be one of the best teams in the East this year. That doesn’t mean there is no competition, though.
The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are both expected to be towards the top of the conference. Meanwhile, there should be some stiff competition throughout as well.
Having Kyle Lowry on the team certainly elevates their ceiling, but other teams stacked up, too. Everyone seemed to be wheeling and dealing this summer in an attempt to improve.
Well, one conference rival seemed to have changed things up quite a bit – the Boston Celtics. How do the Miami Heat stack up against the Celtics this upcoming season?
Miami Heat Eastern Conference roundup: The Boston Celtics
Latest news
The Boston Celtics have been very busy this offseason as Brad Stevens begins his reign as President of Basketball Operations. Lately, his mind has been on one thing and one thing only – extensions.
He has handed out three different extensions in the past couple of weeks. Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Josh Richardson all received contract extensions that will keep them with the team.
Smart’s extension is the most expensive. It is a four-year, $77 million contract that keeps the fan-favorite guard in Boston, the city which he has never left thus far.
As for Williams and Richardson, they were both for around the same price (per year). Williams earned a four-year, $54 million extension, while Richardson got one year added on to his deal for around $12 million.
All three of these players will play a crucial role for the C’s this upcoming season. Depending on how things shake out, they might all end up in the starting lineup.
Miami Heat Eastern Conference roundup: The Boston Celtics
Key additions
Despite having little cap space, the Boston Celtics still managed to make some solid additions to the team this summer. They made a bunch of trades that should set them up nicely for this season.
First and foremost, they brought back Al Horford, who played some of his best basketball in Boston. He should be able to play quality minutes while also mentoring Robert Williams.
The C’s also traded for Josh Richardson, who they subsequently extended. They acquired him from the Mavericks using the last part of the Gordon Hayward extension.
Boston signed Dennis Schroder for $5.9 million as well. He is only on a one-year deal, but he should be able to get a ton of minutes.
Lastly, the Celtics added a new head coach in Ime Udoka. He has previous coaching experience as an assistant in San Antonio, Philadelphia, and most recently Brooklyn.
Key subtractions
The Celtics made some solid additions, but they also parted ways with some key pieces. Two of their starters from last season ended up leaving them.
Both Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier parted ways with the Celtics this offseason but in different ways. Regardless, they somehow ended up on the same team – the New York Knicks.
Boston traded Walker’s massive contract away and received Horford in return. Meanwhile, Fournier simply left in free agency, choosing to sign with New York instead.
Danny Ainge also left the organization this summer, retiring from his post as President of Basketball Operations. However, he’ll still always be a part of the Celtics family.
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.