Avoid: Boston Celtics
The Celtics are the team to avoid in the playoffs. If the Heat end up facing the Celtics in the first round, they could be in danger of being sent home early.
The Heat and the Celtics have faced each other in three of the last four Conference Finals, standing in the way of each other from reaching the NBA Finals. The Heat have won two out of the three matchups.
This Celtics team is not like any of the teams the Heat have previously faced. This team is more talented and more experienced than any Celtics team this version of the Miami Heat has faced. Jayson Tatum looks more comfortable on the court and is making higher IQ decisions. While his scoring has gone down from last season, his assists have increased slightly and he has helped lead the Celtics to the best record in the NBA. The team will soon reach the 60-win mark, the sign of a truly elite team.
The additions that make the Celtics so hard to defeat are Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis in particular is a nightmare matchup for the Heat, who don’t truly have the personnel to guard Porzingis, a 7-foot, floor-spacing giant. All five starters for Boston are solid defensively, so it is tough to attack one matchup. Boston is not the team you want to face in the playoffs this year.