NBA playoffs: Celtics will feel the Heat in Game 3

As was destined to be the case, the polite and respectful words that preceded this second-round NBA playoff series between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have evaporated like an ice cube on a hot July sidewalk.

A very physical and emotional Game 1 in Miami saw a number of hard fouls on both sides and ultimately the ejection of Celtics’ forward Paul Pierce – following his second technical foul – in a mid-fourth-quarter altercation with Miami’s Dwyane Wade. In response, a sea of Heat fans in white, red and black t-shirts roared with approval and Boston never threatened for the rest of the game.

In the second game, Miami’s trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 80 points and exploited mediocre performances by Boston’s “Big Three”: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who could only tally 36 as a group.

And even though Boston managed to get five players in double-figures - with Rajon Rondo scoring a team-high 20 points, along with 12 assists – Miami’s starters have far outhustled Boston’s marquee players on both sides of the ball. As a result, Boston now owns a 0-2 record for this playoff round, which they have not encountered since their trio of Pierce, Garnett and Allen were introduced on Causeway Street prior to the 2007-2008 season.

Boston has simply been outplayed so far in this series – both physically and mentally. Miami has used a home-court advantage to take Boston out of its game, which places a premium on stingy defense (regularly keeping opponents under 100 points and often under 90), and a versatile yet consistently productive shooting game.

Not only that, the Heat have matured in their current configuration to where they feel they can come back from a deficit and hold a lead in the late minutes. In Game 2, with Boston knotting the game at 80 in the fourth quarter, Miami proceeded to go on a 14-0 run and never looked back. For most teams playing at a championship level, that’s a crucial factor. Miami clearly showed more poise and aggressiveness on their home floor. And it left the Celtics scratching their heads and wondering what they’ll need to do to counter.

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