NBA Tips – Wednesday, Sep 16

Boston took two of three games from the Miami Heat during the regular season and enters the Eastern Conference finals as the favorite despite Miami’s unblemished record in the 2020 playoffs. Part of the reason many pundits are backing Boston is the play of Marcus Smart, a fantastic on-ball defender who will draw Jimmy Butler in one-on-one matchups. With Butler clamped down, the Heat must spread the scoring around. That hasn’t been an issue in these playoffs. Butler was a minus-18 in plus-minus in the elimination game against the Milwaukee Bucks until the late fourth quarter free throw parade began. Jae Crowder, Tyler Herro and Goran Dragic have played consistent supporting roles for Miami with Bam Adebayo emerging as a player the Celtics must contain to advance. Where Boston stressed the Toronto Raptors in their seven-game series is with wing scoring and slashing from Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The drive-and-kick game created chances for rookie Grant Williams and Smart to score from point-blank range. Williams can only shoot it from deep, which could draw Adebayo out of the paint and open the lane for Boston’s Big Three. Gordon Hayward (right ankle) is out for Game 1 but could be ready to return before the end of the best-of-seven series.