Tag: 2022 Eastern Conference finals

Celtics injury update: Marcus Smart reportedly eyeing Game 2 return; Al Horford later; Timelord not hurt

Can Boston stay healthy enough to beat the Heat?

The Boston Celtics may get a little help on the injury front if recent reporting from Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes pans out on the optimistic timeline mentioned for point guard Marcus Smart pans out. While Haynes doubts that big man Al Horford will return in time for Game 2 against the Miami Heat in the East finals, there is hope the Flower Mound native could, “dependent on how his foot responds to treatment over the next 36 hours.”

During Game 1 against the Heat on Tuesday, center Robert Williams III appeared to aggravate the same knee a collision with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo caused Timelord to miss much of the prior round of the Celtics’ playoffs — the same knee Williams had operated on near the end of the regular season for a meniscal tear. But speaking after the team practiced on Thursday, Williams revealed he’d merely cramped up.

“Basic fatigue, treatment-wise,” explained the Texas A&M product of his apparent injury. “Other than that, I’m straight ready to roll. It’s always a next man up mentality; we’ve been going through that all year.”

With Haynes’ reporting that Horford is unlikely to return before at least Game 3, Williams’ health moving forward is a critical part of Boston’s depth in the frontcourt.

Having Daniel Theis and Grant Williams provides at least some degree of cushion against a total disaster healthwise, but the remaining frontcourt players on Boston’s roster would not likely be up to the task of playing against a team like the Heat save in shorter bursts.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01g36xsd5waxsd69e890 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890-2b6d791d127b706ba669de4094dfb1a5.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=102747,102727,102673,102648]

[listicle id=102746]

[vertical-gallery id=102730]

[listicle id=102729]

Several members of Celtics traveling party reportedly tested positive for COVID recently

Coach Ime Udoka’s absence is at least for now considered a non-COVID illness while the team awaits Al Horford’s exit from the protocols.

The Boston Celtics have reportedly been dealing with positive COVID test results among their traveling party “over the last week” according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, which may be tied to veteran big man Al Horford’s entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols. As Windhorst notes on a recent episode of “Get Up!,” it will be Horford’s third such stint this year but also does not necessarily mean he has tested positive given close contact with any of the unnamed members of the traveling party might also trigger his entry.

Reading between lines drawn by the team’s policy to not comment on such matters, it seems probable Horford tested positive. The skepticism on Horford’s ability to return in time for Game 2 of their East finals vs. the Miami Heat in recent reporting from Yahoo’s Chris Haynes — who notes that there is an unlikely but “minuscule path in which the veteran big man could fulfill the necessary steps for clearance” — suggests the Florida product needs to produce the two negative tests required by the league in a 24-hour period to return to play.

Horford, who has publicly stated he is vaccinated, and perhaps also head coach Ime Udoka, who missed Thursday’s media availability session with a (at least for now) non-COVID illness, points to the importance of health in today’s NBA in ways which transcend historic concerns if nothing else.

In a city with surging local COVID infections, adopting a more stringent approach to precautionary practices may well prove critical to the team’s postseason ambitions.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01g36xsd5waxsd69e890 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890-2b6d791d127b706ba669de4094dfb1a5.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=102747,102727,102673,102648]

[listicle id=102746]

[vertical-gallery id=102730]

[listicle id=102729]

Three observations from Boston Celtics’ Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat

The Heat outscored the Celtics by 25 points in the third quarter to take control of the affair and hand Boston a 1-0 deficit in the series.

The Boston Celtics opened their2022 Eastern Conference Finals series with the Miami Heat on Tuesday. The Heat were looking to open the series with a victory on their home floor. The Celtics wanted to steal homecourt advantage from Miami with a Boston victory in Game 1. The Heat, however, outscored the Celtics by a game-shifting 25 points in the third quarter to take control of the affair and hand Boston a 1-0 deficit in the series.

The Celtics’ star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 53 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, and 5 steals in the loss. Miami star Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 41 points, 17 of which he earned at the charity stripe. Payton Pritchard and Tyler Herro each scored 18 points off the bench for their respective teams.

Here are 3 observations from the Celtics’ Game 1 loss.

Highlights from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat

Boston dropped Game 1 in Miami 118-107. Check out the highlights from a disappointing yet also encouraging loss for the Celtics.

The Boston Celtics dropped Game 1 in Miami to the Heat 118-107. The Celtics came out of the gate looking like the team to beat, but a disastrous start to the second half ultimately doomed Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the team. Boston lost the third period 39-14, and from there, Miami’s Jimmy Butler simply wouldn’t let his club falter.

Despite the tough loss, though, the Celtics looked pretty dang good at times. Without veterans Al Horford and Marcus Smart, they managed to play the Heat even on the glass. Robert Williams III came up big with two loud blocks. Payton Pritchard connected on a number of deep threes. And save a few too many turnovers, Tatum and Brown more than put their marks on the game.

Missed the action? Check out the game highlights via NBC Sports Boston. Game 2 tips off Thursday night in Miami.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01g36xsd5waxsd69e890 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890-2b6d791d127b706ba669de4094dfb1a5.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=102646,102635,102609,102595]

[listicle id=102651]

[vertical-gallery id=102576]

[listicle id=102658]

NBA, Celtics Twitter react to Boston’s 118-107 Game 1 loss in East finals

Fixable but frustrating mistakes in the third quarter sunk the Celtics in Game 1.

The Boston Celtics came out swinging in the first half of their Game 1 matchup with the Miami Heat in the East semis, jumping out to a big early lead. Then, the Celtics got punched in the mouth right back by Miami, who upped their physicality considerably in the second half, holding Boston scoreless for much of the third frame.

The chess match seems a solvable one for the Celtics, but the rollercoaster ride of the game kept NBA and Celtics Twitter engaged throughout the contest, with fans and analysts both riding the highs and lows of a very grimy first installment of what already looks like will be a tough series on both ends for Boston and Miami both.

Let’s take a look at what was percolating on the league’s unofficial social media Tuesday night on the way to the Celtics’ 118-107 Game 1 loss.

Celtics Lab 111: Can Boston beat the Miami Heat banged up?

With adverse injury news, the road to the NBA finals just got a lot tougher.

Any NBA postseason series is about matchups and adjustments, and in the case of the Boston Celtics‘ 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals series with the No. 1 seeded Miami Heat, they will likely prove critical elements to the team that finds a way to advance to the finals. The Celtics own the best defense in the league in the 2021-22 regular season, but the Heat are not far behind at No. 4 in that department, and both teams have an adaptable style of play and solid coaching staff to guide their respective teams on both ends.

We also knew coming into the series that health was going to be a factor with each team’s lead point guard dealing with injuries sustained earlier in the postseason — Marcus Smart with a sprained foot he hurt in Game 7 against the Brooklyn Nets in the East semis, and Kyle Lowry with lingering hamstring issues.

We did not, however, know that veteran big man Al Horford was going to end up back in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, or that center Robert Williams III is reportedly likely and able to play significant minutes against Miami.

Powered by RedCircle

On this episode of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast, your hosts Cameron Tabatabaie, Alex Goldberg, and Justin Quinn do their best to predict the East finals matchup between Boston and Miami, even as they learn about Boston’s injury woes mid-recording.

Powered by RedCircle

Buckle up, this is going to be a rough ride for the Celtics.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01g36xsd5waxsd69e890 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890/01g36xsd5waxsd69e890-2b6d791d127b706ba669de4094dfb1a5.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=102646,102635,102609,102595]

[listicle id=102651]

[vertical-gallery id=102576]

[listicle id=102658]

Celtics vs. Heat series predictions: Breaking down the Eastern Conference finals

How many games will the Celtics-Heat series last? We answer all the biggest questions ahead of Game 1.

The Boston Celtics are four wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010, but they’ll have to get through the No. 1 seed Miami Heat in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals.

Grant Williams emerged as the hero of Boston’s Game 7 win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The Heat have been resting since Thursday when they closed out the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. The Heat posted the best record in the East in the regular season and finished two games ahead of the No. 2 Celtics in the standings. Boston won the regular-season series 2-1; both victories over Miami were blowouts.

How will the Celtics-Heat series play out? Here are our predictions for seven series prop bets ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday.

Anonymous NBA scout, coach pick the Boston Celtics over the Miami Heat in 2022 East finals

Can Boston beat the Heat in their 2020 Orlando bubble rematch?

Two out of three isn’t bad, or so the saying goes. And two out of three anonymized experts consulted for a recent article by The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry and Josh Robbins on which of the four conference finals teams will be likely to advance picked the Boston Celtics to advance past the Miami Heat to the 2022 NBA Finals.

The devil is always in the details in such matters, and here, it involves a trio of experts consulted by the authors with the pedigree to know as well as anyone what might end up happening at this late stage of the 2022 postseason.

Mayberry and Robbins asked an NBA scout, coach, and executive which of the two Eastern Conference teams will be competing for a title, and this is what they said.

Previewing the Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 2022 Eastern Conference finals

Like the prior East finals collision in 2020 between Miami and Boston, this is likely to be a grimy series for both teams.

The Boston Celtics eliminated the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks with a 109-81 victory on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics will face the No.1 seeded Miami Heat beginning this Tuesday night in what has shaped up to be a rematch of the 2020 East finals.

For those of us with short memories, the Heat beat the Celtics in six games in the bubble that surreal summer in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the so-called “Heat Culture” (and truth be told, zone defense and exploitable Bostonian guards) proving too much for a less experienced Celtics squad down star forward Gordon Hayward to handle.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report podcast recently gave their previews of the 2020 East finals rematch, and the consensus seems to be that while by no means an easy series, that Boston is in a much better position to advance this time around.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[pickup_prop id=”24561″]

[mm-video type=video id=01g2zp11zveerb1jc6hg playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g2zp11zveerb1jc6hg/01g2zp11zveerb1jc6hg-77ebad4633c59c766eaba5b2f1f78a3a.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=102609,102605,102595,102593]

[listicle id=102598]

[vertical-gallery id=102576]

[listicle id=102577]

Boston Celtics at Miami Heat: 2022 NBA playoffs Game 1 Eastern Conference finals (5/17)

Everything you need to know about Tuesday’s Game 1 matchup between Boston and Miami.

The Boston Celtics head to Florida to face the East’s top-seeded Miami Heat at their home court of FTX Arena after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games on Sunday, a reprisal of their 2020 Orlando bubble Eastern Conference Finals series that saw the Celtics get sent home at the hands of the Heat. Can Boston get some comeuppance out of Miami this time around?

If you happen to be looking for a way to watch the action live on cable television or an online streaming service, keep reading while we get you up to speed on everything you need to know about the game.

Let’s begin with who ought to be available to play.