Tag: 2023 Eastern Conference Finals

Will the Boston Celtics win Game 6 vs. the Miami Heat to force a Game 7 at home?

Can the Celtics win Game 6 to bring it back to Boston for a winner-take-all showdown and a potential date with the history books?

The Boston Celtics have firmly put themselves back in their Eastern Conference finals series vs. the Miami Heat via their efforts in Games 4 and 5, winning 110-97 at TD Garden to force a Game 6 in Miami. As the momentum in the series begins to slide toward the Celtics, the storied ball club finds itself in a familiar situation down 3-2, going on the road to play in a hostile environment.

Can the Celtics win Game 6 to bring it back to Boston for a winner-take-all showdown and a potential date with the history books? How will the injuries to Malcolm Brogdon and Gabe Vincent impact their respective teams’ backcourt rotations?

Join the hosts of the CLNS Media “Vitamin Cs” podcast with hosts Tim Sheils and Wayne “Breezie” Brown as they discuss the upcoming Game 6 tonight.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is a dominant defense back for the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals?

They are going to need it against this Heat squad if they want a chance at advancing.

From the start of Game 5 of the Boston Celtics‘ Eastern Conference finals series with the Miami Heat, the Celtics made their impact felt on the defensive end of the court. The ball club’s aggressive use of active hands and relentless defensive pressure forced a total of 16 Miami turnovers in the critical contest and created easy offense on the other end.

Is the defensive identity here to stay in what remains of the NBA’s 2023 postseason? Can the Celtics keep up the effort and the focus enough to make history and come back from being down 0-3 in the series? Or will the Heat find a way to get under Boston’s skin on the court once again and send them fishing?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report Postgame Show” podcast recently explained why Boston’s defense was so good in Game 5, and why they need to keep it up going into Game 6.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say about the Celtics’ defensive renaissance.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Miami’s Gabe Vincent to reportedly play in Game 6; Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon questionable

It is unclear what sort of condition Vincent is in given the sprain looked like it was not a minor one.

The Boston Celtics will be facing at least a marginally healthier version of the Miami Heat for Game 6 of their 2023 Eastern Conference finals series on Saturday night, with Yahoo Sports’ Ben Rohrbacher reporting that Heat point guard Gabe Vincent now likely to play in the contest after being listed as questionable for it the day before.

Vincent had rolled his ankle in the two ball club’s penultimate meeting and the first of the Celtics’ two wins in the series after having fallen down 0-3 vs. the Heat to start their second consecutive conference finals collision. The Miami floor general sat out all of Boston’s Game 6 victory, putting the brunt of the point guard duties on usually-reserve veteran guard Kyle Lowry.

It is unclear what sort of condition Vincent is in given the sprain looked like it was not a minor one.

But with fellow backcourt players Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo also out injured with hand and knee issues respectively, even a limited Vincent outing might help ease the pressure on Miami’s lack of guard depth.

On the Celtics side of the injury report, Malcolm Brogdon is listed as questionable for Game 6 after sitting for the second half of Game 5 with a tendon tear in his arm.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Dee Brown predicts the Boston Celtics will make history vs. the Miami Heat

The former Boston guard believes the Celtics can do the supposedly impossible, but first they need to win Game 6.

Ahead of a Game 6 showdown between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat in the 2023 East finals, Celtics legend Dee Brown, Los Angeles Lakers star Michael Cooper, and CLNS Media founder Nick Gelso talk Brown’s confidence in the Celtics as they gear up to make a historic comeback from being down 0-3. Never accomplished before in NBA history, Brown believes his former team is up to the challenge.

In this conversation, these basketball experts analyze the series and the strategies the Celtics could employ to flip the script against the Heat. Brown, a cherished figure in the Celtics family, donned the green and white from 1991 until he was traded to Toronto by coach Rick Pitino.

His time with the Celtics continues to influence the team’s ethos and tactics today.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what these giants of NBA history had to say about the situation the Celtics of today find themselves in as they teeter on the precipice of making history.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Did Boston’s Joe Mazzulla just have his two best games of the 2023 playoffs?

Throughout the last two games played by the Boston Celtics in the 2023 East finals, Joe Mazzulla has quietly improved his game management.

Throughout the last two games played by the Boston Celtics in the 2023 East finals, Joe Mazzulla has quietly improved his game management against the Miami Heat and their elite head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Mazzulla demonstrated notable improvements in how he has been handling rotation minutes to calling timeouts in the right spots of the game, pulling hurt players off the court before their injury cost the Celtics valuable possessions, and generally looked like the better coach against the very best in the modern NBA. While it is not yet clear he has what it takes to help shepherd Boston out of this round and back to the NBA Finals, it is clear that Mazzulla is a quick learner Boston ought to consider hanging onto regardless of how this season ends.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report Postgame Show” podcast had to say about Boston’s coaching in Games 4 and 5 of the ECF.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is it absurd to think the Boston Celtics might actually win the East finals?

They are now the 15th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after falling behind three games to none.

Could the Boston Celtics pull off what’s never been done before? The Celtics had their way in a 10-97 win over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals and now trail the Heat 3-2 after having gone down 0-3 in the series, a hole no team has ever emerged from victorious.

They are now the 15th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after falling behind three games to none and have fans and analysts starting to believe that there is actually a chance for the Celtics to break one of the league’s more enduring records over the decades.

Among them are the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast Bobby Manning and Sherrod Blakely, who made a case of why the pair think it is going to happen.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear why they think that is.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is the tide turning in the Boston Celtics – Miami Heat East finals?

The mounting pressure on the Miami Heat looked as if it was taking a toll on them in Game 5.

The mounting pressure on the Miami Heat looked as if it was taking a toll on them in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference finals series with the Boston Celtics as Boston looked like the team many had been expecting from the rip of the series in Games 4 and 5.

As a result, the Celtics managed to make a series out of things despite the Heat being up 3-2 in the series. Miami will need to make some changes as the Celtics have shown a different level of force and defensive intensity in the past two games. Jimmy Butler, who has been a key player for the Heat, needs to get back to his usual self for the team to have a chance to close out the series.

The Celtics have found ways to deal with the Heat’s zone defense and rediscovered their rhythm, making it a competitive series, and a topic of debate on a recent episode of the ESPN “Hoops Collective” podcast.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear their thoughts on the likelihood of a Celtics comeback from being down 0-3.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston Celtics at Miami Heat: How to watch, broadcast, lineups (Game 6)

Can the Celtics keep their season alive and force a Game 7 at home on the way to making history?

With the series shifting back to Florida for Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. can the Celtics keep their season alive and force a Game 7 at home on the way to making history?

If you happen to be looking for a way to watch the on-court action live on cable television or a local or national online streaming service that carries the game, keep reading while we get you up to speed on everything else you need to know about the game. Along with player injuries and likely starters for both teams,  we of course will have how to watch it listed below.

Let’s begin with the players available to play.

Can the Boston Celtics’ defense save their contention aspirations?

After coming out strong defensively to win Game 4 of the 2023 East finals, the Boston Celtics did the same thing in Game 5.

After coming out strong defensively to win Game 4 of the 2023 East finals, the Boston Celtics did the same thing in Game 5 at TD Garden to beat the Miami Heat 110-97, forcing a Game 6 in Miami.

Last season, the Celtics had an elite, league-leading defense that carried them all the way to the 2022 NBA Finals, making up for their offensive deficiencies. This season, it was the opposite, with hot 3-point shooting making up for lack of effort on defense, and soon enough the team lost that defensive identity. With their backs against the wall, it seems like the Celtics have rediscovered their defensive edge and intensity, forcing turnovers and getting out in transition to create easy looks and keep the Heat on their heels.

Bobby Manning of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast recently weighed in on the Celtics’ defense after Game 5 onsite at TD Garden.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to see how he feels about Boston’s defense being an unexpected x-factor in some circles.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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‘This is not a basketball game, this is religion,’ says Paul Pierce after Boston’s Game 5 win

“I’m a little surprised they went down 3-0, but they always play well when they’re in this position.” said Pierce.

If you ask Hall of Fame Boston Celtics wing Paul Pierce whether he expects Boston to win Game 6 of their 2023 East finals series with the Miami Heat, his response to Heavy’s Steve Bulpett ought to tell you everything you need to know. “Yeah, I’ll be here,” he replied. “Of course. What (do) you mean?”

“I’ll fly out and fly back. I’ll be out here Monday, for sure — 100%,” added the Truth. Pierce was in the house to witness the Celtics’ improbable Game 5 win over Miami as Boston inched closer to breaking one of the more durable records in NBA history — overcoming a 0-3 series deficit in the postseason.

“This is not a basketball game,” said Pierce of the looming contests in Miami and (hopefully) Boston. “This is religion.”

The Celtics certainly seemed to touch God a few times on Thursday night, the offense humming like a finely-tuned engine bolted onto a chassis of elite defense that served as the foundation not only for the win, but for the confidence that made it possible. “(T)heir backs are against the wall, then they respond,” opined Pierce.

“That’s how it’s been all season long. I’m not surprised they’re in this spot. I’m a little surprised they went down 3-0, but they always play well when they’re in this position.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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