The Miami Heat were defeated in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on their home court. With a 25-point victory, the Boston Celtics easily outclassed them. The Celtics got off to a great shooting start, and the Heat’s offensive difficulties continued as the Celtics managed to keep all Heat players other than Jimmy Butler in check.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have established themselves as a top defensive team this season, and they were bound to figure out a way to keep the Heat from scoring. The Heat do not have a lot of scoring talent, so they rely on well-executed team sets or isolated plays from Jimmy Butler or Tyler Herro to score.
Coach Spoelstra is well aware of the high level of play in the ECF, having never lost one. In contrast, the Celtics haven’t won an ECF series since 2010. Coach thinks his squad needs to figure out Boston and said as much after Game 2:
“When you get to this point of the Conference Finals, you just have very good teams. You have teams without many weaknesses and it is great competition. This only count as one, that’s what experienced players in the locker room understand and they like it. They (Boston) played extremely well, two very good teams, but we still have some things to figure out.”
The Heat have a seasoned coaching staff and front office, with many players remaining following their run to the NBA Finals in 2020. Many role-players, such as Max Strus and others, have never been in this situation.
Coach Spoelstra, as one of the most accomplished postseason coaches in the NBA today, is the man who can make the necessary adjustments in Game 3 at the TD Garden.
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