Why A Boston/Miami Series Will Be Fun To Watch

By Jordan Wagner

Yes, Boston and Miami are two of the big dogs in the East, so any matchup between them is bound to be exciting. However, this year’s playoff potential between the Celtics and Heat might be the best we’ve seen yet for a couple of reasons.

The first being that this could be the last chance for the Boston Celtics to make a title run with the Big 3 (or, as some say, Big 4 with Rondo.) There’s already been talk about trading any of the aging stars this season, and while the Big 3 are together for now, the future is uncertain. Especially considering, even if a trade didn’t happen, that Paul Peirce had been contemplating retirement earlier in the season. Just how much of a factor will a last ditch effort with the familiar players be should Boston and Miami meet?

Then look at the Heat. After closing out the series with New York, 4-1, they have momentum going forward. Of course, they had that same momentum last year as well, which resulted in a loss in the finals to Dallas. What makes this year different? For one thing, humility. After losing to the Mavericks last year, the Heat revised their “not one…not two…not three…” championship plan to “let’s at least get one, first.” And the pressure is on. LeBron James is surely one of, if not the, best player in the NBA right now. He’s 27 years old and in his prime. But what happens if he doesn’t win it this year? He’s played 8 full seasons in the NBA and has yet to make that ring appear on his finger. If his 9^th comes and goes without a championship victory, will he start to panic? What more can he do if a team with Wade and Bosh can’t win him the final prize? We can’t know yet, but one thing is clear: LeBron doesn’t even want it to get to that point.

So you have two teams that have more pressure on them than anyone else in the East (Chicago’s not going to win it without Rose, period.) It will be exciting to watch them go at it. LeBron James vs. Paul Pierce. Dwayne Wade vs. Ray Allen. Chris Bosh vs. Kevin Garnett. One has time working against them. The other, the media. Who really wants it more? It will be a tough fight down to the wire, but my ultimate guess is the Heat. The Celtics would have to travel to Miami first and be able to squeeze at least one win out there to compete in the series. Easier said than done against a Heat team that has scored in triple digits every time they’ve been home in this playoff series so far.

They both need to get pass this next round, though. Neither the Pacers nor the Sixers are talked about as potential threats in the East, but sports are sports and should anything happen to Miami or Boston before the Eastern Finals, the other team will surely be celebrating. (Or can you imagine them both being knocked out? Wow, what a weird year for the NBA that would be.) However, taking the more likely path, an eventual Heat/Celtics matchup this year is sure to be one for the ages.