The Boston Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in the last seven years after surviving a difficult seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be the Heat’s third appearance in the ECF in the last four years.
The latest Injury Report for Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
Boston and Miami met four times during the regular season. Each club played the two games on their home turf.
The Heat Report
Jimmy Butler, the Heat’s star, is known for sharing his views, and he didn’t disappoint on Tuesday, one day before the eighth-seeded Heat plays the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.
Butler stated that this Miami club will not be deterred from winning the NBA championship.
The Celtics and Heat have met in the East finals three times in the last four seasons.
For the third time, a different Boston coach will be on the sidelines.
In 2020, Miami defeated Brad Stevens’ Boston team in six games before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
There are three players on this team who will not be able to participate in Wednesday’s game against the Celtics.
Cody Zeller
Zeller (illness) is listed as questionable for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday in Boston.
Due to his sickness, Zeller did not practice on Monday and is now in danger of missing Game 1. So far in the playoffs, the backup center has had little impact, averaging 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.9 minutes in 10 appearances.
Victor Oladipo
Oladipo had successful patellar tendon surgery on his left knee and has no set return date.
Tyler Herro
Herro (hand) has yet to shoot or dribble and has been ruled out of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston on Wednesday, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
Last season, the Celtics, led by Ime Udoka, defeated the Heat in seven games before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the championship round.
Due to a workplace incident, Udoka was sacked prior to the season and was replaced by Joe Mazzulla, a first-time head coach who will go up against Miami’s well-respected Erik Spoelstra.
Brown averaged 24.1 points per game against the Heat last season, trailing just star Jayson Tatum’s 25.
Tatum just put on a show for the ages. He set a Game 7 record with 51 points as the Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 to go to the Eastern Conference finals.
“It’s a big movie,” said Boston guard Marcus Smart of Tatum’s performance. “The ability to simply sit back, eat your popcorn, and watch.” Sometimes we get into that zone where we forget we’re on the court with him.”
Tatum has quickly forgotten about his amazing effort and is now focused on competing against the Heat.
When Butler is on the court, the intensity level is always high. Last season, he averaged 25.6 points per game against Boston.
He also had a career-high 56 points in a first-round playoff victory over the Milwaukee Bucks this season.
The 56 points tied for the fourth highest total in an NBA playoff game.
Butler suffered an ankle injury during the conference semifinal series victory against the New York Knicks. Butler’s ankle is feeling better, and so is his opinion of Miami’s supporting cast.
Just Danilo Gallinari can not be at Game 1 between Heat vs. Celtics.
Gallinari (knee) will miss Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Miami on Wednesday.
Gallinari is yet to play this season due to offseason knee surgery. There’s little indication that the veteran will be able to play anytime soon, but the Celtics haven’t ruled him out for the rest of the series.
