Game 2 Final: Heat 111, Celtics 105 - C's collapse down the stretch

Celtics vs. Heat

Game 2, 8:30 p.m., TNT

TD Garden

Line: Boston -10

Refs: Zach Zarba (#15), James Williams (#60), Tyler Ford (#39)

Injuries: 

Boston- Gallinari (out), Malcolm Brogdon (forearm, probable). 

Miami- Tyler Herro (hand, out), Victor Oladipo (knee, out)

Projected Starters

Boston: Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Robert Williams

Miami: Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo

What I’m looking for

Defensive Discipline: The Celtics made some horrific mistakes in Game 1. Just flat out dumb plays. After what Robert Williams characterized as a brutal film session, I expect the Celtics to come out with a little more defensive discipline, stop helping off 3-point shooters, challenge shots with more intensity, and rebound. If they can do that, they will string stops together and get some runs. 

Offensive execution: Good spacing, making the right reads, and not falling into the habits of isolating too often. This shouldn’t be that hard. When you’ve got the ball in your hands and you can count to three, four, five … pass the damn thing. If you can’t blow by your mismatch right away, then all you’re doing is giving the defense time to rest. Pass it, cut, and get it back. 

Turnover battle: The Celtics got a nice lead by turning the Heat over in the first half. They collapsed in the second half by turning the ball back over to Miami. If one team can win this turnover battle, they’ll win the game.

How I think it will go:

The script calls for a blowout win, which is probably why the oddsmakers have Boston as a double-digit favorite. 

They can’t go back to Miami down 2-0, so I expect the Celtics to do all the things they need to do. The only question is whether they have another third quarter letdown to give back a big lead. If they can absorb the Miami punch and give one back to them, they’ll win this going away. 

I’m not as confident in the blowout, but I can see it being blowout-adjacent … like a 15 point game.  

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.