Final: Celtics 116, Heat 99 - Shots fall, defense shows up, series extended

Celtics vs. Heat

Game 4, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Kaseya Center

Line: Miami -1.5

Refs: Scott Foster (#48), John Goble (#10), Courtney Kirkland (#61)

Injuries: 

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

Projected Starters

Boston: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford

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

What I’m looking for

Pride: For the love of Red, can we see some level of pride in these guys? Can we see a full game where we see they actually give a damn?

Ball movement: Let’s get to the basics here. Move the ball, generate good looks, and bury them. Don’t just take pull ups. Don’t just swing it around the perimeter. Find a way to collapse the defense, kick it out for 3, and watch the percentages rise. 

“When we’ve been really good at creating those 5-on-4, 4-on-3s where we’ve gotten really good looks and when those go in is when we’re dynamic as an offense,” Joe Mazzulla said. “That’s really when we’ve made our runs throughout the season and in the postseason is when we go on those end of quarter, those middle of a quarter runs because of our ability to create those advantages and make those shots early.”

Defense: It gets no more basic than this. Play some defense. Miami is playing out of their minds, but the Celtics are barely defending. They are slow, getting beat, and overreacting. Why do you think they're fouling so much? 

Get low, stay in front of guys, rebound, and get some easy baskets. This isn't rocket science. 

How I think it will go:

I just find it hard to believe this is how this team is going out. I simply can't believe this team will outright quit here. 

Why fight back and beat Philly only to give up now?

It doesn't make sense. I can't wrap my brain around that. All this talk of a locker room imploding doesn't track with how the season and playoffs has gone. 

It's been tough, it's been frustrating, and it's been clear this team is not particularly tough. 

But are they quitters?

No. I just don't think so. 

So put me down for them not quitting tonight. Put me down for at least one more decent showing. Call me an optimist, but I don’t think they're going out this meekly. 

When Robert Williams held his shootaround media availabiity, Al Horford walked by loudly saying "Yeah Rob! Yeah Rob! I see you! We got it tonight! We got it tonight!"

I believe him. 

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