Pregame Post-Ups: C's, Heat Missing Key Backcourt Pieces

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat both obtain most of their offensive production through their guards. Both teams, however, will be missing key backcourt cogs when they face off tonight at TD Garden.

Avery Bradley, who is Boston’s second highest scorer at 17.9 points per game, was sent home from the arena this afternoon because he was battling an illness.

Meanwhile, Miami’s top scorer, Goran Dragic (18.8 PPG), will miss tonight’s contest due to back spasms, according to Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Replacing Bradley in the starting lineup will be Marcus Smart, who is accustomed to making emergency spot starts in Boston’s backcourt.

Smart is coming off a strong effort last night in Cleveland, during which he nearly helped lead Boston to an improbable comeback win against the defending NBA champion Cavaliers.

The Celtics were trailing by 17 points during the fourth quarter, but Boston pulled within one point – before falling 124-118 – largely thanks to Smart’s facilitating and defense.

“He’s continued to improve as a player and be the best version of himself, and he’s doing a good job,” Stevens said of Smart Friday night before tipping off against the Heat. “He’s doing a really good job. I thought he was really good last night, especially in that fourth quarter with that bigger lineup in there at the start of the fourth.”

Spoelstra says that even without Bradley in Boston’s lineup, his Heat will still face a hefty task because of Boston’s depth at the guard spot.

“They’re a very well-drilled, well-schooled and a high execution team,” said Spoelstra. “They know where they want to get the ball. Their bigs do a great job of getting the ball in dribble hand-offs, and they set solid screens so that the guards have the ability to play in space.”

The Celtics will miss Bradley's two-way production tonight, but Dragic’s absence on the other side of the ball should create a fairly even swap.

Fortunately, Boston is loaded with depth at the guard spot, and Smart’s imposing presence in the starting lineup should keep the C's in check tonight.

- Taylor C. Snow