Celtics-Heat Preview

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted May 29 2012 7:01PM

MIAMI (AP) The Boston Celtics have bigger issues than being upset about a perceived slight.

Yes, LeBron James dribbled behind his back. Then between his legs, five times. Then threw a behind-the-back pass. And after grabbing an offensive rebound while getting fouled by Kevin Garnett, he smiled and shouted "Yeah" three times while holding the ball out for referee Jason Phillips to collect.

All that came on one possession in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics called it showboating.

They're probably right. But that's not the problem.

The Heat got 19 layups and dunks in Game 1 on Monday night, with James and Dwyane Wade fueling what became a 93-79 win. And if Boston's defensive issues weren't enough cause to concern the Celtics, Ray Allen said his ailing right ankle is getting to be even more problematic - something that's bound to be a factor again when the matchup resumes in Miami on Wednesday night.

"You can tell they believe by their anger after the game," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday, asked how his team is handling the emotions of a Game 1 loss. "There wasn't a lot of happy guys in our locker room yesterday or in film today when we start out by showing 19 straight layups. Who wants to watch that? I didn't. I watched it four or five times."

Along the same lines, the Heat said there were elements of the game film that they didn't like either.

James and Wade did their part in Game 1, combining for 54 points. The rest of the Heat added 39 points, 32 rebounds, seven assists and six blocked shots, but there were a slew of missed shots and one second-quarter defensive lull that had Miami addressing some issues on the practice court Tuesday.

"I think we all felt that we could have played better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We weren't as sharp as we had been, particularly in the three games before that. But that's the playoffs. You have to find a way to survive and win, even if you have to do it when you're not playing your best, like last night."

There are some predictable elements that seem to pop up after the opening game of a playoff series, with the team that lost Game 1 saying it had to get more physical and the winning team saying that a 1-0 lead doesn't mean anything. And both apply in this case as well, with Boston guard Rajon Rondo among the Celtics' voices saying things had to be made tougher for Miami.

James and Wade responded to that with shrugs, insisting that's typical for any series.

"I already think that's going to happen in every game," James said. "So I don't have to prepare for it."

Talking points like that can be dismissed. The Allen situation, however, doesn't seem like it's going away.

Allen has been dealing with pain in his right ankle for several weeks, and missed all but one of his seven field-goal attempts in Boston's Game 1 loss. He even missed four free throws, just the third time in his career that he's done that. He's shooting only 39 percent in the postseason, 27 percent from 3-point range and 60 percent from the foul line - way off his usual career numbers in all those departments.

"I don't even like talking about it," Allen said. "It's just part of what I'm dealing with."

Allen said he did not work out Tuesday, which is a rarity.

"In my predicament, I'm only going to do myself further damage," Allen said.

Rivers said the Celtics will stick with Allen, making it sound like the decision was made partly out of respect to the veteran guard - who made it clear that he wants to play - and made partly because Boston simply doesn't have many more options. The Celtics put Allen back in the starting lineup midway through the second round against Philadelphia because Avery Bradley went down for the season with a shoulder injury.

"Ray is Ray, and we're going to keep rolling him out there and see what we can get," Rivers said. "If we feel he can't give it to us, we'll go with someone else. But I think right now you have to give Ray a fighting chance every time."

Miami was in trouble against Indiana about a week ago, trailing 2-1 in the series and losing at halftime of Game 4 in Indianapolis. Since then, Wade and James have been brilliant, and the trend continued in Game 1 against the Celtics.

"For us, we're playing great team ball, especially in the fourth quarter," Wade said. "We're not playing as much hero ball that we played last year. We're getting off the ball. We're penetrating. We're trusting each other a lot more. It comes with time. In the fourth quarter we believe in each other, and that's been a success for us."

Said James: "Everything we're getting has been coming out of the offense. We're not forcing."

The Celtics sounded like they want to make the Heat start forcing things soon, getting Miami out of its current rhythm. Otherwise, the Heat could find themselves halfway to another East title banner by the close of business on Wednesday night.

"It's got to get more physical from our part," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "We've got to show better resistance. We thought it was way too easy for them in Game 1. They got very comfortable. Hopefully in Game 2, we can make it a little bit more uncomfortable for them."

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Heat overcome Rondo, top Boston 115-111 in Game 2

By TIM REYNOLDS
Posted May 31 2012 4:03AM

MIAMI (AP) Rajon Rondo posted a stat line never before seen in NBA playoff history. He was on the court for every second of a game that finished more than three hours after it started. He scored more points in a single overtime than anyone this season.

His night was called incredible, amazing and unbelievable - and that was by the Miami Heat.

And when it was over, Rondo could only express disappointment that the Boston Celtics needed more.

LeBron James scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored eight of his 23 points in overtime and the Heat took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-111 win over the Celtics on Wednesday night, overcoming what will surely go down as the best game of Rondo's career to move within six wins of an NBA title.

"We lost," Rondo said, shrugging off talk of the historical ramifications of his night. "Simple as that."

Rondo's final numbers: 44 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds. He scored all 12 of Boston's overtime points, giving the Celtics the lead three times, only to have the Heat answer each of those. And when he finally missed in the extra session - on a play where Rondo said he got struck in the face by Wade - then and only then could Miami put Boston away.

Game 3 is Friday night in Boston, where the Celtics will try to make this a series. No Celtics team has successfully rallied from an 0-2 hole since 1969.

"He really played his heart out and carried the load for us offensively," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "He shot the ball, did everything possible you could ask for in him. You just hate to see an effort like that really go to waste."

Mario Chalmers scored 22 points for Miami, which got 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists off the bench from Udonis Haslem. The entire Celtics bench combined for seven points, five rebounds and one assist.

Miami trailed by 15 points in the first half, making this the largest deficit the Heat have overcome to win a playoff game in their history. Miami had rallied from 14 points down to win twice before in the postseason, one of those being the game that clinched the 2006 NBA title.

"There just can't be any other way with this team," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And it has to be the hard way."

The Heat won on a night where so many things - Rondo's effort included - suggested that they were in going to be in trouble.

There was the big early deficit, a 7-for-20 shooting effort from the floor by James, Wade going scoreless until the final seconds of the first half, 16 missed free throws and two missed chances to win - both shots by James - at the end of regulation.

And if all that wasn't enough, Boston's Big Four were Big again. Pierce scored 21 points before fouling out. Kevin Garnett scored 18 points and added eight rebounds. Ray Allen, ailing right ankle and all, went through two gameday shooting workouts to try to snap out of a slump and apparently did, finishing with 13 points, the last three of those coming on a 3-pointer that tied the game at 99-all with 34.3 seconds left in regulation.

Miami managed to survive it all. Haslem's dunk with 1:28 left in overtime to put Miami on top for good, Wade had a three-point play with 59.7 seconds left, and the Heat won their sixth straight East finals game going back to last season.

"One of the best games I've played in, win or lose," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "It's easier said when you win - but it's unbelievable."

Miami was down by as many as 11 in the third quarter, before a pair of 3-pointers by James started a comeback. Wade made consecutive jumpers midway through the third to shake off a slow start to his night, and the 2006 NBA finals MVP set up Haslem for a three-point play that gave Miami its first lead since the opening minutes, 73-71.

As Haslem's shot dropped, Wade spun at midcourt and punched the air. More highlights followed.

Miami's lead reached seven points in the third after James blocked Pierce's shot near the rim, sending the ball high into the air and starting a sequence that was capped by a three-point play from Wade, pushing the margin to 78-71. It capped a 12-0 run for the Heat, who took an 81-75 lead into the fourth.

James stole the ball from Rondo early in the fourth, drove down the court and got wrapped up by Mickael Pietrus, who was assessed a clear-path foul, meaning Miami got two free throws and the ball. James missed both foul shots, Mike Miller missed a 3-pointer later in the possession, and the lead stayed at 85-81.

Barely a minute later, it was gone. Pietrus hit a 3-pointer, Rondo followed with a steal and layup and Boston led 86-85. The margin was out to five with 3:50 left after a jumper by Pierce, and the Celtics looked to be in control.

"We never felt like we were out of it," Wade said.

They were right. A 9-0 run gave Miami the lead back, before Allen's 3 tied the game. James missed a layup with 21 seconds left, but got his own rebound and extended the possession. He tried a jumper with 2 seconds left to win it, the shot missed, and the teams went to overtime, where the reigning MVP missed two more free throws to start the extra period.

"LeBron James took 24 free throws tonight," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "And our team took 29."

Miami finished 31 of 47 from the line, Boston was 26 of 29. The Celtics were called for 33 personal fouls, Miami 18.

Rondo nearly rendered all those talking points moot. He was 4 for 5 from the floor in overtime, but with Pierce having fouled out and Garnett and Allen having combined to play over 80 minutes at that point, it seemed like Rondo was going 1-on-5.

He almost pulled it off.

"Rondo was absolutely amazing," James said. "The performance he put on tonight will go down in the record books."

NOTES: It's the 10th time Miami has taken a 2-0 series lead. The Heat prevailed in each of the previous nine. ... Haslem had his first postseason double-double since 2009. ... Wade played in his 100th playoff game. ... Celtics F Greg Stiemsma had four fouls in the first quarter, the first NBA player to do that since 2009. ... Rondo had 22 points in the first half for just the second time in his career. He also did it Feb. 22, 2009 at Phoenix.

Notebook: Heat 115, Celtics 111

Posted Thursday May 31, 2012 12:51AM

By Shandel Richardson, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 115-111 in overtime in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Miami was able to withstand a performance for the ages from Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, who finished with a career-high 44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Heat forward LeBron James led the Heat with 34 points and 10 rebounds.

The Heat rallied from a 15-point, first-half deficit behind a strong third quarter. The Celtics then sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer from guard Ray Allen with 34.3 seconds that tied it at 99. Miami had two chances to win in regulation, but James missed a layup and fadeaway jumper as time expired.

The Heat then closed things out behind Wade and James. James had a put-back basket and then found Udonis Haslem underneath the rim for a layup. Wade iced it with a three-point play that made it 110-105 with 59 seconds left.

QUOTABLE: "It has to be the hard way. It always seems to be that competitive when we play against this team. Tonight, it didn't let us down ...It was ugly at times. We couldn't get into a great rhythm."
-- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra

THE STAT: Rondo played all 53 minutes (first time he's played every minute in a game), putting together one of the greatest playoff performances in NBA history. He shot 16-for-24 from the field and made 10 of 12 free throws. Rondo is the first player in NBA history to tally 44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a playoff game.

TURNING POINT: With 1:35 left in overtime and the score tied at 105, Rondo felt he was hit in the face by Wade on a driving layup, but no foul was called. The Heat then scored the next seven points to take control.

QUOTABLE II: "It is what it is. LeBron (James) took 24 free throws and our team took 29 ... You can't get distracted. We will not get distracted in this series. We have to get it out of us and move on."
-- Celtics coach Doc Rivers

HOT: Rondo put together one of the best first halves of the postseason, totaling 22 points and seven assists. He was responsible for 36 of Boston's 53 points. His 12 free throw attempts also proved he was much more aggressive than in Game 1.

NOT: The Heat could have used better free-throw shooting in such a close game. They finished just 31-for-47 from the foul line.

GOOD MOVE: The Heat usually wait until the fourth quarter before putting James on Rondo, but Spoelstra made the move early in the third. It slowed Rondo just enough to start the second half to allow the Heat to creep back into the game.

BAD MOVE: Wade was brilliant in the third quarter, but the Heat need him to string together a few performances where he plays that way an entire game. Without Chris Bosh in the lineup, it leaves too much of a burden on James.

NOTABLE: The Heat are now 6-0 all-time in overtime playoff games. ... Bosh (stomach) completed his third straight workout Wednesday. There still remains no update on the timetable on his return. ... Greg Stiemsma picked up four fouls in the first quarter, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Pistons forward Austin Daye did it Dec. 18, 2009. ... The Heat are now 6-0 all-time in postseason overtime games. ... Miami's 15-point comeback is the largets in franchise playoff history. ...

UP NEXT: Game 3 is Friday in Boston (8:30 ET, ESPN).

• Celtics: Bradley, Johnson
• Heat: Bosh, Curry

• Celtics: Garnett
• Heat: Chalmers

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #41 Ken Mauer, #49 Tom Washington
• Attendance: 19973
• Duration: 3:04