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Here are five things to watch out for when the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat meet at 7:30 p.m. tonight at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Heat Struggling Post-Wade
It’s been quite some time since the Miami Heat ranked among the bottom five teams in the NBA’s standings. Yet here they are, 20 percent of the way through the 2016-17 season, tied for the fifth-worst record in the league at 5-11.
The post-Dwyane Wade era is not starting out well for Miami. The team is off to its worst start since the 2007-08 season when an injury-plagued Heat team started the season at 4-15.
Hassan Whiteside, who is averaging 16.8 points and a league-leading 14.9 rebounds per game, has clearly emerged as the next star in Miami. But the fifth-year center is simply not getting enough support from his teammates for the team to succeed at this point in time.
Miami’s Banged-Up Starting Unit
One major detriment to the Heat’s success has been the abundance of injuries it has faced.
Three of Miami’s top four starters may be sidelined tonight when it hosts the Boston Celtics. Point guard Goran Dragic (elbow) and shooting guard Dion Waiters (groin) are both listed as questionable, while small forward Justise Winslow will be out for certain due to a wrist injury.
That leaves a potential starting backcourt of Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson, accompanied by a frontcourt of Luke Babbitt, Derrick Williams and Whiteside.
The Heat’s Not-so-Hot Offense
Miami’s injury woes are certainly having a negative impact on the team’s offense, as the Heat are currently ranked third-to-last in the league in scoring (95.6 PPG).
Miami has reached 100 points only four times this season, including just twice during its last 12 games.
That’s not a good sign heading into tonight’s matchup, as the Heat will face a Celtics offense that is averaging 104.0 points per game.
C’s Lockdown ‘D’
Miami’s struggling offense won’t be getting a break tonight as it goes up against one of the hottest defensive units in the league.
Boston, after a rough defensive start, has been stifling opposing offenses of late. The C’s during their last nine games possess the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA with a mark of 97.6 points allowed per 100 possessions.
The Heat’s offense during that span ranks 24th in the league with an offensive rating of 99.6.
Boston Faces Big Void Tonight
Boston’s defense, however, will face a major obstacle tonight as the team will be without Al Horford when it takes on the Heat.
Brad Stevens announced this morning that the Celtics’ starting center will miss the game due to personal reasons, but added that he will return to practice Tuesday when the squad is back in Boston.
Horford’s absence will provide a great opportunity for Whiteside and the Heat to take advantage near the basket tonight, as the Celtics will not have their top rim protector on the floor.