NBA Playoffs 2023/24, 1st round, Game 5, Thursday, 02.05.2024
In our overview of the 2024 NBA play-offs, we’ve already added a few names that have made it through the first round. Another one could be added as early as tonight.
Because according to my Celtics Heat betting tip, the C’s are just one step away from sending last year’s outclassed and injury-plagued finalists crashing to the ground.
There were fears in the basketball-crazy Northeast that the surprise team of the previous season, which had made it to the NBA Finals, would unexpectedly eliminate their boys.
However, it is now clear that the Heat’s interim series equalizer in Game 2 was nothing more than a flash in the pan.
The Celtics went on to win both away games in sunny Florida by 104:84 and 102:88 respectively. It became clear that the Heat simply no longer have the offensive power to pull off a surprise like last year’s.
The Heat’s offense was already below average in the regular season and is now even worse off without their injured top players Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier!
They scored only 88 points in Game 4 and had massive problems with their shooting accuracy. Erik Spoelstra did notice that the offense was struggling again, especially in the second quarter.
But even the Heat’s head coach couldn’t find a way to prevent the Celtics from taking a clear 17-point halftime lead.
Although some of his players such as Adebayo, Herro and Martin were at least able to put in solid performances, the rest of the team just wasn’t quite up to scratch.
Watch out: Miami stayed under 100 points in three of the four games and scored less than 90 points in two consecutive games. And for that very reason, don’t expect any sudden offensive fireworks from them tonight.
But now things are getting really bad for Miami! Jaquez, who has started for the injured Butler in the series so far, had to leave Game 4 early on Monday due to a right hip injury and did not return.
Before his exit, Jaquez scored nine points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. After his retirement, substitutes Patty Mills and Delon Wright played the entire quarter for him, albeit unconvincingly!
If Jaquez is now also missing in Boston, the Heat’s already decimated team will only be further weakened. Miami is already missing Butler, Rozier and Richardson in this series. This just can’t end well in my eyes!
But regardless of that, the performance on the floor also makes it clear that there is a difference in class here!
The Heat once again tried to use Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson, but they were once again unsuccessful with this tactic in Game 4.
Love played just six minutes and scored no points, while Robinson was limited by a lingering back injury and was only used sporadically.
Both players accumulated negative plus/minus numbers during the series due to significant defensive issues.
The Heat were even outscored by 29 points in the 30 minutes Love played, largely because of their zone defense, which was shamelessly exploited by the Celtics.
And the Celtics? While the Heat are struggling with acute injury problems, the Green-and-Whites didn’t have a single player missing due to injury before Game 4.
However, that could change for Boston from now on. The starting Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis asked to be substituted and limped into the catacombs with 2:27 minutes left in the second quarter.
Porzingis did not return and missed the rest of the game due to a calf strain. Without Porzingis, Al Horford started the second half at center for the Celtics.
Nevertheless, Boston is in a good enough position to put the lid on this series even without the Latvian on the five on Thursday night
Anyone who has read this far in my Celtics Heat betting tip should know that everything points to the C’s winning it all.
The betting providers see it that way too. If you call up the current Celtics Heat odds using a verified sports betting app, you’ll see this in black and white!
Because the Boston Heat are clearly favored with odds of 1.09 to 7.50 on average. I would even advise you to include a more generous handicap condition in your bet
Conclusion: At the end of the day, I don’t know any basketball fan with an ounce of knowledge who doesn’t think that the shoe is on the other foot.
The Heat have always been extremely dependent on the performance of Jimmy Butler, and to make matters worse, other key contributors are out at the hostile TD Garden.
And even when Robinson is on the floor, he’s at best 70% due to his ongoing back problems.
No, not a chance! As dominantly as Boston won their two away games in Florida, they will also win what will probably be the last game of this series in convincing fashion.
My Celtics Heat tip: BOS wins with HC -14.
