NBA Conference Finals 2023, Game 6 on Sunday, 28.05.2023
The Floridians are definitely feeling the pressure and have to admit that the famous momentum has now migrated to the side of the green and white. Are we going to see anything historic in the 2023 NBA Playoffs?
Because in my current Heat Celtics tip, I actually believe it will come down to a deciding game. The C’s are currently hitting their threes – and on the other side, there are enormous problems in their own play structure…
The Celtics cut the deficit to 2:3 in these Conference Finals – and now it’s getting exciting! Will the Celtics manage to become the first team in NBA playoff history to completely overturn an 0-3 deficit?
They followed up a 116-99 win with a 110-97 victory yesterday that saw them dominate the floor for much of the game with a double-digit point lead.
The Heat, meanwhile, are having increasing problems asserting themselves against the physically aggressive style of play of the Boston defence. Only the bench players Caleb Martin (14), Duncan Robinson (18) and Haywood Highsmith (15) were really convincing for Miami.
Miami actually had to do without Gabe Vincent in Game 5, so Kyle Lowry moved into the starting five. This decision had considerable consequences for the course of the game.
Lowry lost the ball twice right from the start, allowing the C’s to take an early 21-7 lead.
Even worse: Vincent will probably not be able to intervene for Miami tonight.
Turnovers continue to be a massive problem for MIA, with 10 in the first half, which Boston used to score 17 points. In addition, the Celtics collected 8 offensive rebounds and converted them into another 13 extra points.
The C’s are currently extremely alert on opposing possessions and at the same time can’t be beaten from the three-point line. That combination is unique and – as it was in Game 5 – could be the difference tonight.
The Celtics are the first NBA team in history to have at least 12 steals and 12 threes from their starting five.
Furthermore, I already pointed out in my last Celtics Heat tip that when the Green-Whites sink over 40% of their threes – as was the case again yesterday – they have also been victorious in the end almost every time this season (38:2).
Miami has lost two key players in Tyler Herro and Victor Olapido over the course of these play-offs, so it’s nothing short of a miracle that they’ve still managed to make it to the Conference Finals.
The loss of Gabe Vincent, however, is probably too much of a good thing. And even the former nimbus of invincibility, which until recently still lay over the home Kaseya Center, has been broken in the meantime.
After Miami won all seven of its play-off home games here against the Bucks, Knicks and Celtics, the last appearance ended in a clear 99-116 defeat.
Meanwhile, bettors are also aware that a deciding game is possible here.
Indeed, the sports betting apps we checked in depth reveal that with BOS winning odds of 1.67, it will most likely indeed come down to an explosive Game 7.
A win by the home side, on the other hand, would end this series and currently promises a matching MIA betting odds of 2.22 on the betting markets.
The opponent in the NBA Finals has long been known – it is the Denver Nuggets, who clearly won against the Lakers (4:0).
Conclusion: The Floridians have home court advantage on their side again, but will that be enough to stop the C’s?
The Celtics are defending more aggressively than they did in the first three games and their own three-point attempts are increasingly finding their mark.
I wouldn’t like to bet against Boston at this point, especially since the loss of Gabe Vincent is a huge problem for Miami’s own playmaking…
My Heat Celtics prediction: It’s coming to a Game 7!
