How we see it goin' down: Celtics vs Heat

Tip: 8PM Court: TD Garden Watch it: ESPN Hear it: WEEI

Referees: Scott Foster, Matt Boland and David Guthrie

Spread: MIA -5.0

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The Matchup


Record: 36-29	Record: 51-14
At home: 24-9	On road: 21-11
Streak: Won 2	Streak: Won 22

Leaders	Leaders
Buckets: Pierce (18.5 ppg)	Buckets: LeBron James (26.5 ppg)
Boards: Garnett (7.8 rpg)	Boards: James (8.2 rpg)
Dimes: Pierce (4.7 apg)	Dimes: James (7.1 apg)

For the Stat Geeks:	For the Stat Geeks:
Offensive Rating: 102.5 (24th NBA)	Offensive Rating: 112.7 (2nd NBA)
Defensive Rating: 102.0 (4th NBA)	Defensive Rating: 104.3 (10th NBA)
Pace: 91.4 (18th NBA)	Pace: 90.6 (23rd NBA)

Last time

The season series is 1-1. The Celtics needed an all-around team effort to beat Miami 100-98 in double-overtime on Jan. 27. This was the day we learned Rajon Rondo tore his ACL. The Heat beat the Celtics 120-107 in the season opener. With LeBron James, Miami is 0-5 in Boston during the regular season.

This time

Get it to: Paul Pierce

As if Paul Pierce didn’t already have enough on his plate tonight (guarding LBJ, playing point forward, be the team’s top scoring threat), he’ll have to do even more if Kevin Garnett sits out. Despite the 38% shooting vs Miami this season, Pierce’s all around numbers are superb: 20 ppg, 9 rpg, 7.5 apg. We might need an epic triple-double effort from the Truth in this one.

Gotta stop: Dwyane Wade

Wade has really turned it on over the last two months. He’s averaging 23 ppg on 53% shooting in February and March. On the bright side, he’s shooting at a 38% clip vs Boston this season AND he’ll have to deal with a fully healthy and in-sync Avery Bradley. As I do with most games vs Miami, I believe the Celtics should try to limit everyone not named LeBron because that’s rather impossible.

The Wild Card: Jason Terry

I feel like we NEED a huge game from JET. Terry needs to outscore Ray Allen and the other Heat perimeter role players to give the Celtics their best chance. When Terry’s hot, he’s emotional and the crowd feeds off him and his antics.