2020 Eastern Conference FInals Preview

 

The Eastern Conference Finals is set with the Boston Celtics playing the Miami Heat. This will be a very exciting series which can also begin to be a battle that can be one for the next 5 or 6 years. Both teams are identical in that they have several players that can switch and guard multiple positions. They both pride themselves defensively by being the top 2 teams when it comes to their opponent’s field goal percentage during conference semifinals. In addition, each team has a star that they can go to in the 4^th quarter to close the game out. We are going to look at how both teams got to the Conference Finals.

The Boston Celtics got here by sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The 76ers who were without star player Ben Simmons were no match for the Celtics. In the second round the Celtics had a hard-fought series against the defending NBA Champions the Toronto Raptors which saw the Celtics take the first two games of the series. The Raptors would bounce back taking 3 of the next 4 games which setup the game 7 which took place Friday night. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to a 92-87 victory. Tatum finished with 29 points 12 rebounds and 7 assists.

The Miami Heat had a seemingly easier route to the Conference Finals which began with a sweep of the Indiana Pacers. In the 2^nd round they dismantled the number 1 team in the NBA the Milwaukee Bucks in just 5 games. The Heat showed off their excellent 3-point shooting and also their tenacious defense down the stretch of games. The reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play in game 5 for the Milwaukee Bucks due to an ankle injury. Even he played they would have still lost the game in my opinion due to the Buck’s inability to figure out how to over come the wall tactic that the Heat used in the first 3 games of the Series.

 

My prediction for the Conference Finals is that the Heat will beat the Celtics in 7 games with Jimmy Butler being the driving force and validating his going to Miami. In doing so the Heat will reach their first NBA Finals since 2014.