Marc Bertrand: Celtics have no excuse to not sweep the Heat
On Monday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Marc “Beetle” Bertrand made it clear that there’s no excuse if the Celtics don’t sweep the Heat.
The Heat are a shell of themselves…
Marc Bertrand: If the Celtics don’t sweep this round, they suck. Okay, let’s lay that out there right now. Sweep or bust. That’s what it is before we put them in the finals. As you’re telling me (Sean) Grande pretty much did yesterday. Well, 1,000 pounds of adversity against these Celtics. Boy, oh boy, did they respond against the lowly Miami Heat. Give me a break. That team is a shell of its former self and then they subtracted Jimmy Butler with an injury a week ago. Dead ass team.
Scott Zolak: Coach knows it too.
Marc Bertrand: So let’s just get into the controversial stuff. Let’s get into the end because that’s honestly the most interesting thing that happened in this game yesterday, because the game itself was a dud and was hard to watch. Why are the starters in the game with a minute to go against a team that you opened up 17 to 2 against and led by 32 at the end of the third quarter? Why was that lead cut in half over the course of the fourth quarter? And why are your starters in the game with 59 seconds to go?
Scott Zolak: When we talk to Joe this week, it’ll be, hey that’s what we do. We do what we do and I enjoy watching what we do. Like he enjoyed watching a little bit of a dust up there. You know where (Jayson) Tatum gets upended there. Heard Scal after the game too. He’s talking about it. Well there was that key timeout, what a minute and a half before it. Did you order the code red? I don’t think that was called. I don’t think that was intentional. I think it’s as plain and simple as this. You’re getting your teeth kicked in as a team. You’re sitting there. You’re looking… oh, crap. They got their best players still out there. Late fourth quarter. They’re trying to run it up on our ass. I’m going to get a little physical with this guy. Players get pissed off and your pride gets challenged when you’re getting your ass kicked. That’s kind of how you fight back. It’s not the right way to do things, and I know it’s well, stars take care of the stars in this league. Not really when you get your face rubbed in it a little bit. That stuff gets taken in your own hands and that’s where you got to be careful. That was a dirty play. I watched it about ten times.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics raises his hands after making a three point basket against the Miami Heat during the first quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Listen to the full conversation!
The Celtics' first round playoff opponent is set
2023 Eastern Conference Finals
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 29: Caleb Martin #16 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
After falling behind three games to none, the Celtics stormed back to force a Game 7. That run included a dramatic win in Game 6 as Derrick White tipped in a rebound for the game-winning shot. However, the Heat came into TD Garden and won the final game of the series.
2022 Eastern Conference Finals
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 19: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat defends Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
In 2022, it was the Celtics that went on the road and won a Game 7. Jimmy Butler missed a potential game-winning three with seconds to go in that one, sending the C’s to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.
2020 Eastern Conference Finals
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 25, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Celtics and Heat also met in the ‘Bubble Season’ Eastern Conference Finals at Disney World. Miami won the first two games of the series, went up 3-1, then won the series in six games.
2012 Eastern Conference Finals
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 07: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat gestures against Keyon Dooling #51 of the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 7, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
While this series went seven games, the defining moment came in Game 6. During the ‘Big Three’ era in Miami, LeBron James came into TD Garden and scored 30 points in the first half, and 45 overall, to avoid elimination. It is viewed as one of the defining games in James’ career. Back in Miami, the Heat would win Game 7 on their way to an NBA title.
2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals
MIAMI, FL – MAY 11: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat shoots over Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 11, 2011 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
This was LeBron James’ first playoff series with the Heat against the Celtics, which he called “personal.” Playing alongside Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat knocked off the defending Eastern Conference Champion Celtics in five games.
2010 First Round
BOSTON – APRIL 17: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics drives to the net as Dwyane Wade #3 and Dorell Wright #1 of the Miami Heat defend during Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA playoffs at the TD Garden on April 17, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The first ever playoff meeting between the Celtics and Heat didn’t come until 2010. It was a near sweep for the Celtics, who won the first three games before eventually taking the series in five on their way to an Eastern Conference title.
