After what has been an incredible couple of months for both TD Garden teams, the highly anticipated playoff runs for both are about to begin. The Celtics will be the first ones up, based off the initial NBA playoff schedule the league announced on Sunday.
The Celtics’ will get things started on Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. at TD Garden. Coverage of that game, and all Celtics playoff games, can be heard on the Sports Hub BetMGM Celtics Radio Network. Coverage on Friday will begin with Celtics pregame at 3:00.
Miami Heat
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 22: Kyle Lowry #7 and Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat react on the court during the third quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena on March 22, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Roster-wise this Heat team is nearly identical to the one that grabbed the top seed in the East last year, and took the Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. They’re still led by star forward Jimmy Butler, who averaged 22.9 points per game this year – his most in a season since the 2016-2017 campaign. All-star center Bam Adebayo averaged a career high 20.4 points per game, and 9.2 rebounds per game as well.
However, Miami’s supporting cast in the backcourt wasn’t as strong this year. Tyler Herro, Max Strus, and Kyle Lowry all took steps back this season. Injuries also took their toll – the Heat lost a combined 288 games due to injury (per Spotrac), the second-most in the league and the most of any playoff team.
Now fully healthy though, the Heat will be a tough out for any team that has to face them in the playoffs – especially if their secondary scoring improves. As is usually the case with the Heat, this is a defensive-driven team. They ranked 2nd in the NBA allowing just 109.8 points per game, while their 109.5 points per game on offense was the lowest number in the league.
During the regular season, the Celtics split their four-game series with the Heat, with each team winning one home and one road game. The Celtics won the first two matchups, the Heat won the second two including one in overtime. The teams haven’t met since Jan. 24.
Atlanta Hawks
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 25: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on November 25, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Stylistically, the Hawks are the polar opposite of the Heat. They ranked third in the NBA averaging 118.4 points per game on offense, but their 118.1 points allowed per game ranked 26th.
The Hawks, in the play-in tournament for the second year in a row, are led by All-NBA guard Trae Young. Young averaged 26.2 points per game, which ranked 10th in the NBA this season. He also averaged a double-double with 10.2 assists per game.
During the Hawks’ run to the ECF in 2021, Young played a key role averaging 28.8 points per game in his first ever postseason. Last year he was rendered ineffective as he averaged just 15.4 points per game when the Hawks lost to the Heat in five games in the first round. He’ll be looking to avenge that postseason performance this year, starting against the team that blanketed him a year ago.
Young’s partner in Atlanta’s backcourt is Dejounte Murray, who is coming off of his second consecutive 20 point season – he averaged 20.5 points per game this year. Teams need to pay attention to Murray shooting from deep – he shot 34.4 percent from three on 5.2 attempts per game. Bogdan Bogdanovic is another scoring threat who comes off the bench. He shot 40.6 percent from deep this year on 6.7 attempts per game.
Clint Capela and John Collins make up the Hawks’ front court. Capela averaged a double-double this year with 12 points and 11 rebounds per game.
During the regular season the Celtics played the Hawks three times, twice in Atlanta and then once in Boston in what was the final game of the regular season. The Celtics swept the season series, with two of the three games being decided by single-digit margins. Their second meeting on March 11 included a scuffle between Young and Marcus Smart that led to Smart getting fined. In total, the Celtics are 16-5 against the Hawks going back to the start of the 2017-2018 regular season.
