Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Heat – Celtics Game 1: No Contest

Originally posted on thePeachBasket | By Eric Labrador | Last updated 4/23/24

The Heat – Celtics Game 1 was no contest – there was no hint of a “rivalry” between the two teams. Boston dominated Miami from the opening tip. The Celtics bombed Miami from three-point range, outhustled them for offensive rebounds and had role players make big shots. The final score was 114-94 but there was a point when Boston had a 34 point lead. Kendrick Perkins was claiming in the studio pre-game that Boston should sweep Miami. They might.

Heat-Celtics Point #3 — Tyler Herro got treated like a #1 option.

Look at this article here on sunsentinel.com from Heat beat writer Ira Winderman. He explains how Tyler Herro was dominated by the Celtics defense. Herro couldn’t get a good shot and when he did, he had to throw up bad shots. Unfortunately, this is Tyler Herro. He is a good bench player, a “Jamal Crawford” that will dominate second tier players. He is not, as he said once, an elite player like Luka Doncic.

Tyler Herro can’t play “bully ball” like Jimmy Butler. He needs to play a game similar to Reggie Miller (and Duncan Robinson.) Herro should be running his defenders through screens to get in space and break down the defense, he should get free on back cuts and run around dribble handoffs. Boston bullied him yesterday and beat down his small frame.

Heat-Celtics point #2 — Boston’s bench is vulnerable (maybe.)

Boston’s bench is vulnerable. Cole Hauser had a big 12 points yesterday. The Heat closed the first quarter down 26-21. Even I was saying, “It ain’t so bad,” a la Rocky Balboa in Rocky III before knocking out Clubber. But then, as they started the second. Hauser started nailing three pointers and pushed the lead back to ten and further.

Look at this article here on Si.com “Inside the Celtics” page. The bench played well in Game 1 but the more the starters work in this series, the more they’ll have to play well. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. On this article here from the Boston Herald, the bench will silence doubters.

Heat-Celtics point #1 — The Heat – Celtics rivalry will live on.

Boston may sweep this series (or gentleman sweep) but the rivalry will live on. Check out this article here on our site prognosticating how the Celtics will win this year. Brian Scalabrine, former Celtics player accused the Heat of dirty play post-game. Look at this article here on NBC Sports Boston. Even Tatum said that it was a “hard foul,” but this rivalry is hot.

Look at this article here on Caleb Martin‘s response to the static around Tatum’s foul. Jaylen Brown said in the article that he didn’t like the foul by Martin, but he wasn’t asked about almost yanking Duncan Robinson’s shoulder from his socket earlier in the season (see below.)