• Previous game coverage:
  • Remembering the Celtics: A season preview
  • The Morning Walkthrough: In the Air Tonight
  • Semih Erden, Avery Bradley, Kendrick Perkins inactive
  • In strange way, Celtics aid Heat

Game Preview:

There was one quote I read (or heard, I forget which) that said exactly what I felt about tonight’s Celtics-Heat game. I forget where I read (or heard) it, but the quote went something like this:

“Tonight’s game is a lot like the opening kickoff in a football game. Neither team will win a championship tonight. Neither team will win the Eastern Conference. Neither team will even make the playoffs. But one team will set a tone.”

With that word from the wise, I now proceed to my three game keys.

1. Turnovers – It’s simple. If the Celtics take care of the ball, they keep Lebron, Wade and Bosh away from the open court. Those three are potent enough when defenses are set up. When they’re in the open court, fuhgeddaboudit. Unfortunately, the Celtics tend to cough the ball up early and often.

2. Points in the point – Whenever you play against a team that starts Joel Anthony, your main point of emphasis should always be this: GO DOWN LOW! The Celtics signed a boat load of quality big men this summer, with eyes toward matchups just like tonight’s. And if you thought Shaq, Big Baby and Kevin Garnett should be the only ones scoring in the paint, think again: Rondo should be able to drive by Carlos Arroyo like he’s wearing cement shoes.

3. Three-point shooting – If the Heat hit a lot of threes, they’re going to be tough to beat. Why? Because that would probably mean that Eddie House, James Jones and Carlos Arroyo are making an impact, and they shouldn’t. Limiting Lebron, Wade and Bosh is tough enough (read: next to impossible). Limiting the role players is a must.

Enjoy the game tonight, folks. I know I will. Basketball is back. Finally.