Preview: Boston Looks to End Regular Season with a Bang

The regular season finale is for all the marbles as the Celtics welcome the Heat to town

The Boston Celtics come into this game looking for confidence as they head into the playoffs. They already dropped the first two games of their important three game stretch. The Miami Heat, winners of their last two, now stand in the way as the winner clinches home-court advantage in the first round. A Boston loss could drop them all the way down to sixth in the East if the Charlotte Hornets win.

As the season nears its end, the Celtics defense needs a lot of work. They looked non-existent during the Hornets’ big second quarter and were a no-show during the Atlanta Hawks‘ game. Now Boston is trying to stop the downfall on national TV.

Both teams come in very healthy, although, the Heat may be without rookie Justise Winslow. The rookie out of Duke was sidelined during yesterday’s win over the Detroit Pistons and is questionable for the season finale. As important as this game is, there is no doubt Miami is looking towards next week’s playoffs as a possible return date for Winslow.

The Heat are near the bottom of the league in points per game. Their 100.2 points per game ranks 23rd in the NBA, so if there was a game to get Boston back on track it would be this one. Although, the Heat rank fifth in opponents points per game.

The 98.5 points per game allowed by the Heat allow will go head-to-head with the high-powered offense Boston holds. The Celtics 105.8 points per game is fifth in the league, although it hasn’t been anywhere near that effective as of late.

During the Celtics last game against Charlotte, Boston only managed 13 points in the second quarter. And while they usually are a poor shooting team, the Celtics were considerably worse over their past two games. 44.4 percent from the field against Atlanta wasn’t terrible, however, the 38.2 percent they put up against the Hornets was atrocious. Boston’s offense hasn’t been able to penetrate the lane, has been missing open shots, and doesn’t look near as crisp as it once was.

In fact, they had to be bailed out by rookie R.J. Hunter during last night’s game after it got out of hand. Isaiah Thomas put together another poor shooting night and Boston’s starters were benched.

With Miami in action last night, Boston should come in with fresher legs. The starters didn’t play a lot in the second half and there’s little doubt that Brad Stevens and his team feel like there is something to prove.

Jared Sullinger should be leading that group after his two bad games. He followed up a four point, one rebound game against Atlanta with four points and three rebounds against Charlotte. The big man has shot a combined 4-12 over the past two games and getting him back on track for the playoffs will be key. He is a big part of Boston’s offense and they need more from their leading rebounder.

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Although, he might not get back on track in the regular season. Hassan Whiteside, arguably the league’s best defender down low, will be in town. Whiteside leads the league in blocks per game, swatting a ridiculous 3.7 per game. The Celtics haven’t done a good job of controlling him this season. However, if they want to get out of their funk they’ll need to find a way to attack him in the lane because Boston won’t win by jacking up a bunch of threes.

This is as big as it gets in the regular season. Both teams have their eye on home-court advantage in the first round, and the Celtics don’t want to have to face the Hawks in round one if they lose.

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There are basically two scenarios for Boston – assuming Charlotte takes care of business against the Magic – if they win they get the four seed but if they lose they fall to six. Sixth in the East is a big improvement from last season, but a big disappointment from where they were a week ago. Brad Stevens and his team should be motivated to get back on track before the playoffs start though and will face a team they’ve had success against this season.