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Will the Boston Celtics Finally Play a Complete game Against the Heat?

By Joshua Bateman

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 28: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena on October 28, 2017 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 28: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena on October 28, 2017 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics could use a complete game to avoid seeing their streak end in Miami

The Boston Celtics are the hottest team in the NBA, and are looking to get their 17th straight win against the Miami Heat. They have gone through more difficult teams during this stretch, but they have also let much worse teams keep it close, with an opportunity to win it.

The Celtics have made sure that every game during this stretch is exciting. They have struggled in a lot of ways, and have needed double digit comebacks on more than one occasion. The Celtics are finding each and every way they are capable of winning a game, except for putting together a complete game on both ends.

Most of the time, the defense is making up for poor shooting, and their interior presence gives them enough of an edge to keep things close, allowing them to close teams out with an unstoppable Kyrie Irving in the clutch.

The Celtics have been teetering on the edge of blowing this streak almost every step of the way, and if they continue to have these inconsistent performances, a team like the Heat are definitely capable of putting an end to this streak, even though we know the Celtics should be able to handle them.

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Now that we have seen the Celtics struggle and find more and more ways to win close games, it would be a refreshing change to see this team put together a real complete performance on both ends. We have seen many different flashes from this team in a lot of different ways, but we will not know the ceiling of this team before they put all those ways together, punishing inferior teams like they should be capable of.

So far, the defense has been far and away their biggest strength, but their offensive talent is starting to come together more. Irving is playing out of his mind, and scoring in more ways than maybe anyone else in the NBA. Jaylen Brown has put together three straight 20 point games, and is starting to see his aggressiveness translate to dominant scoring. Add in the efficiency of Jayson Tatum and the complete package from Al Horford and there is more than enough talent for this offense to improve and start winning more games for this team.

The second unit is probably the area they can improve in the most. Shooting less than 20 percent in multiple games is unacceptable, and the starting unit offense is yet to prove they can make up for those kinds of struggles. The Celtics have more defensive depth than anyone in the league, but the offense is not coming for most of them, certainly not on a consistent basis.

The Celtics are getting solid defense from anyone stepping on the court, but very few are able to have a real positive impact on the offensive end. We know they still have a long ways to go, but there have been signs of things really coming together, and if they gradually improve then they will start blowing out more teams with such a strong defense.

The Heat are good enough of a team that we cannot expect the Celtics to really blow them out, but they have had multiple performances during this stretch that would not be good enough to beat them. We should be able to expect the defense at this point, but it has to be more than Irving creating on the offensive end,

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The Celtics need their starters to all play to their capability, and then the bench just has to avoid being such a huge liability. If all of that manages to come together, then the Celtics could have the balance that will allow them to finally have a comfortable victory.

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