Boston Celtics: The 3 biggest roadblocks to winning Banner 18 post-free agency

Roadblock #3 to Banner 18 for the Boston Celtics: Miami Heat

As it turns out, we ended up picking the last three teams to eliminate the Cs in the Eastern Conference postseason. Down on the Lake Buena Vista bubble on Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports campus, the Miami Heat were the team that ended Boston’s title dreams in 2020.

That team started Kemba Walker and Daniel Theis and was still able to overcome their shortcomings en route to coming within two games of the Eastern Conference title. Even with new pieces for Boston, though, the rim protection of Bam Adebayo will still haunt any Celtic’s drive to the rim against Miami.

Against the Cs in the 2020 Eastern Conference finals, Adebayo broke out as a two-way threat, and seriously exposed the Boston frontcourt. With Al Horford back in tow in place of Tristan Thompson, the issue still might not be fixed.

Relying so much on another leap forward from Robert Williams exposes Boston to another instance of being overwhelmed in 2021-22, and the Heat have only gotten tougher all around with Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker, and Markieff Morris all signed this past offseason.

The Heat could end up being a roadblock for every team in the East if they can recover from last year’s Eastern Conference championship hangover year in 2020-21.