2024 NBA Playoffs: How the Heat could make the Celtics bleed

The Boston Celtics and the MiamiHeat renew their playoff rivalry when they meet yet again in theplayoffs. The two teams have faced each other three times (2020,2022, 2023) over the past four postseason actions, with Miamihaving the advantage overall (2-1).

This year, the Celtics come inas the no.1 overall seed in the East while the Heat match them upas the no.8 seed. However, coming into these playoffs, there willbe no expectations for Miami after learning their superstar JimmyButler would be out for at least several weeks following his kneeinjury in their play-in game against the Philadelphia76ers.

They will be up against adominant Celtics team that finished the regular season with a 64-18record and the third-highest net rating of all time at 11.8, justbehind the legendary Chicago Bulls teams led by the one and onlyMichael Jordan.

The Heat have faced the Celticsmultiple times over the years and they now probably know some waysto effectively stop them, having schemes to try and limit theiroffensive executions as well as throwing some counters on offenseto have their defense off-balanced.

Without Butler, this would be anuphill climb for Miami after what has been a roller coaster seasonfor them and now facing their rivals who have become overwhelmingfavorites in this series.

However, there might be somethings the Heat could do to make the dominant Celtics bleed alittle for them to win some games (or even eventually win theseries). Here’s a look at those moves:

Duncan Robinson shouldplay more

Along with Butler, Miami iscoming into the series also without guards Terry Rozier and JoshRichardson due to their respective injuries. Without those three,the Heat’s guard rotation has taken a significant hit with TylerHerro, Delon Wright, and even forward Caleb Martin having to take amuch bigger load offensively.

Enter DuncanRobinson.

Despite his usual suspectdefense that has him riding the bench in the playoffs, coach ErikSpoelstra and the Heat could use his gravity as a shooter againstthe Celtics. Robinson has also steadily improved his playmakingthis season, averaging a career-best 2.8 assists for the year. Abetter effort defensively has also made him a passable teamdefender, and he can hold his own against some players.

Gone are the days when the onlyoption for Robinson was dribble handoffs for his threes as he hasnow shown the ability to attack off the catch and even developedthe ability to make plays out of those dribble handoffs. Robinsonis not the same player that he was before, expanding his game frombeing just more than a shooter to now being a secondary or thirdplaymaker.

To further hide his defensivedeficiencies and lessen the possible mishaps when he’s on thefloor, Robinson can be set up to match some of the Celtics’ easiestcovers like Sam Hauser for both of their minutes. Robinson couldcome in at the same time as Hauser to match him up shot for shot,match his production from the three-point line, and try to see itfrom there.

The Heat shouldmatchup-hunt and punish the Celtics’ average at-bestdefenders

Another thing that the Heatcould do to tarnish the Celtics’ seemingly impenetrable team is totarget their average-at-best defenders Payton Pritchard, SamHauser, and Luke Kornet. The Heat should hunt for Pritchard andHauser on switches when they’re on the floor and make them near tounplayable. They should also ask for switches on the high pick androll with Kornet to leave him on an island at the top of the key.If they do this, the Heat could create two on-the-ball advantagesthat would be very useful in getting other guys open.

Miami has lineups that canexploit these players. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., a prolific post-upplayer, could hunt Pritchard for post-ups, and then the Heat couldsurround him with shooters and short-roll decision-makers. IfBoston sends two to the ball to help, it is an easy kick out to theopen man and now the Heat have a chance to hit their wide-openlooks.

If these players do end upgetting played off the floor, the Celtics’ rotation will shrink andtheir top six guys will have to work as much as they can, exertingmore effort than they should and usually do, and then maybe they’lltire out – which could be largely beneficial for the Heat in thelong run. This is when the Heat’s depth could come in handy – whenBoston would need to rely only on their top six guys to wingames.

Jaime Jaquez would needto be big

Despite being a rookie, Jaquezis about to shoulder a bigger load than he should be, and even withthe daunting expectations, he should – or at least he needs to –match them.

Will he be able to exceedexpectations and perform what’s expected of him? That remains to beseen. But if there’s any indication from this season with the wayhe played and carried himself throughout the year, this rookiewould step up to the plate.

In the final play in vs Chicago,Jaquez had 21 points on 6 rebounds and 6 assists, leading the Heatto the 8th seed. He scored in a variety of ways, including threes,hard drives to the rim, post-ups, and fadeaway jumpers –reminiscent of Butler’s game.

However, without Butler, Jaquezwould have to carry a much bigger load as he will be asked to beone of the main threats. Last year Butler’s masterclass saved themvs the much-favored Bucks and Celtics, but now that they don’t havehim, the Heat would need production from everyone in this serieswith little to no room for errors or any mentalmistakes.

It might be too much to ask fora rookie to handle these kinds of situations, but Jaquez should beequipped and ready for the challenge as Miami enters this series vsBoston.