The Miami Heat had everything going in their favor to punch their tickets to the NBA Finals.

They went up 3-0 in the series in convincing fashion, pulling off two major comebacks before running the Boston Celtics off the court in Game 3.

Celtics players warned the Heat not to let them win even one game, and they didn’t take them seriously.

Fast forward to today, and they’re facing a win-or-go-home scenario in the most hostile arena in the National Basketball Association: the TD Garden.

If that wasn’t tough enough, Odds Shark recently pointed out that they might have to deal with an extra adversary, as they’ve fared quite terribly when Scott Foster has been the crew chief, which is the case again tonight.

The Miami Heat are 2-13 SU and 3-12 ATS when Scott Foster is officiating since 2021.

He is the Crew Chief for Game 7 tonight in Boston. pic.twitter.com/GEMAm4TebM

— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) May 29, 2023

Advertisement

Per Odds Shark the Heat are 2-13 SU and 3-12 ATS when Scott Foster is officiating since 2021.

On the flip side, the Celtics are 11-3 ATS in the playoffs since 2020 with Foster as the Crew Chief.

Foster has become one of the most infamous referees in the league, with countless fans and even players ripping him on social media and press conferences, especially in the playoffs.

NBA fans — and definitely Heat fans — will hope Foster — or referees as a whole — aren’t a factor in tonight’s must-win game, as there has been plenty of chatter about biased officiating in this series already.

The post Officiating Stat Shows Luck May Not Be On Heat’s Side For Game 7 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link

The Boston Celtics were forced to play without Malcolm Brogdon in Saturday’s must-win clash vs. the Miami Heat.

Now, according to CBS, Joe Mazzulla could have the reigning Sixth Man of the Year back on the floor for today’s crucial Game 7.

Malcolm Brogdon is expected to play for the Celtics in Game 7 tonight, a source told @andscape. https://t.co/qYZKxEGUxi

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 29, 2023

Brogdon has reportedly been playing through an injured elbow and forearm, and he’s struggled mightily with his shot from games 3 to 5.

He’s reportedly available to play as per usual in today’s matchup, but whether Mazzulla and the Celtics’ medical staff allow him to be on the floor for heavy minutes remains to be seen.

Brogdon’s addition was one of the biggest moves of the offseason, and his presence has done wonders for the 17-time NBA champions.

His basketball IQ and ability to contribute on both ends of the floor were huge for the second unit, although he was also touted with the task of being a starter multiple times.

Brogdon gives the Celtics some much-needed positional versatility on defense and offense.

His length allows him to guard multiple positions, and he can play on and off the ball as either a primary playmaker and facilitator or as a slasher.

The Heat aren’t as deep as the Celtics and that could be a decisive factor in Game 7.

Tired legs can be tricky at this point in the season, and having one of the best substitutes in the game ready to lead the way while the starters get a breather could be key for a team that’s on the verge of making NBA history.

The post Celtics Get Good Injury News Ahead Of Game 7 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link

Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra know one thing about motivation and developing a winning culture, which is why they’ve been so successful in leading the Miami Heat together.

There are countless stories about Riley and his pitches to free agency, and coach Spoelstra isn’t the one to mince his words when tough love is needed in that locker room.

Their tactics were again on full display ahead of tonight’s Game 7 in Boston, as NBA insider Andy Slater recently reported that the team scheduled a flight to Denver — not Miami — right after the game.

The Heat are planning to fly to Denver after tonight’s game

(Via @AndySlater ) pic.twitter.com/v1incaQGRr

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 29, 2023

The organization is clearly trying to send a stern message and flip the switch ahead of their most crucial game of the season: If you don’t think we’re going to win tonight, don’t even bother getting on that plane.

The Heat have already proven that they’re capable of taking down the best teams in the league; they’ve done it multiple times, and not just in this year’s playoffs.

Coach Spoelstra is one of the top-notch tacticians in the league as well, and he knows he needs to be at his best tonight if he wants to put his team in a position to avoid another heartbreaking loss.

It’s not usual to see a team like the Heat or a coach like Spoelstra losing four games in a row, let alone to the very same rival.

And if this isn’t motivating enough for them to get the job done, then nothing will do the trick at this point.

The post The Miami Heat Have Reportedly Already Made Plans After Game 7 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link