Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra can definitely make a case for being the best coach in the NBA.
The Heat were 14.5-point underdogs heading into Wednesday night’s game, yet they wound up winning by double digits, and they led for most of the game.
That’s despite not having Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier and being on the road against the best team in the league.
Of course, the Heat deserve all the credit in the world for their win and stealing homecourt advantage.
Then again, the Boston Celtics also deserve plenty of the blame for going through the motions at the TD Garden again.
As pointed out by Ernie Johnson Jr. during the game’s broadcast on TNT, the Celtics’ postseason woes at home have become a worrisome trend.
They’re 13-13 at the Garden dating back to the past four postseasons, and that’s not what you’d expect from a team that’s constantly either No. 1 or No. 2 in the Eastern Conference.
As a matter of fact, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley admitted that they simply didn’t know how to explain that trend, wondering what happens to the Celtics when they head back to Massachusetts.
“What the hell is going on when those guys play at home?” 👀
Chuck on the Celtics’ struggles at home in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/mu3Gls84IZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 25, 2024
The Celtics have been perennial championship contenders.
Besides Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they’ve always had at least another star player, plenty of depth, and a solid regular-season record.
This trend is part of the reason why some people were unfazed by their record and dominance in the first 82 games of the season, and why they still need to prove themselves in the playoffs like everybody else.
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Kristaps Porzingis Sends A Clear Message After Game 1 Win