Boston Celtics facing Heat in first round will spark team’s energy

The Boston Celtics begin their quest back to the NBA Finals on Saturday afternoon against either the Atlanta Hawks or Miami Heat.

While playing against the Hawks seem like the best-case scenario for the C’s, facing off against Jimmy Butler and the Heat may be the best matchup for the No. 2 seed Celtics because a team like Miami will bring the best out of a 57-win team who tend to play down to competition.

Trey Young is a different kind of scoring beast, but the Hawks as a team wouldn’t challenge the Celtics’ energy like the Heat would.  A player like Butler would and should bring out the best in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, which is what the Celtics need.

Boston Celtics vs Heat would be a first-round battle that will test C’s stars

The Butler factor along with a head coach like Erik Spoelstra are two components of this Heat team that scares former Boston Celtics player and current radio broadcaster Cedric Maxwell when thinking about a possible first-round matchup.

"“Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler put a little twinge in my heart when I start thinking about how they play and what he brings to the table,” Maxwell said, via NBC Sports Boston.  “There’s a certain way that you see these guys play, and they up to another level when they play against the C’s.“I think the Celtics definitely are the better team, and they will beat Miami probably in five.  But still, there’s a little, just a slight hint of fear in my heart sometimes when I think about the Miami Heat and what they can do.”"

I hear you Maxwell, I hear you, but let’s remember the fear all fans had a season ago when it was the Brooklyn Nets in the first round.  Going up against Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant brought the best out of Tatum, Brown and the boys and that same type of first-round energy is what this team needs out of the gate.

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Along with Butler, Bam Adebayo can be a load as well as Tyler Herro’s scoring, but the Celtics are the better team and a deeper team.  Although the Heat to the Celtics to Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the C’s have one key addition that should make this time around a bit easier.  They have added Malcolm Brogdon who would be a big factor in a series with the Heat.

The two teams split the season series in the 2022-23 NBA season, but the Boston Celtics were clearly the better team as they lost the last two games without their full ammunition.  Again, the Heat would be the team who could bring out the best out of Tatum and Brown from the start and that is the energy test they need on both ends of the court.

The fear in facing the Hawks is the Boston Celtics will play down to them and could possibly allow the series to go longer than it should.

Bring on Miami!