The 2013 NBA playoffs are set to begin, and today at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be keeping a close eye on the series between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks. These two should be going at it in a great set of battles, and we are going to have our NBA playoffs predictions and scores update on a nightly basis for this and all of the great series throughout the playoffs. Check back to this page often, as we will be updating our final scores and our series analysis so you can make the most informed NBA picks every step of the way in this series.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat NBA Playoff Schedule

Heat Win Series 4-0

Game 1: Milwaukee Bucks 87 – Miami Heat 110
Game 2: Milwaukee Bucks 86 – Miami Heat 98
Game 3: Miami Heat 104 – Milwaukee Bucks 91
Game 4: Miami Heat 88 – Milwaukee Bucks 77

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat Series Odds at
5Dimes Sportsbook
Milwaukee Bucks +150000
Miami Heat -450000
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Bucks vs. Heat Series Update
Game 1: About all that the Bucks can say out Game 1 is that G Monta Ellis and G Brandon Jennings combined for 48 points, but the rest of the team only scored 39 points, and that obviously isn’t going to beat the Heat. F LeBron James had a ho hum 28 points, 10 boards, and eight assists, and he shot 9-of-11 from the floor in doing so. There was never a doubt as to which one of these teams was. Heat 110 – Bucks 87 (Heat Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: The Bucks were once again stymied by the Heat in the second game of this series, but at least this game was a little bit closer than the first. Milwaukee at least played a good defensive game, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to get the job done. Miami once again just flexed its muscles, pulling away by outscoring the Bucks 30-21 in the fourth quarter. Heat 98 – Bucks 86 (Heat Lead Series 2-0)

Game 3: Milwaukee took a 30-21 lead in the first quarter against the Heat on Thursday, and there had to be a little bit of hope that perhaps this could still be a series. Unfortunately, the lead didn’t make it through the third quarter. G Ray Allen came off of the bench and scored 23 points, making up for the fact that G Dwyane Wade scored just four points and turned the ball over six times. Six Bucks scored in double figures, but once again, it just wasn’t nearly enough. Heat 104 – Bucks 91 (Heat Lead Series 3-0)

Game 4: The Heat were really never challenged in this series, and they really weren’t challenged in this game either. In spite of the fact that neither F Chris Bosh nor G Ray Allen played 30 minutes and that G Dwyane Wade didn’t actually play in the game, Miami raced out to a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter and ultimately won by 11. The defense held the Bucks down to just 36 points in the second half. Milwaukee simply couldn’t overcome the combination of G Brandon Jenning and F Ersan Ilyasova shooting 4-of-20 from the field between them. Heat 88 – Bucks 77 (Heat Win Series 4-0)

2013 Bucks vs. Heat Series Preview

If you believe that this series is going to be anywhere near close, you have to have another thing coming. The Heat might take a little bit of time to back in the saddle, as they really haven’t been playing all that hard over the course of the last few weeks, but they are clearly the superior team in this game in this best of seven series.

The Bucks know that they would be lucky to get a game in this series, and they are probably just happy to be here in the playoffs. Milwaukee made the biggest move in the league at the NBA’s trade deadline, trading for G JJ Redick. Redick has only averaged 12.3 points per game since coming to the team, which has been a bit of a disappointment, but the truth of the matter is that team really didn’t have a place for all of these guards. Redick is basically the same size is both G Monta Ellis and G Brandon Jennings, and these three can’t successfully be on the court at the same time. There just aren’t all that many bigs that are going to be able to defend the rest of the bigs that the Heat are bringing to the table.

Meanwhile, Miami is clearly one of the most talented teams that we have seen, not just in the league, but in league history as well. The Heat went on a 27-game winning streak, the second longest in the history of the league, and the display was one of the most impressive things that we have ever seen in pro basketball. F LeBron James is going to win the MVP Award once again this year, and for good reason. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 boards, and 7.2 assists per game this season, and those averages probably would have been a heck of a lot better if not for the fact that he didn’t play a heck of a lot of minutes over the course of the last several weeks of the season. G Dwyane Wade would have been the most important player on virtually any other team in the league after averaging 21.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.0 boards per game. F Chris Bosh probably would have been as well with 16.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. What really makes this team different though, is its IQ and its three-point shooting ability. Miami is second in the league, knocking down 39.6 percent of its three point shots, and the play of G Mario Chalmers and G Ray Allen is clearly making all the difference for this team.

For as much as the basketball enthusiast would like to think that this series will get back to Miami after leaving after Games 1 and 2. It would be a shock to us if Milwaukee figured out how to get even a game in this series when push came to shove, but it would be surprising to us as well if it managed to keep a single game within single digits either.

Heat vs. Bucks Series Prediction: Miami Heat in 4

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The story for the 2012-2013 Los Angeles Lakers was supposed to be one of redemption and success. The team brought in arguably the most talented center in the league in Dwight Howard, and also added a future Hall of Fame point guard in Steve Nash, who is still chasing that illustrious first NBA title. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Jordan Hill… It was all supposed to come together for a title in Tinseltown. However, as of February 3rd, the Lakers are just 21-26. They’re five games below .500 and are four games out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Bet Revolution has posted some great Los Angeles Lakers odds, including what their fate is going to be for the rest of the 2012-2013 season. Check it out!

Obviously, these NBA odds are showing just how bad of shape that the men in purple and gold really are. They went from a team that was once upon a time nearly the odds on favorite to win the Western Conference to a team that is -220 to miss the playoffs! Even if they do get in, the insinuation is there that -600 or so says that LA doesn’t get past the first round of the postseason. Getting in as one of the bottom seeds likely sets up a showdown with the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, or Los Angeles Clippers, all of which have played significantly better ball than the Lakers have this year.

So what’s the problem for the Lakers? Kobe is doing his scoring for sure. He is putting up 27.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game, and he is knocking down a healthy 46.6 percent of his shots from the field. Over the course of the last several games, Bryant has proven that he can put the ball in his hands and get the job done as a distributor as well, something that Nash just hasn’t done this season. Granted, the numbers for Nash do look reasonable at 11.7 points and 7.7 assists per game, but the numbers just don’t tell the whole story of how he is really playing on the court, especially on the defensive end where he is truly a liability at this point in his career.

The numbers too, don’t suggest terrible things about D-12. It’s not like we didn’t know that he couldn’t shoot free throws before, though his 49.6 shooting percent from the charity stripe is just pathetic. However, what more could the Lakers ask for? Howard is averaging 16.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. The numbers just don’t show what he has really done on the court though, as he hasn’t come up with the big baskets when need be, and he clearly has gotten into it over and over again with Bryant, the undisputed leader of the team.

F Pau Gasol has basically been benched at this point by D’Antoni. He just doesn’t fit the high octane system, and F Earl Clark has replaced Gasol in the fold. Of course, with Howard out of the lineup injured, Gasol is playing the center position, where he is probably better served to play in D’Antoni’s system, just as F Amare Stoudemire did for years in Phoenix. The proof is in the pudding though, and the trade rumors have gotten to Gasol. He needs to be moved and moved for some younger pieces to the puzzle. The problem is that the market just isn’t entirely there for him, and trading Gasol will come at a discounted price for sure.

Now add into there that F Antawn Jamison has been spot, Hill is out for the year injured, and the rest of the bench features stiffs like Darius Morris, Steve Blake, and Chris Duhon, all of which are just terrible, and the equation just isn’t good for the Lakers.

We do ultimately think that they are going to get into the playoffs, as some of the teams that are holding onto spots right now just aren’t all that great. However, there is a clear divide between the Lake Show and the great teams in the Western Conference, and there is no doubt whatsoever that this team probably isn’t getting out of the first round of the playoffs, if it gets there at all.

The NBA Finals odds are getting hot and heavy, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are taking a look at the odds to win the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics series gets underway this week!

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Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Boston @ Miami (Monday 5/28, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 2: Boston @ Miami (Wednesday 5/30, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 3: Miami @ Boston (Friday 6/1, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 4: Miami @ Boston (Sunday 6/3, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 5: Boston @ Miami (Tuesday 6/5, 8:30 PM, ESPN) (If Necessary)
Game 6: Miami @ Boston (Thursday 6/7, 8:30 PM, ESPN) (If Necessary)
Game 7: Boston @ Miami (Saturday 6/9, 8:30 PM, ESPN) (If Necessary)

Key #1: Rajon Rondo has to be the best quarterback on the court
When the “Boston Three Party” first came together, all eyes were pointed at Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. Everyone knew that the C’s were going to need a fourth player – some sort of a role player to try to get everything to come together. That man turned out to be the fourth man in the “Big Four” in Rondo. All of a sudden, the man from Kentucky that no one seemed to want on their team at the beginning of the year has nine triple-doubles in his playoff career, including two here in this postseason. Rondo has the ability to take over a game at the point guard spot as a slasher or a passer, and in the end, he might be the most dynamic player on the court. Rondo is really the only one that has young enough legs for the Celtics to keep up with the Heat when they are running up and down the floor as well, and that might be a big time difference making factor in this series.

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Series Odds at
Wager Web Sportsbook
Boston Celtics +415
Miami Heat -525
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Key #2: Boston has to exploit any Miami weakness in the paint
When the Celtics were busy winning championships, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis were doing the job in the paint. They weren’t always good for the biggest numbers in the world, but those two were pulling down the important rebounds and altering shots that opponents were taking in the middle of the court all game long. Now though, both are gone, and the bigs for Boston just aren’t as good as they once were. Brandon Bass really isn’t your prototypical center, and there isn’t one that is going to be on the court for either side. Chris Bosh is still hurting for the Heat, and he might end up being out of this entire series with that abdomen injury. If that’s the case, it is up to really just Udonis Haslem for the first two games of this series, and Dexter Pittman as well after that when he returns from his suspension. Whether it be Bass, Garnett, or one of the other big men that the Celtics have to bring off of the bench, someone is going to have to find a way to dominate in the paint the way that Roy Hibbert did at times for the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs against Miami.

Key #3: The Super Friends have to continue to be super
It seems to go without saying that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are going to have to be the two best players on the court for the Heat to win this series. Miami has had its wakeup call, though. The team was pushed just a bit by Indiana, but in the face of adversity, D-Wade and LeBron both game up with huge games down the stretch of the series to make that series look ultimately like Secretariat pulling away from the rest of the field at the Belmont Stakes. This Miami team was assembled specifically to beat Boston, and LeBron knows that he has already had his NBA Finals dreams shattered by these Celtics once before. Not only could the Super Friends figure out how to get their first NBA title together if they can get past Boston, but they might be able to end the legacy in Beantown once and for all. That being said, if LeBron and Wade go back to what they were doing at the end of last year, alternating which one has the ball at the most important junctures of the game instead of playing the best matchups that are on the court, all of a sudden, Miami might find itself to be in a lot of trouble for the second straight series against a clearly inferior team.

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Of all of the great games that we have seen on the 2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule, the best of the bunch may have yet to get started. The top two teams in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, are set to get it on in the Western Conference Finals, and the winner will move on to play for all of the marbles on the 2012 NBA Finals odds! Don’t miss our 2012 Western Conference Finals preview and series picks!

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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Sunday 5/27, 8:30 PM, TNT)
Game 2: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Tuesday 5/29, 9:00 PM, TNT)
Game 3: San Antonio @ Oklahoma City (Thursday 5/31, 9:00 PM, TNT)
Game 4: San Antonio @ Oklahoma City (Saturday 6/2, 8:30 PM, TNT)
Game 5: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Monday 6/4, 9:00 PM, TNT, If Necessary)
Game 6: San Antonio @ Oklahoma City (Wednesday 6/6, 9:00 PM, TNT, If Necessary)
Game 7: Oklahoma City @ San Antonio (Friday 6/8, 9:00 PM, TNT, If Necessary)

Key #1: The post defenders for the Thunder have to stay strong
This could really be the key to the whole series. The Spurs are going to be using their depth for sure to consistently give the Thunder everything that they could ever want, and that means a heck of a lot of driving into the paint and trying to control the low block. Battling it out in the paint, there just hasn’t been a team that has been able to body with San Antonio yet. That being said, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, and Nazr Mohammad are going to be waiting in the lane this time around for the slashing guards and the bigs for the Spurs, and we think that this is going to be a remarkable matchup. It isn’t about the stats for the big men for the Thunder. They just need to play well defensively, clean up the glass, and alter (or block) a ton of shots to make the Spurs uncomfortable. If they don’t and San Antonio can slash into the lane freely, this series is going to be a one-sided romp.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Odds at
5Dimes Sportsbook
Oklahoma City Thunder +175
San Antonio Spurs -210
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Key #2: The Spurs have to be careful with the pace of this series
Depth has been the key for the Spurs over the course of the first two rounds of the playoffs. They clearly had more bodies to throw at both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz, and they were able to just keep running up and down the court to take care of those teams without all that much in the way of problems. Save for Tony Parker and Tim Duncan though, no one averaged more than 26 minutes per game. The good news is that it kept legs fresh. The bad news in this series though, is that the Thunder are ready, willing, and certainly able to keep up at this type of a pace with the Spurs. San Antonio has to be careful to say the least. Yes, this is a team that has the experience of winning NBA Finals, but those wins all came in situations where defense won championships. Now, the Spurs are going to try to run their way to a title. When it ran into a younger team that was willing to run last year in the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio was in some trouble and eventually got knocked out of the playoffs. We know that this is what got the Spurs to this point, but the possibility is there that the Thunder could force this tempo even faster, and that could make things very uncomfortable for the flow of the Spurs.

Key #3: The Spurs cannot commit too many fouls and send the Thunder to the foul line
If the Spurs are going to lose this series, there is a good chance that they do it at the charity stripe. For all of the good things that they do, the Spurs really don’t shoot foul shots that well. Tim Duncan is a liability from the foul line for sure, and though the guards are usually all good shooters, there are too many on the court that could be fouled and sent to the line for crucial free throws that might be nervy. The argument could be made that Oklahoma City had that issue last year when it was deep into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history (since moving from Seattle), but this year, with the experience that the team has, there should be no jitters. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are all great free throw shooters, and these are the men that are going to have the ball in their hands. We have seen this team knock down foul shots all postseason, making teams pay for trying to get too physical with them, and the Thunder are going to continue to do that in this series. The Spurs have to find ways to stay out of foul trouble, not so much for their depth, but just to keep Oklahoma City off of the charity stripe.

Click Here to get the best NBA picks that you’ll find on the internet, including our Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio picks and the NBA playoffs picks for the rest of the postseason odds.

The San Antonio Spurs are going to be back in action against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to make our NBA playoff predictions and our Spurs vs. Clippers series picks for what could be quite the entertaining series!

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Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Tuesday 5/15, 9:30 PM, TNT)
Game 2: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Thursday 5/17, 9:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 3: San Antonio @ Los Angeles (Saturday 5/19, 3:30 PM, ABC)
Game 4: San Antonio @ Los Angeles (Sunday 5/20, 10:30 PM, TNT)
Game 5: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Tuesday 5/22, TBD, If Necessary)
Game 6: San Antonio @ Los Angeles (Friday 5/25, TBD, If Necessary)
Game 7: Los Angeles @ San Antonio (Sunday 5/27, TBD, If Necessary)

Key #1: CP3 has no choice but to take over
The Clippers are just tremendous underdogs in this series, and for good reason. If there is any chance to pull off the upset though, Chris Paul needs to be the man of the hour. CP3 went off for 36 points when these two teams last met at the AT&T Center, and it took all 36 of those points to be able to get out of Dodge with a ‘W’. Of course, Mo Williams also put together 33 points off of the bench that day to help out, and that made all of the difference in the world. Still, it is going to come down to what CP3 can do. He is still hurting with a hip pointer, and it is clear that that is going to hamper him for as long as the Clippers are in the playoffs. Still, this is why Paul was brought to Tinseltown, and he is going to have to be the man that does everything for the Clippers if they want to stand any chance.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs Series Odds at
5Dimes Sportsbook
Los Angeles Clippers +1350
San Antonio Spurs -2200
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Key #2: Gregg Popovich has to continue to rotate his players
Well, at least we know that that shouldn’t be all that much of a problem. The Spurs use at least 11 players seemingly every single night, and Popovich is known to use all 13 that he has available to him regardless of whether the game is close or not. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker can’t all play 40 minutes per game like they used to, and that means that the likes of Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Gary Neal, etc. have no choice but to step it up. None of them really need to contribute more than perhaps about 20 minutes on the court, but those 20 minutes are key, especially the ones that come without the big time scorers on the hardwood.

Key #3: The Clippers absolutely cannot get killed on the glass
Even dating back to 2010, it is quite easy to see the key to winning games in this series. The team that controls the glass is the one that is going to have the best chance to win. The Clippers outrebounded the Spurs 41-35 in the 120-108 win back in March at the AT&T Center, and they held the 53-42 edge in a 103-100 loss at Staples Center in overtime in February. The Spurs were +13 in a 115-90 win right at the outset of the season in December, while the Clippers won the battle on the boards 50-43 in the last meeting of last season, a 90-85 win. That means that Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and the likes really need to make sure that they are sure-handed on the glass and don’t let a somewhat undersized San Antonio team have its way. If the Spurs win the rebounding battle every night, the Clippers are going to be in a heck of a lot of trouble.

Click Here to get the best NBA picks that you’ll find on the internet, including our Los Angeles vs. San Antonio picks and the NBA playoffs picks for the rest of the postseason odds.

The Western Conference finally gets involved in the second round of the playoffs on Monday night, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers are set to square off. Check out our keys to the game for the Thunder vs. Lakers, as well as our Lakers vs. Thunder series picks and a preview of what should be a great, two-week battle.

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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City (Monday 5/14, 9:30 PM, TNT)
Game 2: Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City (Wednesday 5/16, 9:30 PM, TNT)
Game 3: Oklahoma City @ Los Angeles (Friday 5/18, 10:30 PM, ESPN)
Game 4: Oklahoma City @ Los Angeles (Saturday 5/19, 10:30 PM, TNT)
Game 5: Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City (Monday 5/21, TBD)
Game 6: Oklahoma City @ Los Angeles (Wednesday 5/23, TBD)
Game 7: Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City (Sunday 5/27, TBD)

Key #1: Oklahoma City has to get its head back in the game quickly
About the only disadvantage that a team generally has when it finishes off a sweep in the first round is that it could show some rust. We aren’t as worried about this with the San Antonio Spurs as we are with the Thunder, knowing that the Spurs have some veteran leadership to lead the way during the absence. However, no matter who you are, nine days off is going to be tough to say the least. The Thunder are going to have to hit the ground running in this series though, knowing that they are going against an LA team that only finished its first round series two nights ago. If Oklahoma City is going to slip at home, Games 1 and 2 are going to be quite dangerous for sure, especially with Kobe and the gang starting to pick up some confidence.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Series Odds at
Wager Web Sportsbook
Los Angeles Lakers +390
Oklahoma City Thunder -430
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Key #2: Kobe needs some help from his bench
There are two things that we know for sure from the Lakers every single time we see them on the court. 1: Kobe Bryant is going to be amazing. He has averaged just under 30 points per game in the playoffs this year, and the truth of the matter is that it is always disappointing when he doesn’t play 42 minutes and score 35 points when he is out there this time of year. 2: The rest of the team is going to be a giant crapshoot. Sure, once Metta World Peace came back to the lineup, matters helped dramatically. He put up 15 in Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets. However, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are below the numbers that we are expecting, and that is putting the pressure on the bench. Steve Blake shot the ball well from beyond the arc in the first round, and that has to keep up. Where is the rest of the help coming from, though? Ramon Sessions? Jordan Hill? Devin Ebanks? No matter who it is from, the Lakers are going to need their supporting cast to really step up, or they will get blown away in this series.

Key #3: The team that keeps its composure will win this series
We have seen it with the Lakers time and time again. They are a team that is able to be frustrated. The Dallas Mavericks did it to the point last year that they were able to sweep LA out of the second round of the playoffs. However, we know that Oklahoma City can be ruffled as well. Metta World Peace has the ability to be a stifling defensive player (as long as his elbows are staying close to his own body), while the combo of Gasol and Bynum in the paint is usually fantastic defensively. If Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook start to have some issues driving to the basket and become strictly jump shooters, the Thunder are in trouble. Whichever team is able to really play its game and forget what the other is trying to make it do will be in the best shape in this series.

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The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers went back and forth with each other all year long in the Atlantic Division. Now, the two have to meet in the playoffs, and we are set to make our NBA picks for the postseason, including our Boston vs. Philadelphia series predictions!

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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Philadelphia @ Boston (Saturday 5/12, 8:00 PM, TNT)
Game 2: Philadelphia @ Boston (Monday 5/14, 7:00 PM, TNT)
Game 3: Boston @ Philadelphia (Wednesday 5/16, 7:00 PM, TNT)
Game 4: Boston @ Philadelphia (TBD)
Game 5: Philadelphia @ Boston (TBD, If Necessary)
Game 6: Boston @ Philadelphia (TBD, If Necessary)
Game 7: Philadelphia @ Boston (TBD, If Necessary)

Key #1: The 76ers have to keep their emotions in check
All too often what we see in the playoffs with teams that just pulled off big wins is that they fall into the tank and get eliminated very quickly after that. In the case of the 76ers, they were truly emotional in their victory over the Chicago Bulls in the first round, and the celebration really looked more like an NBA Finals type of celebration than a simply first round series triumph. Though there is plenty of NBA experience on this team, there aren’t many that have ever been this far in the playoffs before, and we are just afraid that what we saw out of the Memphis Grizzlies last year when they were finally taken out of the second round of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder could happen again if the Sixers just don’t have the oomph to keep the foot on the gas pedal throughout this whole series.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Series Odds at
5Dimes Sportsbook
Philadelphia 76ers +175
Boston Celtics -210
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Key #2: More than six players will have to be big for the Celtics
Six players. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Brandon Bass, and Avery Bradley. That’s all that played in more than 17 minutes per game for the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, and those are the only players that averaged more than 3.5 points per game as well. Pierce was the catalyst of the bunch, coming up with 21.2 points per game, while KG and Rondo weren’t all that far behind at 18.7 and 16.8 points per game respectively. That being said, there is still a heck of a lot that others can do. Mickael Pietrus was awful in that opening series against the Hawks, and Marquis Daniels was really nowhere to be found either. These are players that play crucial minutes for Boston. It’s not that they are going to have to be double digit point scorers every time out there. However, it would be quite nice if in the end, the Celtics didn’t have to rely on just those main four scorers and two others to account for the mass majority of what they are doing offensively.

Key #3: Defense will be the ultimate key
The Celtics ranked No. 2 in the league in terms of points per game in the regular season at 89.3, and teams only shot 41.9 percent against them, best in the NBA. Philly was third in both categories at 89.4 points per game and 42.7 shooting percentage against. In the playoffs, that has been magnified even more. Boston kept the Hawks down to just 87 points or fewer in all six games of that series, something that isn’t often done. Granted, we know that the Sixers had some help in the form of injuries to Derrick Rose and then Joakim Noah as the series wore on, but regardless of those facts, holding the mighty Bulls, who still had one of the best offenses in the league this season even with Rose missing half the year, down to 82 points or fewer in four straight games to close out that series was quite impressive. Whichever team can impose its defensive will on the other is likely to be the one that ends up advancing in this series.

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