Celtics aiming to end Miami’s 22 streak

The Miami Heat easily accounted for the Toronto Raptors and equalled the Houston Rockets’ consecutive win streak of 22 achieved in 2007-08.

For the Miami and LeBron haters, the matchup with the Raptors in Toronto posed something of a danger game, however for the realists a Heat win was expected.

Interestingly, Air Canada Centre was where Miami commenced the streak on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Heat still face a gauntlet of opponents (see http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/03/14/san-antonio-spurs-will-stop-the-heat-in-their-tracks/) champing at the bit with intentions of delivering the reigning champions a defeat.

Sitting comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 51-14 record, Miami now head to Boston Garden with a mouth-watering clash against the Celtics (36-29) on the cards. It will be Miami’s fourth of a five-game road trip.

The Celtics enter the blockbuster game in form, with seven victories from their past nine games. The two losses came at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the awful Charlotte Bobcats, who own a 14-52 record.

The two teams have already met twice this season; Miami took out game one at home 120-107 in October 2012 before Boston hit back notching a 100-98 overtime win in Massachusetts, in what was Ray Allen’s first time in Boston since he left the Celtics.

Adding to the build-up, ESPN reported it’s, “exactly five years to the day when the Boston Celtics stopped the second-longest winning streak in NBA History.”

Furthermore, “the Heat would have to do it by becoming the first visiting team in nearly two months to win in Boston – the only Eastern Conference city where they no regular-season victories during the LeBron James era.”

Still without star point guard Rajon Rondo, Boston may be without another vital component, Kevin Garnett. Boston’s influential leader is “50-50 at best” to play, according to head coach Doc Rivers. Garnett contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds in the C’s win over Miami.

Boston isn’t the only team with injury concerns – Dwayne Wade is listed as probable due to a neck strain.

There are moments in sport you don’t want to miss; Miami at Boston is one of those moments. This game will be hard fought.

“We’re going to have a dog fight on our hands,” said Wade.

And Wade would know. In the last matchup, his effectiveness was impacted by the defensive efforts of Courtney Lee, who started in place of the injured Rondo.

The 2006 NBA finals MVP and two-time NBA champion shot 6-20 on the night including 0-4 from the three-point line and turned the ball over six times.

For the Celtics to take a 2-1 advantage over the Heat, Lee will need to put the brakes on his All-Star counterpart. Lee on Wade isn’t the only enticing matchup in this game, Garnett versus Chris Bosh is another must-watch.

A key factor in this game will be the home-court advantage. The Celtics rise to another level when playing at The Garden in front of a crowd thirsty for Miami blood.

So will Boston put an end to the streak?

I’m sticking with Miami continuing their run and succumbing to the San Antonio Spurs when the Heat head west to the Lone Star State.