Boston Celtics and Miami Heat kick start the Western Conference Finals series in American Basketball League Postseason 2019-20.
Team Preview
Miami Heat and Boston Celtics participate in the 7-games postseason series to qualify into the tournament final. Boston Celtics edged past the defending champions Raptors 4-3 and Miami Heat outplayed Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in the conference semifinal series. Celtics and Raptors met in the decider game on Saturday. Tatum led Celtics with scoring 29 points plus 12 rebounds while Jaylen Brown scored 21 points in the win. Meanwhile, Miami was unstoppable as they lost just one game and wrapped up the series in 5 games.
For Miami, Jimmy Butler scored most 21.8 points and 2.1 steals per contest in the postseason and Bam Adebayo added the highest 11 rebounds plus 4.8 assists per game. Jayson Tatum led Celtics in scoring and rebounds with 25.3 points and 10.1 rebounds. Kemba Walker has led in the assists (5.3).
In offensive leaders, the Clippers stand fifth in the league with scoring 116.1 points per contest. Boston Celtics stands first in scoring defense as they allow an average of 100 points per contest. Meanwhile, Miami Heat comes second in scoring defense as they allow 103.7 points per night. Miami has the second-best point difference in the postseason with +8.4 and they are the favourites on Tuesday night. Miami and Boston are the best defending sides in the postseason and whoever wins this battle will be favourites to lift the title in the finals.
Possible Lineups
Boston Celtics
Kemba Walker (PG), Marcus Smart (PG/SG), Jaylen Brown (SG/SF), Jayson Tatum (SF/PF), Daniel Theis (PF/C)
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic (PG), Jimmy Butler (SG/SF), Duncan Robinson (SG/SF), Jae Crowder (PF), Bam Adebayo (C)
Key Players
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum (PF): 25.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Kemba Walker (PG): 19.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists
Jaylen Brown (SG): 21 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2 assists
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic (PG): 21.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF): 21.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Bam Adebayo (C): 16.2 points, 11 rebounds, 4.8 assists