Charles Barkley On Eastern Conference Finals: "I Don't Think Miami's Got A Good Chance At All"
The Miami Heat know they are underdogs against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
In case they forgot, all they had to do was watch the pregame show on TNT. Analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith both picked the Celtics to win the series.
"I don't think Miami's good got a chance at all," Barkley said.
Here's the game preview:
Game time: 8:30 p.m., ET
Where: TD Garden
TV: TNT
Betting line: Heat +8
VITALS: The Miami Heat and Celtics met four times this regular season with the teams splitting the series, 2-2. Miami is 53-80 all-time versus Boston during the regular season, including 30-38 in home games and 23-42 in road games. The teams enter this postseason having faced each other five times in the playoffs, including three times in the East Finals (2012, 2020, 2022), once in the Semifinals (2011) and once in the First Round (2010). The HEAT has recorded a 3-2 playoff series record against the Celtics over that span. For the Heat, Cody Zeller (head) is questionable and Victor Oladipo (knee) and Tyler Herro (hand) are out. For the Celtics, Danilo Gallinari (knee) is out.
PROJECTED STARTERS
HEAT
G Max Strus
G Gabe Vincent
C Bam Adebayo
F Kevin Love
F Jimmy Butler
CELTICS
F Jayson Tatum
F Al Horford
C Robert Williams III
G Jaylen Brown
G Marcus Smart
QUOTABLE
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown on the rematch: "Nothing about last year matters. I don't think Miami is thinking about last year. I think they're coming out and ready to play basketball, if anything a tone from last year. We just got to come with a great, fresh mind and execute what's in front of us. I think that's that key. I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be a great challenge."
MORE HEAT-RELATED STORIES
Schedule for Eastern Conference finals. CLICK HERE
Miami Heat back in conference finals for second straight year. CLICK HERE
It's Heat versus Celtics Part 3. CLICK HERE
A look at the Heat-Celtics during regular season. CLICK HERE
For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE
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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.
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