Two years after meeting on the same stage in the NBA Bubble, the Heat and Celtics will again meet in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.
The No. 1 seed Heat got here with series wins over the Hawks and 76ers while the No. 2 seed Celtics made their way to the East Finals with a sweep of the Nets and a ripping seven-game series win over the defending-champion Bucks.
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There will be plenty of star power in the series, with the Celtics having a star duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, a savvy veteran in Al Horford and an award winner in Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, while the Heat have their duo of Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, savvy veterans in Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker and an award winner in Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro.
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With Erik Spoelstra and Ime Udoka on the sidelines, there is sure to be a chess match among the coaches as well.
Whichever way you look at the matchup, it has the makings of a series that will be a fight to the end.
In anticipation of the Eastern Conference Finals, members of our NBA staff identify one matchup to watch and make their picks for the series and the newly-introduced Conference Finals MVP award.
Celtics vs. Heat matchup to watch
I've got my eyes on the battle between big men Bam Adebayo and Al Horford.
The last time these two teams met in the postseason, Adebayo made his mark on the series, averaging 21.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists over five games, but the Celtics did not have Horford to slow him down.
Horford, who's turned back the clock this postseason, has the IQ and the know-how to limit Adebayo. It'll be fun to watch two cerebral bigs go head to head, even if they are in different stages of their careers.
It could sway the series.
— Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21)
I'll be locked in on P.J. Tucker defending Jayson Tatum.
I expect that Spo will sick Tucker on Tatum and I wonder if over the course of this seven-game series if Tucker's physicality will wear on Tatum. Tucker isn't going to be able to stay in front of Tatum consistently if he's not able to bump him a little. The officials will probably play a part in this matchup as well, but it's the Conference Finals and I expect them to let the players play a bit.
If the physicality doesn't end up bothering Tatum much, I wonder what the Heat can do to stop him or at least slow him down.
— Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay)
Put me down for Jaylen Brown guarding Jimmy Butler.
"Playoff Jimmy" is no joke. He's been a menace this postseason, averaging 28.7 points per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field. The 76ers had no answer for him as he went for over 30 points twice and 40 points once to push Miami to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, Miami will desperately need him to keep up that offensive production to match Boston's firepower and it will be Brown who's put to the test.
It hasn't been Brown's best showing on the defensive end so far these playoffs. The Celtics' switch-heavy scheme takes a lot of one-on-one matchups away, but they will need Brown to step up to the challenge and try and contain Butler.
If he's successful in doing so, it could mean a return to the NBA Finals for the Celtics.
— Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_)
Celtics vs. Heat expert picks
I have now seen enough to believe that Boston is the best team in basketball, so I'm going with the Celtics in six games.
Defensively, the Celtics have made life difficult for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday this postseason. Boston's next-man-up mentality has allowed it to win games in the absence of Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and interior anchor Robert Williams III.
The duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum might be too much for the Heat, who are still waiting on the status of Kyle Lowry. Miami could get by Atlanta and Philadelphia with a hobbled Lowry, but Boston is a different beast.
— McGregor
I agree with Gil, I have the Celtics winning this series in seven games.
I trust Boston's defense to make it tough for the Heat who already struggle to score. The Celtics also have enough X-Factors that I trust to step up in big moments if Tatum or Brown are having an off-night.
Kyle Lowry's injury is lingering over the Heat. If he was healthy, I'd put more thought into a Heat pick but I have the Celtics advancing to the Finals this year.
— Gay
I'm also taking the Celtics in six games.
I believe there is a layer of revenge to this series after Boston fell to Miami in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020. This team Celtics team is significantly different than that Celtics team – they're more fast, athletic and versatile defensively and they're more of a cohesive unit offensively.
The Heat will be heavily relying on Butler and Tyler Herro to carry the scoring load and I'm not sure that's enough to keep up with Boston's stars.
This will be Brown's fourth Conference Finals and Tatum's third Conference Finals. To me, it feels like this duo, with this supporting cast around them, is ready to get over the hump and get to the NBA Finals.
— Irving
Celtics vs. Heat Eastern Conference Finals MVP prediction
It's only right that the inaugural Larry Bird Trophy goes to Jayson Tatum.
In 2018, we saw Tatum arrive on the Eastern Conference Finals stage as a 20-year-old rookie. In 2020, we saw him take a leap into an All-NBA performer en route to yet another Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
This year is the year he transcends.
Tatum is on the precipice of superstardom, as evidenced by performances like his 46-point masterpiece while facing elimination against the Bucks. If the Celtics are to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years, it will be because of Tatum.
— McGregor
First, let me say this. I am so happy the NBA decided to give out an MVP for the Conference Finals. I think if we had the award long ago, a lot of players' legacies would be viewed differently with the award identified on their basketball-reference pages.
It's kind of fitting that the first Larry Bird MVP goes to a Celtic. I think it ends up being Jayson Tatum. For the Celtics to get to where I expect them to go, Tatum will have to be the man. And he will.
— Gay
Gil and Carlan already said all I could say.
This is the inaugural season of the new Eastern Conference Finals trophy and Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy, both named after Celtics legends Bob Cousy and Larry Bird, respectively.
It's only right for the Celtics to earn the first Bob Cousy Eastern Conference Finals trophy, and it will be Jayson Tatum who takes home the first Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
Tatum has already gone toe-to-toe with Durant and Antetokounmpo. He's ready for whatever the Heat throw at him, and he's going to star on this stage to reach his first-ever NBA Finals.
— Irving
