Lowry to sit out Game 1; analysts favor Celtics
Heat point guard Kyle Lowry, who has missed six games this postseason because of a strained left hamstring, was ruled out for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston on Tuesday at FTX Arena (8:30 p.m., TNT).
Lowry did not practice on Monday but “was doing stuff on the side,” Erik Spoelstra said.
Lowry missed four consecutive games with the injury earlier in the playoffs, returned for Games 3 and 4 against Philadelphia but was ineffective, and then missed Games 5 and 6 against the 76ers. The Heat is 6-0 without him this postseason.
Jimmy Butler said Lowry has been in good spirits, “smiling, knowing he’s close to returning. He’s doing everything he can to get back and doing everything he can to make sure we’re all prepared in case he can’t go. As we’re studying film, he’s right next to us making sure everyone knows what’s going on.”
Also on the Heat’s injury report: Caleb Martin (left ankle sprain), Max Strus (right hamstring strain), P.J. Tucker (right calf strain) and Gabe Vincent (left hamstring strain). All four are listed as questionable, but expected to play in Game 1.
Meanwhile, Boston listed guard Marcus Smart as questionable with a sprained right foot. Smart was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for this season.
“Regarding Marcus, he took a pretty bad fall and got bent up,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “He has a mid foot sprain and it’s pretty tender and sore right now. But we’ll get him around the clock treatment.”
Celtics center Robert Williams will be available for Game 1, Udoka said.
Williams also was available for Game 7 of the Celtics-Milwaukee series on Sunday — but didn’t play in that game — after missing the previous three games due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
“He’s available, looking better every day,” Udoka said.
Williams averaged 10 points and 9.6 rebounds this season, but the Celtics are 10-4 in games he has missed since late March.
The only Celtics player who has been ruled out for Game 1 is Sam Hauser because of right shoulder instability.
BUTLER’S FEATS
Butler enters this series first in the NBA in steals in these playoffs (2.1 per game), fourth in scoring (28.7), 14th in rebounding (7.6) and 19th in assists at 5.4.
Asked if he is operating at “Peak Jimmy,” Butler said: “I feel I’ve been peak me all year long. You all see the ball going in a little more, passing a little bit less.
“People tend to think that’s what makes you a really good basketball player and I don’t think that’s the case. Anything you do, as long as it creates
wins for your teams, that’s what solidifies you as a really good [player].”
Both the Heat and Celtics have stars playing at their best, with Butler and Jayson Tatum, who is fifth in the NBA in postseason scoring at 28.3 per game.
“He’s one of the best in the game right now,” Butler said of Tatum. “As much attention as he draws on the offensive end, what’s really impressive is the way he’s picked up his defensive intensity. You have to tip your hat and respect him. Those are the guys you want to go up against.”
Because both teams are physical and skilled defensively, could this resemble the 1990s Heat-Knicks playoff series?
“The game is different,” Spoelstra said. “I would never compare it to the physicality of that series. That was closer to football. This will be basketball….
It’s not going to be anything over the top. It’s just going to be good competition.
“It’s not going to be like football. We don’t need the extra officiating. We don’t need anybody… to clean it up. It’s two really committed defensive teams that shouldn’t be 150-point games….
“Our guys…love taking on big challenges and that’s what we’re facing with Boston. [They played] as well as anybody in the entire league once we got to 2022.”
ANALYSTS WEIGH IN
Even though the Heat is the higher seed, Boston is the betting favorite at Nevada sports books. And several network analysts also favor the Celtics. A sampling of opinion:
TNT’s Charles Barkley said he picks Boston because “their scorers are going to be more efficient than Miami’s. Tyler Herro’s
struggling. I’m leaning toward the Celtics.”
TNT’s Kenny Smith
said: “From Day 1, I had the Celtics going to the Finals. The matchups [in this Heat-Boston series] allows [the Celtics] to continue to do the things they do — score and run.”
ESPN’s JJ Redick,
who has been effusive in his praise of the Heat all season, said, “Boston has been the No. 1 defense in the playoffs and had to go against Kevin Durant
and Giannis [Antetokounmpo], who are arguably the two best players in the world.
“They should absolutely be the title favorites to win it all. They have probably the most complete team, the most size, the most switchable pieces and Jayson Tatum.”
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Tucker is back where he was before the All-Star break: atop the NBA leaderboard in three-point shooting percentage.
Tucker has made 15 of 31 three-point attempts in postseason; among players with at least 25 attempts, Tucker’s 48.4 percentage is the best during these NBA playoffs.
Tucker led the league in three-point shooting before the All Star break at 45 percent, then slid to 24.2 percent after the All-Star break. He closed the season at 41.5 percent on threes.
Three other Heat players have seen their threepoint percentages slide dramatically in postseason.
Herro has gone from shooting 39.9 during the season to 27.3 percent in the playoffs (15 for 55).
Lowry has dropped from 37.7 during the season to 20.8 percent (5 for 24).
Dewayne Dedmon, who shot 40.4 percent on threes during the regular season season (19 for 47) is 0 for 8 in postseason.
And Martin, who shot 41.3 percent on threes this season, is at 16.7 percent (3 for 18) in the playoffs.
Asked if he preferred to play Milwaukee because he played there last year, Tucker admitted: “I would be lying if I didn’t say I wanted to play Milwaukee” before adding he was fine with either outcome.
The Bucks, up against the luxury tax, chose not to give Tucker a deal similar to the one he snagged with the Heat: two years and $15 million, with a $7.3 million player option for next season.