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Miami Heat (2-0) at Boston Celtics (0-2)
Saturday, May 7
8:00 PM ET
Playoff Game #7, Home Game #3
TV: ABC, CHCH-TV
Radio: WEEI, ESPN Radio
TD Garden
Referees: Steve Javie, Bob Delaney, Bill Kennedy
The Celtics return home looking to get their first win in the series. They left Miami bruised and battered by LeBron's elbows and the refs' failure to call them. Fortunately they have had 3 days to heal and prepare for game 3. All of the players are saying that they are locked in and focused. And all of them welcome a return from the sandy beaches to The Jungle.

News out of Thursday's practice is that Shaq is ready to play and has been cleared to do so by the training staff. So far, no news has come out to the contrary so Celtics fans can expect to see Shaq coming off the bench for the Celtics in this game. His presence alone should give the Celtics a boost. The Celtics have struggled with stopping penetration and rebounding and having Shaq on the court should be a help in both areas.

One thing that is certain in this series is that the Celtics have not played well in either game so far. They haven't played Celtics ball and they haven't played with much energy or focus. They have not shot the ball well. Both the starters and the reserves can all play much better. We know that they can, but the big question is whether they will. On the other hand, the Heat have played very well and it is doubtful that they could play much better.

The Celtics are confident that they can come back and win this series and were buoyed by a visit from John Havlicek to Thursday's practice. They are inspired by Havlicek's 1969 team that also were down 0-2 and went on to win the series and the Championship. There are many parallels that can be drawn between the two teams and this Celtics team is poised to repeat that feat. With the Lakers struggling even more out West, if the Celtics can get past Miami, they would be considered a favorite for the title. It all starts with a win in this game and the Celtics are determined to get it.

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Miami Heat (2-1) at Boston Celtics (1-2)
Monday, May 9
7:00 PM ET
Playoff Game #8, Home Game #4
TV: TNT
Radio: WEEI
TD Garden
As satisfying as the Game 3 win was, it will mean nothing if the Celtics don't win game 4. The Celtics must come out with the same resolve to win game 4 as they did in game 3. KG has to come out with the same intensity, demanding the ball and beasting on the boards. The Celtics must be the more aggressive team once again in this game.

The Celtics have endured 3 games where the game was called differently for the two teams. The Heat have taken more free throws in all three games. The Heat were the more aggressive team in games 1 and 2 and so one could make the case that they should have taken more free throws. But, the Celtics were clearly the more aggressive team in game 3 but still couldn't get the calls.

Hopefully the injury to Rondo will force the referees to call the fouls on the Heat in this game.

Rondo and Delonte are both listed as game time decisions but Doc has said that he expects that both will play in this game. The big question will be how effective both players can be. The Heat are going to come back in this game with the intention of being aggressive and so the Celtics must be ready for that and match their intensity.

Both Rondo and West went through the Celtics' shoot around and although Rondo is still listed as a game time decision, Carlos Arroyo expressed his opinion that Rondo was ready to go tonight. Hopefully the injury won't hamper his effectiveness in this game. After LeBron expressed his concern over his team's slow starts in the 1st and 3rd quarters, the Heat are mulling a lineup change that would start Chalmers and Anthony in place of Bibby and Big Z, who have been largely ineffective on both ends of the court.

The Celtics can't be content with winning game 3. It's all about 18 and the Celtics must win game 4 and defend their home court. If they come out strong like they did in game 3, they have a very good chance of doing just that.

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