Opening night for the Boston Celtics against the Miami Heat was a very important game. That game set the tone for the season, and showed the world that the Heat weren't "unbeatable". The Celtics showed the league and fans that Miami has many flaws.
So if that game was so important, why is this one less important? Well, I think it is more important for the Miami Heat than it is for the Celtics. The C's have already proven to themselves that they can compete with whoever they want. The Heat on the otherhand have only one meaningful win so far this season, and that is when they caught the Magic on the 2nd half of (Orlando's) back to back.
Also, this game when taken in context is obviously much more difficult for the Celtics to win. This will be their 3rd game of a 4 game road trip, and Shaq will supposedly be trying to make his way back into the lineup. I expect him to be a little rusty after his break, so it won't be as smooth as how we handled the Heat on opening night.
See on opening night both teams were completely rested, and played their starters NEARLY playoff like minutes. It was much more realistic to what would occur in the playoffs than this game will be. Doc doesn't need to, and won't over play his veterans in this situation. I think he would be more than happy to walk away from this road trip 2-2 after beating the Grizzlies in the 4th game, than to push his starters to far to win this game. He knows it doesn't mean half as much as opening night did.
All that being said I can still see the Celtics going into Miami tomorrow night and walking out with a W. I'm not at all saying they won't, I'm just saying they won't and shouldn't push it as if this were a playoff game, to do anything and everything to win the game.
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