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The Boston Celtics spent the early part of the offseason battling the Miami Heat in the trade market, as they both pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately for the Celtics, the Heat won that battle, landing the two-time MVP for a haul of young players and draft picks.
On Christmas Day, Boston and Miami will go head-to-head once again, except this time it will be on the court. If we assume that this will be the first meeting between the two teams, Boston will be forced to face up to the reality of what could have been, had they landed Giannis in the summer. After all, it was missing out on Giannis that ultimately acted as the catalyst for Brad Stevens pulling off a highly controversial deal to send Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Games between Boston and Miami always carry some extra weight for the fans. The two teams are rivals and consistently find themselves battling for position in the Eastern Conference. While the Heat aren't expected to be a contender this season, having Giannis on the roster means they can't be counted out, especially with Bam Adebayo anchoring the floor next to him.
For the Celtics, the matchup against Miami will be both a good barometer of the level they're performing at, and what they're missing in Giannis. On the flip side, it could also be a reminder of how difficult it would have been to build a contender around an aging Giannis who needs multiple high-level shooters around him in order to be anywhere near his best.
Either way, Christmas will provide Celtics fans with a glimpse of how things could have been. The only question is whether they'll come away from that game wishing Boston won that trade battle, or grateful that things turned out the way they did, even though it ultimately turned the Sixers into a powerhouse.
Celtics fans may have wanted a matchup with the Sixers on Christmas Day. Still, there's enough of a storyline between Boston and Miami to ensure it's a can't-miss matchup, and in reality, that's all anyone can ask for.
Listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4fkGU4F
Apple: https://bit.ly/4wXHpaB
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics will get Giannis Antetokounmpo closure vs. Heat on Xmas Day
Continue reading...
On Christmas Day, Boston and Miami will go head-to-head once again, except this time it will be on the court. If we assume that this will be the first meeting between the two teams, Boston will be forced to face up to the reality of what could have been, had they landed Giannis in the summer. After all, it was missing out on Giannis that ultimately acted as the catalyst for Brad Stevens pulling off a highly controversial deal to send Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Games between Boston and Miami always carry some extra weight for the fans. The two teams are rivals and consistently find themselves battling for position in the Eastern Conference. While the Heat aren't expected to be a contender this season, having Giannis on the roster means they can't be counted out, especially with Bam Adebayo anchoring the floor next to him.
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For the Celtics, the matchup against Miami will be both a good barometer of the level they're performing at, and what they're missing in Giannis. On the flip side, it could also be a reminder of how difficult it would have been to build a contender around an aging Giannis who needs multiple high-level shooters around him in order to be anywhere near his best.
Either way, Christmas will provide Celtics fans with a glimpse of how things could have been. The only question is whether they'll come away from that game wishing Boston won that trade battle, or grateful that things turned out the way they did, even though it ultimately turned the Sixers into a powerhouse.
Celtics fans may have wanted a matchup with the Sixers on Christmas Day. Still, there's enough of a storyline between Boston and Miami to ensure it's a can't-miss matchup, and in reality, that's all anyone can ask for.
You must be registered for see images attach
Listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4fkGU4F
Apple: https://bit.ly/4wXHpaB
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics will get Giannis Antetokounmpo closure vs. Heat on Xmas Day
Continue reading...
