Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat: 3 matchups that will decide the series

Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
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Miami Heat
Miami Heat Bam Adebayo (Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)

Bam Adebayo vs. Robert Williams/Al Horford/Daniel Theis

Looking back at the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, there was one thing that almost immediately jumped off the screen – the dominance of Bam Adebayo. Throughout that series, Bam feated on both ends of the floor.

For the series, he averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists on 60 percent shooting from the field. He punctuated his breakout performance with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists on 73 percent shooting from the floor in the series-clinching Game  6.

If the Heat is going to beat the Celtics again, they’re going to need Bam to dominate once again. This time around, however, the Celtics have reinforcements. It’s not just Daniel Theis that Bam will have to go up against. Bam will have to battle against Robert Williams and Al Horford.

Williams has developed into one of the best defenders in the league – he only played 27 total minutes in that series against the Heat two years ago. And we know how well of a job Horford did against Giannis Antetokounmp in the previous series.

Bam will certainly have his work cut out for him against Boston’s frontcourt.