Game 79 Preview: Celtics at Heat

At least Jason Terry and Ray Allen are playing tonight!

If the Celtics and Heat are to meet in the playoffs and analysts refer back to how they matched up during the regular season, people will be fooled.

The Celtics played without Kevin Garnett in their last matchup, and they're playing without Garnett and Paul Pierce tonight. Using Miami's last two games against Boston as evidence that they will have no trouble with the Celtics is silly.

But hey, games have to be played, and as Lupe Fiasco said, the show goes on.

The Celtics (40-38) will take on the Heat (62-16) tonight in Miami.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will play together tonight for the first time since March 29. Udonis Haslem (sprained right ankle) and Shane Battier (minor injuries) will not play for Miami.

Coach Doc Rivers said at the team's shootaround this morning that Garnett and Pierce would play tomorrow against the Orlando Magic.

Rivers did not say who would start, but he did say that it would be a bit different from the lineup the team has used without Pierce and Garnett. I'm going to take a shot in the dark at it and see what happens.

Here's a preview:

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Avery Bradley
Jason Terry
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Shavlik Randolph

Heat:
Mario Chalmers
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Chris Bosh
Joel Anthony

Keys to the game:

1. Come away healthy: That goal may already be half accomplished with Garnett and Pierce sitting out, but that also goes for guys like Jason Terry and Jeff Green. Let them get their minutes, but don't go overboard and push them to the limit. Rivers and company have seemingly waved the white flag on the season and have succumbed to the seventh seed. Going you-know-what's to the wall in the 79th game of the season with the seventh seed all but clinched is asinine. The guys need to get their work in, break a sweat or two and get out.

2. Show 'em what you got...sorta: Tonight's game gives the other guys a chance to strut their stuff. Jason Terry, this is your time to show green teamers why the Celtics chose you over Ray Allen. Jeff Green, it's time to get back on track and give the Heat something to think about for the future. Brandon Bass, do your thing, bro. Show Miami that there is more to this team than just Pierce and Garnett.