Celtics must raise intensity vs. Heat

Associated Press

miami

The Boston Celtics have bigger issues than being upset about a perceived slight.

Yes, LeBron James dribbled behind his back. Then between his legs, five times. Then threw a behind-the-back pass. And after grabbing an offensive rebound while getting fouled by Kevin Garnett, he smiled and shouted “Yeah” three times while holding the ball out for referee Jason Phillips to collect.

All that came on one possession in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics called it showboating.

They’re probably right. But that’s not the problem.

The Heat got 19 layups and dunks in Game 1 on Monday night, with James and Dwyane Wade fueling what became a 93-79 win. And if Boston’s defensive issues weren’t enough cause to concern the Celtics, Ray Allen said his ailing right ankle is getting to be even more problematic — something that’s bound to be a factor again when the matchup resumes in Miami tonight.

“You can tell they believe by their anger after the game,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday, asked how his team is handling the emotions of a Game 1 loss. “There wasn’t a lot of happy guys in our locker room yesterday or in film today when we start out by showing 19 straight layups. Who wants to watch that? I didn’t. I watched it four or five times.”

Along the same lines, the Heat said there were elements of the game film that they didn’t like either.

James and Wade did their part in Game 1, combining for 54 points. The rest of the Heat added 39 points, 32 rebounds, seven assists and six blocked shots, but there were a slew of missed shots and one second-quarter defensive lull that had Miami addressing some issues on the practice court Tuesday.

“I think we all felt that we could have played better,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We weren’t as sharp as we had been, particularly in the three games before that. But that’s the playoffs. You have to find a way to survive and win, even if you have to do it when you’re not playing your best.”