Paul Pierce knows what to do for the Boston Celtics raise their level in the final minutes of the next game against the Miami Heat: be on the court.
Pierce was ejected in the first game of the series with seven minutes left in the second suffered a strained Achilles tendon that left him limping the rest of the game. Boston To avoid being down 3-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinal, the wing needs to be there at the end.
"If Paul Pierce is in the game in the fourth quarter, healthy, that always help the Celtics, "Pierce said of himself before training on Friday.
The Heat won at home the first two games of the best of seven series, which continues Saturday in Boston. For this school of Celtics armed in 2007, who had never been 2-0 down in the playoffs, next is a crucial game to avoid a disadvantage that might be insurmountable.
"We still think it will be a series of seven games," Pierce said . 'I think we have good chances, especially with our backs against the wall. "
The Celtics protecting their hopes on a strong local advantage as _en postseason, this squad improved to 29-7 in Boston_ and they are healthier than they have been in several weeks, partly thanks to the three days off between games.
This should help to Ray Allen, who suffered an elbow to the chest of LeBron James, and guard Rajon Rondo, who has stiffness in his back. Pierce said his foot is fine and coach Doc Rivers expects to have for the first time in the playoffs with Shaquille O'Neal on the bench.
O'Neal played just 5 minutes and 29 seconds since February 1 with an injured leg.
"... I do not know what we can give on the pitch," said Rivers, who said that O'Neal would train in a different form.
"No way that we can have 100%, that opportunity has passed, it would be a miracle, "he added." But we can get to a level where we can help.
In Memphis, meanwhile, Zach Randolph is learning how important it is rest for the playoffs.
Randolph scored 31 points, a record for the Grizzlies in the playoffs, to eliminate the Spurs in San Antonio last week. then added 34 to start the Western Conference semifinal against Oklahoma City Thunder . But in the second game, lost his rhythm and finished with 15 points in the 111-102 loss that evened the series.
After three days' rest before Saturday's game, Randolph Memphis is confident that will improve their effectiveness.
"I think we're in rhythm. We came here today, we made our moves, we made the plays them quite well," he said after training on Friday. "The boys look like they recovered their legs. I hope we're in that rhythm, so we will be able to get shots."
coach Lionel Hollins was not worried about the possible exhaustion of Randolph or his strike partner, English Marc Gasol.
"They did not play so bad the last game," he said. "They shot a little bad, but they played their game. Those things do not bother me."
"We need to increase our aggressiveness and our speed offensive in the attack, "he added.
Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, said the credit for the weak performance of the interiors of Memphis is his defense.
" We just did much better in the second game, " Brooks said. "Zach is a tremendous player. I'm sure will come back with another mentality, we need to stand firm in what we do. "
This means that the Thunder will not change its current brand strategy in the key.
" We will continue doing what we do, "said power forward Nick Collision. "Occupy the paint regardless of whether they are opened. We just have to keep doing what we do. "
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