If Wednesday's dispiriting Game 2 loss to the Heat had you experiencing PTSD (Post-Traumatic Spoelstra Disorder), it's justified.
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1. Joe Mazzulla vs. Erik Spoelstra
Oh boy. It's times like this when the worst fears of every Celtics fan -- that Mazzulla can't meet the moment -- tingle the spine with dread.
The sideline demeanors tell the story. Mazzulla stalks with a clenched jaw and his eyes opened just a bit too wide. Spoelstra looks alternately bemused and harried when his team is getting run off the floor, but always calm, like the grizzled editor with a loosened tie and three days of stubble who nonetheless has all the answers.
Everyone expected the Heat to play rugby after Caleb Martin's blindside hit on Jayson Tatum late in Game 1. Junking up the game supposedly was the only way they could compete.
Instead, they took a page from Steph Curry's Warriors and said bomb's away, making a staggering 23 3-pointers. The overwhelming majority were wide open, [In fairness, his too wide open eyes saw "moderately to extremely well-defended] because Mazzulla never adjusted. ...
If the coaching clash becomes the dominant theme of the series, buckle up.
Concern level: 5.
