NBA Playoffs 2011: Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics Show Reliability

Maybe this Easter Sunday of basketball doesn't mean anything for the Heat or the Celtics. After all, the Knicks were missing Chauncey Billups and had a very underwhelming version of Amare Stoudemire. After all, the Heat fought back from an early 15 point deficit, showing some mental toughness to make a game of things. We could assume that it is simply a blip on the NBA Playoffs radar.
But the truth of the matter is, I think it might tell us more than you realize. The Celtics, led by Kevin Garnett jumped out to an 17 point halftime lead and kept their foot on the gas just enough to hold off a Knicks squad that cut that lead to four midway through the fourth quarter.

Miami on the other hand, gave up a pair of clutch 3's to Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams giving the Sixers a two point lead with eight seconds to go. LeBron James then had his attempted game tying shot blocked by Elton Brand (yes, the same Elton Brand that is a miserable contract for the 76ers) and ended up failing to close out a sweep of the 76ers. 

The Celtics (as usual) seem to have it all figured out. They played miserably in Games 1 and 2 against the Knicks but had Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett hit go ahead, game winning shots to squeak out the wins. Then the Celtics did what they do best. They traveled on the road, in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that was hungry for playoff basketball and finished the job. 

On the other hand, Miami rolled into a Game 4 in Philly and left us craving an answer to our season long question. With the game on the line, who gets the ball, makes the play or takes the shot? With LeBron's shot getting blocked, we'll continue to ask ourselves that question. 

The Heat left us with questions. The Celtics, meanwhile, gave us the same old reliable answer.