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The Boston Celtics are on the cusp of history. After trailing the Miami Heat 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics have forced a Game 7. If the Celtics can win Game 7, they will become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
The Celtics have been playing with a sense of urgency in the past three games. They have been playing with passion and heart, and they have been getting contributions from everyone on the roster. Jayson Tatum has been playing at an MVP level.
The Heat are a tough team, and they will not go down without a fight. Jimmy Butler has been playing at an All-Star level. The Celtics will need to play their best basketball of the season if they want to win Game 7. They will need to defend well, they will need to make shots, and they will need to play with a sense of urgency. If they can do all of those things, they will have a chance to make history.
Here are some of the key factors that will determine the outcome of Game 7:
Defense: The Celtics have been the better defensive team in this series. They have held the Heat to an average of 99.7 points per game, and they have forced the Heat to turn the ball over 16.7 times per game. The Celtics will need to continue to play well on defense in Game 7. They will need to make it tough for the Heat to get easy baskets, and they will need to force the Heat to turn the ball over.
Shooting: The Celtics have struggled to shoot the ball in this series. They have shot just 43.4% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range. The Celtics will need to find their stroke in Game 7. They will need to make enough shots to keep the Heat honest, and they will need to make some big shots down the stretch.
Mental toughness: The Celtics have shown a lot of mental toughness in this series. They have come back from a 3-2 deficit in the second round to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, and they have forced a Game 7 against the Heat. The Celtics will need to be even tougher in Game 7. The Heat will be playing with a lot of desperation, and the Celtics will need to match that intensity.
If the Celtics can play well on defense, make shots, and be mentally tough, they will have a good chance to win Game 7 and advance to the NBA Finals.
In addition to these key factors, the Celtics will also need to get contributions from their role players. The Heat have gotten big contributions from their role players throughout the series, and the Celtics will need to do the same in Game 7. Players like Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Derrick White will need to step up and make plays if the Celtics want to win.
The Celtics have a chance to do something special on Monday night. They have a chance to make history. They have a chance to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. If they can do it, it will be one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
