Our Picks For Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Championship

By Shawn Stewart and A.J. Olona

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (Heat lead series at 1-0)

7:00 pm EST on ESPN

The Miami Heat got the better of the Boston Celtics 117-114 in overtime in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday to kick off the historic best-of-seven series.  The teams will hope to keep that energy going as Game 2 tips off Thursday night in Orlando, Florida.  In Game 1 the Heat rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter, and sent the game into overtime, where Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo played the role of heroes.   Butler had the game winning shot with just 12 seconds to play in overtime, but Adebayo's block on Jayson Tatum with  just over 4 seconds left, sealed the victory for the Heat, and spoiled any chance for the Celtics. "It was a really great game, two great teams who played  really hard," Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. " They got the plays that they needed that mattered. They did their job, and it's up to us to come back in Game 2 and do ours."

Smart has continued to shoot the ball well, he contributed 26 points in the loss, but it wasn't enough to make up for another poor performance by All-Star point guard Kemba Walker.  Walker needed 19 shots just to get to 19 points. This is his third straight game not reaching the 20 point mark. He was also 1 of 9 from 3-point range. If the Celtics have any chance in this series, Walker needs to find a rhythm and get going early. "I'm  just playing terrible, to be honest," Walker said. "Not much I can say, but I have to be better. I have to do better for this team on both ends of the floor. I have to make better decisions. I just have to make shots overall."

Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo (13) blocks potential game winning dunk by Celtics Jayson Tatum (0). (Photo: Report Door)

Shawn’s Take:

If game one was any indication on how this series is going to play out, then I am not sure I want to make a prediction, because it is going to be so difficult.  I have been back on forth on my prediction, and this series is going to be a battle to the end. If Walker can raise his game and get back to his All-Star form then the Celtics could take game 2, but if Walker struggles again, the Celtics are in trouble.  I think the  Heat win  Game 2, but the Celtics could very easily tie this series! 

Shawn’s Prediction: MIAMI HEAT WIN

AJ’s Take:

I was initially very high on the Boston Celtics coming into this series. I thought that this was the year that the young team was finally going to be able to put everything together and win the East. But my mind has quickly turned after Game 1 of the series. While that game was extremely close, and should have been won by the Celtics, it feels to me like the Miami Heat have figured it out. Jayson Tatum had a chance to win the game at the end for the Celtics but couldn’t close it out. The Celtics had the ball with time expiring and the game all tied up. Tatum went for an ill advised three with the clock showing 0 and missed, forcing the game to overtime. After great defensive efforts by Adebayo, the Heat were able to put it away. The Heat seem like they are finding their stride all across the court, not just through Jimmy Butler. I see the Heat winning another close one tonight, especially if Kemba Walker continues to struggle, forcing the Celtics to worry early in the series.

AJ’s Prediction: MIAMI HEAT WIN

Follow A.J. on twitter @age_lona and Shawn @ShawnSportsNut.