The Heat found a formula that worked in round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and they’re sticking with it. Mike Bibby and Zydrunas Ilgauskas will start at point guard and center, respectively, in Game 1 against Boston.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have carried the bulk of the workload for the Heat so far in this postseason, but the two complementary pieces have fit in well so far. Bibby has given the Heat size and toughness at the point guard position, while Big Z has averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Bibby will be charged with chasing around Rajon Rondo all afternoon — no easy task. Ilgauskas will go up against Jermaine O’Neal in the low post.
In other pregame Heat news, Mike Miller is scheduled to play Sunday despite battling thumb soreness, while Udonis Haslem still isn’t quite ready to return from his foot surgery earlier this year.
Here’s the lineup card for C’s-Heat:
Celtics
Rajon Rondo, PG
Ray Allen, SG
Paul Pierce, SF
Kevin Garnett, PF
Jermaine O’Neal, C
Heat
Mike Bibby, PG
Dwyane Wade, SG
LeBron James, SF
Chris Bosh, PF
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C
