This is a tougher question than it would appear on first view...
I guess I'll just make an argument for each side...
The Celtics CAN win, but it doesn't mean they won't. If they are going to win game 7, Rondo needs to come up big. This is HIS team, and it is HIS time. Garnett is too old to realistically carry this team against a much more talented Heat squad, with their athletic explosiveness. Pierce cannot buy a bucket, and the season has finally seemed to have taken it's toll on him. Ray Allen for all intents and purposes is done as a star. He's good for a three on occasion, but he's not the player he was 5 years ago. In all, for the Celtics to have a realistic chance of winning, Rondo has to get close to 30 points, 15 assists, and minimize his turnovers. He needs to play like the Rondo who saved this team in the 3 games the Celtics have won this series. It's a small chance, but they have to get the ball in his hands. There is no other way I see them winning.
As for the Heat... they showed just how good they were under the pressure in game 6. LeBron also showed he CAN play in games that matter. Which is bad for the Celtics. If LeBron has another big game of 40+ points, and gets active on the boards, the Celtics will have very little chance to really get into the game. In essence, the Heat need to get the ball in LeBron's hand, and he needs to deliver. Wade and Bosh will be good role players, but LeBron is the MVP and he has to show it. If the Heat defend Rondo well (I'm even going as far as saying the much bigger LeBron should stay in front on the help side... he's not the best defender, but with how poor Pierce has been playing, I think he can focus more of his attention on Rondo) then this game is theirs.
I'll go out on a limb and say the Heat will "probably" win this game (I'm a Bulls fan, who also likes the Thunder and Celtics, so I'm hoping for a Celtics win.) although there's a reasonable chance of a win by the Boston Celtics.
I'll say 66% chance of Miami victory.
Not like it matters, whoever makes it to the Finals will lose to the Thunder, the most complete team in the NBA right now, with the only team really close is a healthy Chicago Bulls squad (shame we didn't get to see that).
This is a tougher question than it would appear on first view...
I guess I'll just make an argument for each side...
The Celtics CAN win, but it doesn't mean they won't. If they are going to win game 7, Rondo needs to come up big. This is HIS team, and it is HIS time. Garnett is too old to realistically carry this team against a much more talented Heat squad, with their athletic explosiveness. Pierce cannot buy a bucket, and the season has finally seemed to have taken it's toll on him. Ray Allen for all intents and purposes is done as a star. He's good for a three on occasion, but he's not the player he was 5 years ago. In all, for the Celtics to have a realistic chance of winning, Rondo has to get close to 30 points, 15 assists, and minimize his turnovers. He needs to play like the Rondo who saved this team in the 3 games the Celtics have won this series. It's a small chance, but they have to get the ball in his hands. There is no other way I see them winning.
As for the Heat... they showed just how good they were under the pressure in game 6. LeBron also showed he CAN play in games that matter. Which is bad for the Celtics. If LeBron has another big game of 40+ points, and gets active on the boards, the Celtics will have very little chance to really get into the game. In essence, the Heat need to get the ball in LeBron's hand, and he needs to deliver. Wade and Bosh will be good role players, but LeBron is the MVP and he has to show it. If the Heat defend Rondo well (I'm even going as far as saying the much bigger LeBron should stay in front on the help side... he's not the best defender, but with how poor Pierce has been playing, I think he can focus more of his attention on Rondo) then this game is theirs.
I'll go out on a limb and say the Heat will "probably" win this game (I'm a Bulls fan, who also likes the Thunder and Celtics, so I'm hoping for a Celtics win.) although there's a reasonable chance of a win by the Boston Celtics.
I'll say 66% chance of Miami victory.
Not like it matters, whoever makes it to the Finals will lose to the Thunder, the most complete team in the NBA right now, with the only team really close is a healthy Chicago Bulls squad (shame we didn't get to see that).