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  • Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (5) drives to the basket as Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem (40) defends during the second half of Game 5 in their Eastern Conference finals playoffs series Tuesday in Miami. The Celtics won, 94-90, and lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is tonight in Boston. Lynne Sladky

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June 7, 2012

Celtics return home with chance to close out Heat

Associated Press

BOSTON — LeBron James saw his share of disappointment in Boston when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Then he joined the Miami Heat, and things only got worse.

Miami has lost seven of eight on the parquet floor since James arrived to form a superteam modeled after the new Big Three that hung the Celtics’ unprecedented 17th NBA championship banner.

The Heat will need a victory here in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night to avoid a fourth straight loss to the Celtics, a fifth straight loss in Boston and a second straight year of failed promise from the trio of James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

“We plan to win the ballgame. We’ve got to win. That’s all we’ve got to do,” Wade said Wednesday before the Heat boarded a plane to return to Boston. “Can’t listen to the noise. I’m not. I’m sure our team is not. We’re just focused on winning this ballgame.”

It was in Boston that James said goodbye to Cleveland, ripping off his jersey as he left the court after Game 6 of the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals after the Celtics spoiled the two-time defending NBA MVP’s best chance to win a title with his hometown team.

But Miami has had even bigger struggles in Boston, winning just once on the parquet since Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen joined forces. The Celtics knocked the Heat out of the playoffs in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, one series before eliminating James’ Cavaliers. (The Heat did eliminate the Celtics from the playoffs last year, but they needed just one win in Boston.)

In all, Miami has lost 15 of its last 16 regular-season games in Boston.

“Why would you think about that? What does it do for you? Is it going to change anything? No,” Wade said. “You’ve got to go out and try to play — each game is its own. You can’t say, ‘Oh, well, we’re down one point and we’ve lost 15 out of 16 here. We’re not going to win.’

“It doesn’t work that way.”

Miami finished seven games ahead of the Celtics in the lockout-shortened regular season to earn home-court advantage, then gave it back on Tuesday night when Boston beat the Heat 94-90 to win Game 5.

That means the Celtics just need to win at home on Thursday to advance to the NBA finals for the third time in five years.

“I know how much pain this team has given me over the years,” James said. “I think I guess it’s only right that we will be going up there in an elimination game. In order for us to keep our season going, we have to win in their building.”

That would force the series back to Miami for a decisive seventh game, giving the Celtics a fallback if they should falter at home.

But they’re not interested in that.

“We have one home game left, and that’s it in this series,” coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday. “We have to understand that, and we have to come with that sense of urgency. Our guys understand that, and I think so does Miami.”

The Celtics would also like to avoid a Game 7 so they can rest their banged-up regulars, including thirtysomethings Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

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