Ime Udoka says Boston Celtics need better start vs. Miami Heat, cannot 'give them life early' in Game 7

MIAMI — Ahead of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka said that after his team has gone through a roller-coaster ride of a season to get to this point, it is only fitting that this series will come down to Boston having to win a third game on the road here on the shores of Biscayne Bay to advance to its first NBA Finals since 2010.

«Yeah, I would say so,» Udoka said on a video conference call with reporters Saturday morning. «It's not only the series for us, it's been all season long. Even in these playoffs, it hasn't been easy… a lot of that is due to what we're doing, and we can be better, for sure.

»But for us, it's another opportunity. You put yourself in this position, going up 3-2, to have two games to win one. So as much as you love to finish it on your home court, we've been up and down this series, and due to that, it's where it is right now."

The Celtics had their chance to close out the Miami Heat at home in Game 6 Friday night, only for Jimmy Butler to put up 47 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 46 minutes in an all-time great performance by the future Hall of Famer to ensure this series would reach a seventh game.

But Boston also didn't help itself by, once again, having a poor start — something that has repeatedly bothered the Celtics in this series. Another constant sore spot — the third quarter — also was a problem.

With their season on the line in Game 7, Udoka said the Celtics are focused on making sure they get off to a much better start in what could be their final game of the season. After again committing several careless turnovers in the opening moments of Game 6 and falling into a 12-5 hole they essentially spent the whole game attempting to dig