3. Battle Of Attrition

At this point in the season, no one is 100 percent healthy. Players are dealing with nicks and bruises just trying to make it to the finish line. It has become a battle of attrition and whichever team can survive it the best will have the edge.

Heading into Game 1, both teams are going to be without key contributors. Miami Heat starting point guard Kyle Lowry has already been ruled out for Game 1 because of a hamstring injury. That has been nagging him throughout the postseason. He will be missing his seventh game of the postseason out of the 12 the Heat have played.

Boston could also be without their starting point guard, Marcus Smart. Smart suffered a mid-foot sprain in Game 7 against the Bucks on Sunday. He is questionable for Game 1 but was trending toward out as the swelling was still bad.

Smart already missed one game this postseason and his status will be monitored closely. Boston at least received some good news about Robert Williams III, who has missed the last four games with knee soreness and missed the first two games against the Nets.

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He looks ready to suit up for Game 1 and re-enter the starting lineup. Williams has no minutes restriction, which is great news as he will be needed to compete against Bam Adebayo.