BOSTON -- The Miami Heat will switch up their starting lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals at TD Garden on Sunday after getting killed inside by the Boston Celtics in Game 3.
The Heat will move center Joel Anthony into the starting lineup in place of Ronny Turiaf. They will continue to start guards Mario Chalmers and Dwyane Wade and forwards LeBron James and Shane Battier. This will be Miami's fifth starting lineup of the playoffs and the first postseason start for Anthony.
Coach Erik Spoelstra did not mention the lineup adjustment in his pre-game comments on Sunday.
The Heat have been forced to juggle lineups during the postseason due to the injury of All-Star forward Chris Bosh. who is "out indefinitely" after straining an abdominal muscle during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
During all five games against the New York Knicks in the first round, Miami started Chalmers, Wade, James, Bosh and Udonis Haslem. The Heat used the same lineup in Game 1 against the Pacers.
In Game 2 against the Pacers, Miami went with Turiaf, James, Wade, Haslem and Chalmers. In Game 3 against the Pacers, Miami started James, Wade, Chalmers, Battier and center Dexter Pittman. In Games 4, 5 and 6 against the Pacers and Games 1, 2 and 3 against the Celtics, Miami started James, Wade, Chalmers, Battier and Turiaf.
Anthony, 29, started 51 games during the 2011-2012 regular season for the Heat, posting averages of 3.4 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Despite starting, Turiaf has played only spot minutes in his last two games against Boston, with Anthony getting the bulk of the minutes at center.
Heat change starting lineup for Game 4 vs. Celtics, insert Anthony for Turiaf
The Miami Heat will use a new starting lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, inserting center Joel Anthony in place of Ronny Turiaf.
By
Ben Golliver
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1 min read