While the Stephen Curry-LeBron James rivalry has been so hyped, people often forget about the recent Miami Heat-Boston Celtics battle in the postseason. While Erik Spoelstra’s boys are on track to upset the Celtics, we must keep in mind that this matchup is their third meeting in the Eastern Conference Finals in 4 years. After the Florida-based franchise got the better of the Cs during the 2020 Bubble, Jayson Tatum and co. got their revenge in the last postseason. And after getting eliminated, Jimmy Butler warned the league that his team would be back at the same stage the very next year. A speech that was pretty similar to what Stephen Curry delivered after the Warriors’ exit in the 2021 play-in tournament.
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After having stunned the Milwaukee Bucks and defeated the New York Knicks, the Heat was expected to be in a tough conference finals duel against Joe Mazzulla’s boys. Much to everyone’s surprise, the #2 seeded Boston Celtics haven’t given them any run for their money.
With their recent 128-102 Game 3 victory, Miami inches a win closer to clinching a berth in the NBA Finals.
Jimmy Butler issued a Steph Curry-esque warning after the 2022 Playoff loss
In the last postseason, the Miami Heat finished as the #1 seed in the East and would go on to defeat the Hawks & the Sixers to reach the ECF. Behind Tatum’s 25/8.3/5.6 heroics, the Massachusetts-based franchise won the series in 7 games.
During the press conference after the 4-point Game 7 loss, Jimmy Buckets gave out a stern warning to the league. The confident 6-foot-7 swingman assured everyone that the Heat would be back in the same position and would eventually end on the winning side.
“Next year, we will have enough and we’re going to be right back in the same situation and we’re going to get it done.”
As crazy as it may seem, Jimmy’s prediction is 1 win away from being correct.
Saying this immediately after you lost and backing it up with ease is ridiculous man pic.twitter.com/4GUQLPouKK
— Old NBA Tweets (@oldnbatweetz) May 22, 2023
Even Stephen Curry made a similar statement a year before Butler did. After the Memphis Grizzlies eliminated the Golden State Warriors in the 2021 play-in tournament, the 2-time Most Valuable Player issued a stern warning.
“You don’t want to see us next year.”
What happened the next year, you may ask? The San Francisco-based franchise won the 2022 NBA Championship with Chef Curry lifting his first-ever Finals MVP trophy.
Optimistic fans would hope that the Miami Heat would be able to pull off a GSW-like performance and lift the 2023 NBA trophy.
Can the Heat finish the ECF series in Game 4?
After a close win in Game 2, the Heat absolutely destroyed Boston in Game 3 to keep their undefeated record at home during this postseason alive.
With Butler only lodging 16 points and 8 rebounds, it was Gabe Vincent who put up a stellar performance. Playing 35 minutes, the undrafted guard erupted for a career-high 29 points on 78.6% shooting from the field.
With every player on the Heat seem to be in terrific form, there is a great chance for Butler and co. to finish off the series at the FTX Arena in Game 4 itself.
