By T.A. May 29, 2023
The Eastern Conference Finals has undoubtedly been one of the most captivating series that fans have witnessed in quite some time. With a forced clutch bucket from Derrick White, we are now eagerly anticipating a thrilling Game 7. However, let’s reflect on the journey leading up to this pivotal moment.
Miami had just one job, but unfortunately, they fell short in the tragic end of Game 6. It’s worth noting that the Miami Heat have defied all odds to become the second eighth seed in NBA history to advance to the NBA Finals. This is what I would like to call the Cinderella effect.
On the other hand, the Boston Celtics find themselves experiencing a similar Cinderella effect within this series.
After Game 3, held in Miami Heat’s court, critics were quick to voice their disappointment in the Boston Celtics’ lackluster performance throughout the series. Even head coach Joe Mazzula faced scrutiny for not living up to the greatness expected of him. Yet, as we approach Game 6, the narrative has taken a dramatic turn.
Monday night holds the promise of historic moments, regardless of the outcome. If Miami emerges victorious, they will become the first team in the modern era of basketball to secure a place in the NBA Finals as an eight seed. Conversely, if the Celtics triumph, they will make history as the first team ever to come back from a 0-3 deficit and win Game 7.
Looking through the lens of history, Celtics might be slightly favored to achieve this feat. Only four teams in NBA history have managed to force a Game 7 after being down 0-3. However, a common denominator among those teams is the absence of home-court advantage. The Celtics, in contrast, will face Miami at TD Garden, enjoying the comfort of their home crowd.
The last time we saw Jayson Tatum in a game 7 during the playoffs he dropped 50 points. Monday Night will be another opportunity to witness what Jayson Tatum can do.
However we have witnessed teams lose gallantly within the confines of their home court, especially when the entire season is on the line.The Phoenix Suns have demonstrated trivializing home court advantage in consecutive years: Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks last year and Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets this year. Thus, regardless of the advantage a favored team may have, true greatness is demonstrated by the ability of the best team to emerge triumphant.
Speaking of the best team winning, Miami did not display their best performance during Game 6. Key stars such as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo seemed somewhat off throughout the entirety of the game. While Jimmy came through in the clutch with those three crucial free throws, his overall performance should have been stronger.
I’ve never seen a person so confident about winning in game 7 as Jimmy was in the recent post game interview. Jimmy’s assertiveness was also echoed by Erik Spoelstra, the head coach of the Miami Heat. The resilience displayed by the entire Miami squad is truly remarkable. In fact, without players like Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, and Max Strus, the Miami Heat would not have reached this stage.
As fans eagerly await Monday night, all we can do is speculate about the historic events that will unfold before our eyes.
Jimmy Butler is at the edge of becoming the greatest meme of all time, if Miami fails to deliver on Monday Night whether we like it or not. The Celtics are highly favored to win. The Cinderella effect will tell only one tale on Monday Night!
