According to analyst calculations made by ESPN teams before the series opener against Boston, the Miami Heat had only a 3% chance of winning the series.
Tonight, Jimmy Butler-led Miami (35 points and 6 steals) stole home from Boston with a 116-123 victory, proving once again that data doesn't always translate into what happens on the court. It's a continuation of an impressive run by the Heat that really shouldn't have been in the Eastern Conference Finals. In fact, they barely made the playoffs, becoming the first play-in team to reach the second round by beating the favorite Milwaukee Bucks and the first team to reach the regional finals from eighth place in 24 years.
It does all this with no fewer than 7 undrafted players on its roster, an all-time playoff record, and one Jimmy Butler. Butler is averaging 31.5 points per game in the current playoffs compared to 22.9 points per game in the regular season. It's an almost season-period ascension that leaves the basketball world in shock time and time again.
JIMMY BUTLER 🔥
35 PTS
7 AST
6 STL (Playoff career high)
W#PLAYOFFMODE pic.twitter.com/GQruDGzRwA
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2023
Miami of recent years is still in the process of building an identity, which is also why Butler came there. Pat Riley's semi-military culture and Butler's competitiveness have already taken the Heat to unexpected places. Former players praise Butler, claiming that "Playoff Jimmy" is completely real and that despite the rumors and moves, he is not the kind of player who hurts the locker room, but rather that he inspires him to success. The current run is confirmation of that.
Will all that be enough against Boston? Unlikely. This is a distinctly senior team that will undoubtedly make adjustments with an emphasis on Butler through veteran Al Horford, who has already had success against other aggressive players in the current playoffs such as Joel Embiid. However, Heat center Bam Adebayo is taking up some of the attention and is expected to hamper the effort.
Is there anything left for the playoffs Jimmy to give? The answer tonight is yes. If Miami gets past Boston, it would be a sensation and they could become only the second team to reach the NBA Finals from eighth place. Again, unlikely, but there's no telling. In sports, anything can happen.
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Miami. Who will stop her?, Photo: AP
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