Getty Image
Erik Spoelstra has his team up three games to one in the Eastern Conference Finals, putting the Heat a win away from an NBA title opportunity.
Miami has surprised this postseason as the eighth seed, ripping off upset wins over top-seeded Milwaukee and the New York Knicks. Still, many in the media continue to doubt.
The Heat underperformed in 2022-23, going 44-38 a year after posting the best record in the East. Still, they managed to slip into the playoffs, securing the eighth and final spot in the field.
And they’ve become a completely different team in this postseason run.
Jimmy Butler has been, arguably, the most dominant player in the playoffs. The forward is averaging a tick under 30 points a game, becoming a thorn in the sides of opponents over the last few weeks.
Erik Spoelstra’s crew has posted an 11-4 record through 15 games since the regular season ended, and they now have a chance to move onto the NBA Finals.
But despite winning the first three games of the ECF series, the Heat still have plenty of doubters. Those voices grew louder after Miami dropped Game 4, forcing a return to Boston for the next matchup.
The Heat head coach gave a blunt response to those critics when meeting with the media before Game 5.
“We don’t give a s—,” Spoelstra said.
“We’re trying to compete. It’s a great opportunity, and our guys love these kinds of challenges. They love to compete. They love the playoffs, and they love playing in an environment like [the TD Garden]. This is what it’s about.”
Miami and Boston will tip off in Game 5 on Thursday night. A win from the Heat will quiet the naysayers for the moment, although they’d be the overwhelming underdog in a potential NBA Finals matchup with the Denver Nuggets.