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Al Horford is a determining factor in the Celtics’ likely success
Erik Spoelstra didn’t even have to finish his sentence . The coach of the Miami Heat was speaking in the locker room after a victory that extended his career. During the season in Boston, players and staff surrounded him in a semicircle.
“There are no better two words,” Spoelstra said.
“Game 7,” about a half-dozen people responded in unison.
Game 7, for a spot in the NBA Finals. The Heat or the Boston Celtics will become in Eastern Conference champions on Sunday night, when they finally finish their series and see what happens. club will face the Golden State Warriors in the title round.
it will be the second Game 7 between the teams; the other was in 2012, when the Heat beat He beat the Celtics 101-88 to win that year’s East title.
“Look, we’re here,” Spoelstra said after Miami fought back. from elimination with a 111-103 victory at Boston on Friday night, thanks to a 47-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist, four-steal effort by Jimmy Butler. “ that’s how it should be with these two teams. Should have gone seven games “.
Miami has home-field advantage going into the finale, though home-court hasn’t meant anything in this series. Heat was 2-1 in Boston, Celtics are 2-1 in Miami so far with two wins for a combined 38 points and Boston’s 6-2 road record is the best of any team in this season’s playoffs.
And that makes the Celtics brimming with confidence, even though visiting teams are 34-110 all-time, a .236 winning percentage, going into Game 7.
“ On a scale of 1 to 10? Ten. I mean, it shouldn’t be less than that, right? Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said when asked what he said. what so sure you are that Boston can win the series on Miami’s home court. “You know, it’s the last game. That’s all it is.”
Injuries have been a major storyline in the series, and that remains the case on Sunday.
Butler has been dealing with knee problems and sprained his knee. an ankle at the end of Game 6, though he still did. achieved possibly the best game of his career. Kyle Lowry and Max Strus, who rebounded big Friday after posting a combined zero points in Game 5, still have hamstring issues. For Boston, the Marcus Smart’s ankle has been problematic, Robert Williams III’s knee is an open question and Jaylen Brown banged up. the knee in a series in Game 5, although he finished the game with no obvious ill effects.
“This time of year, there’s no one 100% healthy, on both sides,” said PJ Tucker of Miami. “I’m sure they’ve got a lot of guys, too, just trying to figure it out and give what they can. Trying to win. That’s it. You can’t get these days back. The Heat could get a key piece back: Tyler Herro, who has been sidelined for the past three games with a groin strain, will try to win. work the floor Sunday in hopes of playing in Game 7.
“For us, it’s just another chance,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said Saturday. “You put yourself in this position, going up 3-2, to have two games to win one. And so, as much as you’d love to finish it off at your home court, we’ve had ups and downs in the series and because of that that’s where it’s at. now. …It’s just another shot and obviously we see the big picture ahead.”
The Celtics last went to the NBA Finals in 2010. This is their fifth trip to the Eastern finals since then, and Friday’s loss put them on the back foot. 0-5 in potential East deciders in that span.
“We have to go out and play, go out and answer,” on the wall, Game 7, loser goes home. We have to go out and find a way to win”.
From Miami’s perspective, the seeds began to be planted moments after Game 5. The Celtics had just won Miami to take a 3-2 series lead, and Spoelstra came on. in a defeated locker room to set the goal. He repeated it, over and over.
“Bring this back on the 29th,” Spoelstra was saying.
He The 29th is Sunday.
They brought it back. Game 7 awaits.
“There’s nothing like a Game 7,” Spoelstra said. “And I’m really excited that we can all experience that together.”
Mutual warmth
The NBA fined He handed Miami $25,000 on Saturday for violating league rules regarding decorum on the team bench. The league said “on multiple occasions, multiple players stood for an extended period of time.” in the Miami team bench area, they moved away from the team bench and were on, invading or entering the field during live game action” during Game 6 in Boston.