30 May 2023 , 17:39
1116
0
Miami Heat achieved a feat not seen in the NBA for 24 years when they won the Eastern Conference Finals.
Erik Spoltera’s men were cruising after they opened up a shock 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics. But the 2022 finalists battled back to level the series and were on the brink of becoming the first team to win a playoff series following a three-game deficit. But the Heat were sensational as they silenced the TD Garden and claimed a 103-84 victory to clinch an unpredictable series.
With this achievement, the South East American-based side became just the second eighth-seeded team to reach the NBA Finals since the New York Knicks in 1999, and the first ever to do so in a non-lockout season. Ahead of facing the Denver Nuggets in game one in Thursday, Jimmy Butler, who by his standards turned in a poor performance in game six, scored 28 points and registered seven rebounds and six assists in game seven. He was supported by Caleb Martin, who continued his excellent postseason as he notched 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
After averaging 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists over the course of the seven-game series, Butler was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. "We stayed together as a group," he said when asked how they recovered from the demoralizing six defeat. "We talked about going to get a tough one on the road and we did just that. [My team-mates] are the reason we're here. I know how good a team we are and we made it happen."
The 33-year-old went on to credit his team-mates while expressing a message of their desire to win the championship. "I have so much belief in myself and this group of guys," Butler added. "And the squad that coach Pat [general manager Pat Riley], Spo [head coach Erik Spoelstra], and everybody else have put together.
LeBron James edges closer to NBA scoring record with jaw-dropping Lakers display
"Buzz [coach Buzz Williams] told me to rely and trust my team-mates on everything, I do the same thing here with Spo. My team-mates give me so much confidence to go out there and hoop at a high level. We stayed together as a group, as a team, we talked about going to get a tough one on the road, and we did just that. But we're not satisfied. We're excited, we're happy, but we got four more [wins] to get."
The New York Knicks were the last eighth-seeded team to reach the NBA Finals 24 years ago (Todd Warshaw /Allsport/GETTY)Last month the Heat cemented their place in the Playoffs by defeating the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In tournament to clinch the eighth seed. They dispatched the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in just five games in round one, before winning a physical series with the New York Knicks in the semifinals.
After defeating the Celtics the Heat kept their hopes alive of winning their first championship in a decade and Coach Spoelstra said he never doubted his squad's resilience and mental fortitude. "Sometimes you have to suffer for the things you really want," he said. "This group has shown fortitude when there are inevitable let-downs and failures, but had that perseverance to pick yourself up, that collective spirit to keep on forging ahead."
The Heat is likely to welcome back Tyler Herro in the NBA Finals, who has missed the entire playoffs so far due to a broken hand. TNT reported that the shooting guard is targeting a return in game three, though Herro told reporters after last night’s game that he is still feeling pain in his right hand.