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Despite the unpredictability on a nightly basis in terms of the scores during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the seeds held true to form with a rematch of the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals as the one-seed Miami Heat will face off the two-seed Boston Celtics for a trip to the NBA Finals. For the second time in three years, these two teams meet again with most of their core players returning. Make no mistake. These ended up being the best two teams in the East for a reason.
It all starts on the defensive end with both teams having outstanding numbers this playoffs run, and they are the most multiple defensive teams left in the Playoffs. Miami is an exceptional home team as they had the East’s best home record (29-12) in the regular season, and they’re 6-0 at home in the playoffs. The Celtics, on the other hand, are 4-1 on the road this postseason, and they come into this series with as much confidence as any team remaining.
The chemistry of the Boston Celtics has shined through incredibly well in their most trying of times. In Game 7 of the previous series against the defending NBA Champs, Grant Williams led the team in field goal attempts and rewarded the Celtics with seven made threes to propel them to a series-clinching win. The two Jays have been the leaders for this team, and now they have the rest of the team believing in themselves.
On the other side, Jimmy Butler has elevated his game to where the Miami Heat are truly an NBA Championship contender when all healthy. Coach Spoelstra is highly regarded and with good reasoning as one of the best Coaches in the history of the league. Miami won’t make it easy on anyone, but I fear their depth isn’t good enough for this Boston team. The Boston Celtics have capitalized at every turn, and the two Jays -despite what others in the media would’ve wanted you to believe- know they are better together under their leadership and can make their first Finals appearance.
The Celtics have netted a +13.5 rating, and they have two closers who are ready to take that next step and represent the East in the Finals. For comparison purposes, the Celtics’ run and the ascent of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown feels very much like the 2012 OKC Thunder run with Kevin Durant as the centerpiece during these Playoffs. OKC beat the defending Champs in the Dallas Mavericks, they beat a Kobe-led (Two-Time Finals MVP) Lakers team who were champs in back to back fashion in 2009-2010, and then they had to take out the team who mirrored what they wanted to become in the San Antonio Spurs.
The Celtics had to beat the defending Champs, a two-time Finals MVP in Kevin Durant, and now they have to beat a team known for its toughness and culture. The two attributes the Celtics want to emulate. The pathways are uncanny, but they all lead to June Basketball. The Jays will finally make a Finals trip as the Celtics will beat the Heat in 6.
Celtics in 6
X-Factor: Jaylen Brown
Fun Bets:
Six games +180
Heat to win game 1/Celtics to win series +230
Series Leader Rebounds Bam -105
Assists Leader Jimmy Butler +225
As a co-founder of Multiplicity Media, it's an honor to be able to showcase some of the best talent creating sports and entertainment content. I am the host of Chaos and Conversation, Kicking' It With The Brothas, and Mike of All Trades.
