Miami qualified for the sixth NBA Finals in its history, Sunday by eliminating Boston. The Heat will challenge the Los Angeles Lakers, from its former star LeBron James.
Miami will challenge the Los Angelers Lakers in the NBA Finals after eliminating the Boston Celtics (4-2) in the Eastern Conference Final in Game 6 (125-113) on Sunday. The Heat returns to this stadium for the sixth time in its history after these coronations in 2006, 2012 and 2013, and its failures in 2011 and 2014. He will challenge LeBron James, his former star who participated in the last four finals (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014).
“It’s a good story, but we have to let it enjoy a bit,” said Erik Spoelstra, the coach already in place in the last four finals. It’s so hard to get to this stage, I want them guys understand it and appreciate this moment. “
Unique fact of a season which is just as much, ended after four and a half months of interruption in the Disney World bubble safe from the coronavirus, this is the first time in the history of the NBA that two teams that did not participate in the play-offs the previous season find themselves in the final of the following year.
The Florida franchise, which made the break again in Game 4 after leading 2-0, is having an impressive run, having conceded only three defeats in three series. Before dismissing Boston, she had first swept Indiana (4-0) and blocked the road of the big favorite Milwaukee and his double MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (4-1).
This return to this stage of the championship bears the stamp of coach Erik Spoelstra and president Pat Riley, who have rebuilt a competitive team, six years after the end of the era of the “Three Amigos” LeBron James / Dwyane Wade / Chris Bosh, notably by recruiting the key man Jimmy Butler, whose star status never encroaches on the collective.
“Reaching the final, that’s why we play, to win it. It gives us enormous confidence, we are united, we all play together, we advance as a team. There are still four victories, but if there is a group that can do it is ours, ”he commented.
Tyler Herro still hair-raising
It must be said that the captain has enough to trust his partners as they are talented, like the pivot Bam Adebayo, who has taken on a higher dimension in recent weeks and the hair-raising rookie Tyler Herro, uninhibited as one should be 20 years old.
These two players took responsibility for Game 6, dominated for a long time by Miami before Boston exceeded it by five points at the start of the 4th quarter. Moment at which the first, ultra-dominant, sounded the charge, in particular with an overpowered dunk among his 32 points (11/15 on shots, 14 rebounds, 5 assists), while the second planted fatal banderillas (19 pts, 7 assists ).
Butler also brought a lot (22 pts, 8 assists), just like Duncan Robinson so skilful behind the arc (5/7, 15 pts). And what about veteran Andre Iguodala, the X factor of the evening with his 15 points at 100% on shots? The latter, a three-time champion with Golden State (2015, 2017, 2018) knows how to win titles and he is the only one on the squad with Udonis Hasleem, the oldest active player, not used so far.
This illustrates the resources displayed by this energetic team, beautiful to watch, hard in defense as proved by this 4th quarter where it definitively stopped Boston (37-27). Celtics side, precisely, the quest for a 22nd NBA final and an 18th record title ends there, with a third setback in the Eastern Conference final in four years.
The next step is not yet taken, but like Denver in the West, its players will still have their say in future games, like the duo Jayson Tatum (24 pts, 11 assists), Jaylen Brown (26 pts, 8 rebounds) very courageous, despite obvious fatigue.
