We are potentially witnessing history in the making, with the Boston Celtics winning the last 2 games of the series to pull it back to 3-2.
Teams are 0-150 when facing a 3-0 deficit, but the Celtics are favoured to win in Miami on Sunday.
Boston routed the Heat from the get go in Game 5, with Boston firing on all cylinders from distance to take a 15 point lead after the 1st.
Boston never looked back from there, with Miami resting their starters in the last quarter, giving Game 6 of the series a Game 7 kind of feel.
Jimmy Butler was held to 14 points on 5-10 from the field, and they’ll need far more from their superstar to close this series out at home. Jimmy gets a chance at retribution, missing the game winning shot in Game 7 of last year’s series to make the NBA Finals, and it would be fitting if he hits a game winner at home this year to send the Heat to the Finals.
Denver eagerly await the winner of the East, and will be hoping this series goes the length to put more tread on the tyres of these two teams.
Denver routed the LA Lakers in 4 games of the Western Conference Finals, with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray putting together one of the greatest 1-2 punch performance in recent history.
Jokic averaged a Triple Double in the series, going for 27 Points, over 14.5 Rebounds and just shy of 11.5 Assists a game. Jokic had many back breakers in the series, none more than his contested threes over the top of his head, leaving Davis and LeBron shaking their heads in disbelief.
He was joined by Jamal Murray, who just as easily could have won the Western Conference MVP, averaging 32.5 Points, 6.3 Rebounds and 5.3 Assists. If Murray gives Denver those numbers in the NBA Finals along with what Jokic delivers, it won’t matter who Denver face in the NBA Finals.
Boston will hold home court if they get out of the East, but question marks will remain about how much they’ll have left to face the Nuggets.
The same must be said for Miami, who will be on the road Friday in Denver if they win this series. Their role players have been brilliant against the Celtics, and they’ll need one last all out game Sunday. Gabe Vincent was out in Game 5, and will be questionable ahead of Game 6, so Kyle Lowry MUST show up in Game 6. Lowry didn’t give the Heat enough in Game 5, going for 5 Points on the night. They need their veteran PG to lead the way with Butler and Bam if they’re to win this series at home.
As it was mentioned earlier, Game 6 has a Game 7 feel. If Miami lose this game, it’s hard to see them overcoming Boston in Game 7 at the garden.
The Heat crowd need to be there as soon as doors open, not show up in the 2nd Qtr, as well as not leaving before the game is over! This team needs them the most in Game 6 and that building needs to be rocking from the jump.
There’s sure to be fireworks. Bring on Sunday!
Bauky