The Miami Heat are back in the NBA Finals for the first time in six years. This will be their sixth Finals appearance in franchise history. The fifth-seeded Heat took down the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers, the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, and the third-seeded Boston Celtics to get to the title bout.
Miami Heat Back in the Finals after Six Years
The Unlikely Eastern Conference Champions
The Heat made a splash this past offseason acquiring five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, who has been a seamless fit for them. Aside from getting Butler in free agency, they also drafted Tyler Herro who has been a spark for the Heat, particularly in these playoffs. Before the season started, many basketball fans saw the Heat as a mediocre playoff team. However, this Heat team has made their critics eat their words.
The Heat went 44-29 during the regular season and earned the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference. They then took it up to another level in the playoffs by going 12-3 in the first three rounds. They have the same record as the Los Angeles Lakers in these playoffs and will face them in the Finals.
No fifth-seeded team has won a title before, but the Heat are looking to change that. The 1995 Houston Rockets team was the last heavy underdog to win a title. The Heat players should use that as a source of inspiration against a heavily favored Lakers team.
Miami Heat Players are Unafraid of the Moment
This Heat team plays a strong team-oriented style of basketball on both ends of the floor. They are fearless and play some of their best basketball in the clutch. This mentality that the Heat have allows them to win many close games.
The best thing about this team is that they have so many players who are capable of stepping up. Butler and Herro play their best basketball in the fourth quarter, but it’s not just those two. There have been times where Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic have looked like the best player on the Heat. Other times, Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder boost their offense with their three-point shooting.
For most Heat players, this will be their first NBA Finals. While this bubble atmosphere has helped the Heat, they have proven that no moment is too big for them. The Heat will look to hang their fourth banner starting on Wednesday with Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals.
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