It’s been a little less than a year since Jimmy Butler’s running jump shot fell short in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, sending the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals. Here we are again, for the second straight year, with the Celtics and the Miami Heat battling it out for a chance to compete in the Finals. Last year, the Heat were the top seed in the east. However, the tides are turned with the Heat as the eighth seed this time.
Getting past a dominant Boston team won’t be easy, but it’s possible for this Heat team. Below are three ways Miami can make it to NBA Finals for the first time since the bubble in 2020.
Five Ways the Miami Heat Can Make It to the NBA Finals
1. Jimmy Butler Has to Average 30 ppg in This Series
This one seems pretty obvious. When ‘Playoff Jimmy’ is on, good things happen for the Heat. In the first round, he averaged 37.6 PPG as the Heat dismantled the Bucks in 5. However, the second round wasn’t the same. Granted, Butler was banged up, but he was averaging six fewer shots per game and 13 points less. As such, the Heat struggled more against the Knicks, as their star was more hesitant. If they want to advance, Butler has to take over for the Heat in the fourth quarter.
2. Slow Down Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum is coming off of a sensational Game 7 against Philadelphia, where he had 51 points on 6 of 10 from three. In 13 games against the Heat in the NBA Playoffs, Tatum averages just under 26 PPG on 43.6% shooting. If they want to win this series, shutting him down will be crucial. Both Jimmy Butler and Haywood Highsmith will most likely be tasked with this.
If they can lock him down at the perimeter and force him to drive, they’ll be in good hands, as Bam Adebayo is one of the best help defenders in the NBA.
3. Duncan Robinson Must Find His Rhythm
Duncan Robinson’s 3pt % fell from 73% to 28% in the second round of the playoffs. Keeping up with a high-caliber offense in Boston won’t be easy, but if Robinson can get back to at least 40% from deep, the Heat should be in good shape.
4. Limit Points in the Paint
Miami gave up 62 points in the paint in Game 1 and still somehow defeated the Celtics due to their three-point shooting. That will not fly going forward. If the Heat want to win this series, they must return to their defensive identity that gave them such success in the first two rounds. Limiting the Celtics’ big men will be fundamental to controlling this series.
5. Get the Bench Going
This is extremely important for a Heat team down one of their best players. Miami is 7-0 in playoff games this season, where Kyle Lowry has scored 10+ points, and 5-3 when Caleb Martin has scored 10+. Getting quality production from these two can alleviate the pressure off Jimmy Butler and help keep the Heat in games in crunch time. If both can average around 12 PPG, Boston will be in trouble.
