The Miami Heat pulled off a stunning win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics to take the series to a do-or-die Game 7. Miami was written off by a majority of the NBA world after defeats in Games 4 & 5, but they responded in typical Heat fashion by beating the Boston Celtics 111-103 on the back of a splendid showing from Jimmy Butler, who finished with 47 points.
The Heat have been clapping back at those who had written them off, with Udonis Haslem saying that Draymond Green broke the code after the Warriors star proclaimed that they will play the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Coach Erik Spoelstra was later asked if Draymond’s quotes motivated the locker room:
Asked Erik Spoelstra on how Draymond Green's comment motivated the Heat locker room. “I don’t know. Each person can find different forms of motivation. We have a big audacious goal that’s motivating enough", he said. #HEATCulture
— Christos Tsaltas (@Tsaltas46) May 28, 2022
Asked Erik Spoelstra on how Draymond Green’s comment motivated the Heat locker room. “I don’t know. Each person can find different forms of motivation. We have a big audacious goal that’s motivating enough,” he said. #HEATCulture
It is the kind of response you have to give as a coach, but it is clearly based on what Haslem said, that the players did take offense to Draymond’s comments. The Heat have had a chip on their shoulder because they believe they haven’t been given the respect they deserve this season and Green’s quotes would have only strengthened that sentiment. They’d be keen to get to the Finals and shut him up for good.
To do that, they first need to win Game 7 here and it’s going to be pretty tough. The Celtics have already won twice in Miami in this series and they have already dealt with the pressure of a Game 7 in these playoffs, having eliminated the defending champion, Milwaukee Bucks, in 7 games in the Conference Semifinals. Unlike the Bucks, however, the Heat do have home-court advantage for this game. They’d be hoping that their fans give them a boost to push them over the line and get to their second NBA Finals in the last three seasons.
