It was virtually two complete years in the past the Heat knocked Boston out of the Eastern Conference Finals contained in the NBA bubble.
Despite all that’s occurred since, from roster turnover and participant progress, Jaylen Brown sees nearly the identical crew in Miami.
“Tough team, team full of dogs. Guys who aren’t going to give up, guys who aren’t going to give you anything, not an inch,” Brown mentioned after Sunday’s 109-81 win in Game 7 in opposition to Milwaukee. “So we’ve got to go out and play with poise, and play with the same mindset to fight. Because I’d expect nothing less than a great battle.”
Heat middle Bam Adebayo delivered the knockout blow in Game 6 of that 2020 sequence, scoring 32 factors and accumulating 14 rebounds in a 125-113 win. In Game 1, he famously blocked Jayson Tatum on the rim with three seconds left in additional time to primarily protect an in depth Miami victory. Unlike their latest sequence victory over the Bucks, the Celtics dropped Game 4 in opposition to the Heat and fell right into a 3-1 gap from which they by no means recovered.
But again then, Grant Williams was solely a rookie, and Boston’s psychological toughness, at the same time as an East finalist, was typically questioned. Now, battle-tested after a Game 7 win over Milwaukee wherein Williams scored a team-best 27 factors, the Celtics look prepared. And Williams figures to issue vital into the Celtics’ protection of Adebayo and/or Jimmy Butler, who scored 32 factors final Thursday to remove the Sixers.
“It’s one of those things you just have to take care of yourself and get ready for another physical series,” Williams mentioned. “Because Miami is physical, too.”
As for the revenge issue, the Celtics appeared to downplay the concept the 2020 sequence can be on their minds with solely two days between them and Game 1. Tuesday’s tip-off is about for 8:30 p.m. in Miami.
“Another extremely physical team, obviously really well-coached. … Just looking forward to it,” Tatum mentioned. “Excited being back in this position and trying to get over this hump.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com