Celtics vs. Heat: A Long-Standing Playoff Rivalry
In today’s Eastern Conference first-round Game 5, the Celtics secured a dominant 34-point victory over the Miami Heat, not only eliminating them from the playoffs but also avenging last year’s defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum, who scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Celtics, stated that the lessons learned from last year’s failures contributed to the team’s different outcome this year.
Reflecting on Past Playoffs Against the Heat
Over the past five years, the Celtics and the Heat have met in the playoffs four times, with the first three encounters taking place in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat emerged victorious twice, advancing to the Finals. However, this year, injuries plagued the Heat, and the series was moved up to the first round. Despite this, the Celtics dominated, trailing for only 56 seconds across the four winning games, marking the second-shortest duration in playoff history in the last 25 years.
Game 5: A Microcosm of the Series
Game 5 epitomized the entire series, with the Heat struggling due to injuries and poor outside shooting. They made only three of 29 attempted three-pointers, resulting in a 34-point loss and elimination from the playoffs.
Tatum’s Reflection on the Outcome
Regarding the lopsided outcome of this year’s series against the Heat, Tatum commented, “That’s how things should be. We learn from our mistakes, and we apply them to the next season, so this year, we got different results because of the effort we put in.”
Derrick White Steps Up in Porzingis’s Absence
With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined due to injury, Derrick White, who has impressed in the playoffs, once again delivered with 25 points, emerging as the standout player for the Celtics in this round.
Brown’s Confidence in the Team’s Growth
Reflecting on White’s stellar performance, Jaylen Brown, who also scored 25 points in the game, said, “I think we just gotta continue to do what we’ve been doing throughout our whole careers, and that’s believe in each other and show our growth. And I think if we can do that, then we’ll continue to win.” (BK8F)
