Well folks, here we are.
Welcome to Game 6.
These last two days have brought me every possible emotion known to man.
We are all in this together.
Let’s start with some good news.
The 2023 Boston Celtics have won 4 games in a row on 7 different occasions this season.
I also wouldn’t say it’s something that can be assumed to happen either.
But it is somethingthey havedone…..7 different times.
I can’t just ignore that.
The 2023 Miami Heat have lost 4 in a row on 2 different occasions this season.
That was encouraging to learn.
But don’t get ahead of yourself here.
We all remember what happened in that game correct?
This is the Jimmy Butler I am expecting to see tonight.
I don’t know how you could go into this game thinking any other way.
Can you think of something that might be helpful in this situation?
I can think of something.
How about your own Game 6 monster
You fight fire with fire.
In looking at this matchup, there’s another angle that I simply could not ignore.
2022: 93-80
2020: 121-108
They both lost Game 6.
I have to be honest, I don’t love that pattern.
That makes me fairly nervous given the 2023 Celtics won their Game 5 by 13 points.
That all bench lineup over the final 2 minutes really fucked us there.
You couldn’t make one more basket or get one more stop?
Now I have to spend all day worrying about this shit?
For the Celtics to force a Game 7, the formula remains the same.
It starts with their mentality.
They put together two wins and the narrative started to change right?
Now all the talk became about the Celtics making history.
They were going to pull off the comeback, they achieved something etc.
That did not look like a team that thought they accomplished something.
That was a team that was going to fight for their life.
We need to see the exact same mindset in Game 6 and I’m talking right from the jump.
With the right mindset, everything else falls into place.
It’s no secret that the foundation of the Celts Game 4 & 5 wins was their defense.
When the Celts have the right mindset, they know to lock in defensively.
you’re able to tell by how they play that they know everything stems from their defense.
With that mindset you get smarter decisions and better effort.
Guys aren’t biting on Jimmy pump fakes and making him hit tough contested jumpers.
With that mindset and high caliber defense, suddenly the offense opens up.
It’s all connected.
When the Celts generate stops and get out in transition, they become a tidal wave.
Just look at this series, the team that turns it over a shit ton loses.
Now this all sounds great, but there’s also the other reality.
There’s a very good chance the Heat don’t cough it up 16 times for 27 points.
That’s all on the table.
Which is exactly why this game is so terrifying.
You could tell me any possible scenario and I’d have to believe you.
Get this shit back to Boston and let the chips fall where they may.
