New York Knicks fans know that Playoff Jimmy is real, as do Bucks fans. Now, Celtics fans are painfully learning just how good Jimmy Butler can be as Miami has taken a commanding 3-0 lead over Boston. A few weeks after eliminating the No. 1 seed, the No. 8 Heat are likely to do the same against the No. 2 Celtics in the coming days.
So far, New York is the lone team that has actually put up a fight against Miami in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Semifinals went to six games, and it’s looking as if the Heat could finish off the Celtics in only four. Boston failed to put up any kind of fight in Game 3, losing 128-102. No player for the Celtics scored more than 14 points, which came from Jayson Tatum, who shot an abysmal 6-for-18 from the field.
Things weren’t supposed to be this easy for the Heat. Miami had to earn the No. 8 seed via the play-in tournament, where the team lost to the Hawks in their first game. Leading up to the end of the regular season, it wasn’t certain that the Heat would even be in the play-in. Even now, their roster isn’t impressive, but Erik Spoelstra has Miami on the right path.
Meanwhile, Joe Mazzulla couldn’t look more like a rookie head coach if he tried. His incompetence is showing and is part of the reason why the Celtics find themselves in the position that they’re in.
Knicks fans can enjoy Celtics being on verge of getting swept by Jimmy Butler, Heat
After making a miraculous run to the NBA Finals less than a year ago, Boston could be eliminated in Game 4 without winning a game in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jayson Tatum, who was named All-NBA First Team, and Jaylen Brown, who was named All-NBA Second Team, combined for 26 points in Game 3. Brown is averaging only 16.7 points in the first three games of the series while Tatum is averaging 26 points but has failed to show up for the Celtics down the stretch.
Boston has deservedly been roasted around the league for the “effort” that the team has put forth.
Inside the NBA Crew -- including Ernie Johnson --absolutely roasts the Celtics after the Game 3 beatdown. pic.twitter.com/gMrrxALnhX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 22, 2023
It’s been so bad that the only two Celtics players that have received some sort of praise during the ECF are Robert Williams and Grant Williams.
Stan Van Gundy takes the Celtics to task:
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 22, 2023
"I like Robert Williams and Grant Williams in the game. They both at least have some juice. This Celtic team has showed very little enthusiasm, energy, passion. Let's get some guys out there who will play with some energy." pic.twitter.com/tUekueEFZb
It’s hard for Knicks fans to not think about what New York would look like in the ECF against a Boston team that has absolutely crumbled. Yes, the Celtics made it deeper in the playoffs than the Knicks, but New York was never a contender to begin with. At least the Knicks have one star that will always show up — Jalen Brunson. As for the Celtics’ Two Jays, they both need to take a long look in the mirror ahead of what could be their final game of the season on Tuesday.
New York fans aren’t fond of Miami by any means, but at the same time, it’s been quite enjoyable to watch Boston get exposed. Life comes at you fast!
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