BOSTON — Confidence is a hell of a drug.
in Game 3, it felt impossible that they could rediscover the identity that carried them to the 2022 NBA Finals in time to save this season and avoid questions about the future of their coach and roster.
"We've got a lot of love for each other, top to bottom," said Boston's Derrick White, who joined Tatum, Brown and Smart with more than 20 points in Game 5."We're competing, and we know it's a long way to go, and we've got a lot of work to do, but it's always fun competing with the guys in our locker room."
Everything that went wrong for Boston in the first three games has gone right in the last two. Both the offense and defense flipped from performing at league-worst levels in the three losses to performing at league-best levels in the two wins . Some of that is a progression to the mean, but a lot of it is just the Celtics getting back to what they do.
Heat point guard Gabe Vincent's absence — along with injuries to Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo — laid bare a lack of depth. Kyle Lowry started in Vincent's place and accepted blame for Miami's horrid start to Game 5."I just wasn't aggressive enough," the 37-year-old said. The presence of Max Strus and Kevin Love in the starting unit presents too many weak spots to attack.
As Duncan Robinson — one of few bright spots for Miami in Game 5 — exited his postgame interview, someone in the hallway asked him if he had guaranteed the Heat would close out the series on Saturday.Sure enough, Butler, who does not feel pressure — who embodies pressure — said,"We are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can and we will win this series. We'll just have to close it out at home.
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