Celts vs Heat: Who Will the Gods Favor?

The gods of the cage kingdom must have gone crazy!!! With only 3 seconds left, we thought that the gods had finally smiled on the giant-killing, underdoggin’ Miami Heat. With the Boston Celtics nursing a 2-point lead, that jarrin’, jammin’ Jimmy Butler conjured yet another Houdini act to stuff 3 friggin’ free throws to take the lead. As in previous close encounters, the Heat would come from behind to take the lead from the slowly-but-surely-slumping Celts. Twas time indeed for the Celts to fold up and finally pack up their bags.

But nay. Tis a fickle world out there in this cage paradise. The ball is round, so they say. This dervish named Derrick comes from nowhere to tip in a missed desperation shot to win the game with just milliseconds to spare!!! WHITE was that??!?? WHITE just happened??? There is pandemonium, and there is horror, there is despair in the faces of the Heat faithful overflowing the arena. There is ecstacy and tears of joy in far-away Boston. Tis the Celtics, for now, whose arms shall be raised in victory; thus spake the cage gods! Though not in total unison, so it seems.

What an epic battle we have witnessed!

And so the saga continues. Who will prevail in Game 7 of this wild ride-of-a-series? Who shall the gods indulge? Who is deserving of the eastern title?

Either way, we shall bear witness to a historic event of heroic proportions. Should the Celtics win, this will be the first time ever for a team down 0 and 3 to win a series. A total of 151 NBA teams have fallen into a 0–3 deficit, only 4 of them – with Boston being the latest – have forced a game 7. None of the first 3 have won a game 7. Should the Heat win, this will only be the 2nd time ever for an 8th seed team to reach the NBA Finals. Which record would you rather have? And which one would content the gods?

The Celtics have so much in their favor. They have the better record, they have the better personnel, they have the momentum with the 3 latest wins, they have the home crowd. The Heat? They have Jimmy ‘friggin’ Butler.

The Celtics will try to overwhelm the Heat with their speed, their 3-point shooting, their raw talent and athleticism. The Heat will counter with their stronger rebounding, their zone formation, their help defense to compensate for the talent lack, and their timely hits from closer the basket. The Celts will have the speed, the size, the skill; but the Heat will take the spirit.

All roads lead to Boston, so it seems. But sometimes, the gods could play a joke on the favored ones. After that gut-wrenching miracle shot the gods gifted the Celtics to save their season, what ending will they cook up to top that? Which team will they honor tomorrow?

Cover photo courtesy of Heat Nation.