The Miami Heat have a shot at being one of the greatest — if not the greatest — No. 8 seed in NBA history.
They are one win away from going back to the NBA Finals for the second time in the past four years, all after barely making the playoffs.
However, they’re 8.5-point underdogs ahead of Thursday night’s Game 5 vs. the Boston Celtics, and it seems like people are once again sleeping on them.
That includes Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, who recently doubted their ability to replicate their success from the first three games of the series in this pivotal Game 5.
.@ShannonSharpe says the Celtics extend the series tonight:
“Player for player, they’re just better. Can the Heat recreate what they created in their first 3 games? I don’t think so.” pic.twitter.com/3eEr9ozztq
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 25, 2023
Sharpe states that the Celtics are simply the better team, and he’s right if you take a look at both of their rosters.
Also, the Heat will be without Gabe Vincent for this game due to a sprained ankle, not to mention the already massive absence of Tyler Herro.
Nonetheless, the Heat put the Celtics against the ropes for a reason.
Erik Spoelstra took Joe Mazzulla to school three out of four times, and all it takes is another win to close the series out.
The Celtics have been quite inconsistent in the playoffs, and the Heat came back from double digits twice in the first two games to secure a win before blowing them out in Game 3 at home.
Of course, winning at the TD Garden is never easy, especially in close-out games, but the Celtics have found out the hard way that it takes more than just talent to win in the playoffs.
NEXT:
Skip Bayless Makes A Prediction For Game 5 Celtics, Heat
