The Heat used Draymond Green‘s recent NBA Finals prediction as motivation to beat the Celtics on Friday and force a Game 7, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports writes. Green predicted his Warriors would face the Celtics after Golden State advanced this week, prompting several Heat players to respond.
“Draymond broke the code,” veteran Udonis Haslem said. “You ain’t supposed to say some s–t like that. That’s disrespectful. He know better than that.”
Heat forward P.J. Tucker also felt as if Green crossed a line with his comments.
“I don’t know what part of the game is that,” Tucker told Haynes. “A player picking a team before they’re out. That’s crazy, bro.”
Miami could advance to play Golden State in the Finals by defeating Boston on Sunday. The team is dealing with an array of injuries, but was led by Jimmy Butler‘s 47-point performance to win Game 6 on the road.
Here are some other notes from Miami:
- The Heat also received motivation from Dwyane Wade, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN, who details how Butler used that motivation en route to his dominant Game 6. “He was telling me that I could do this,” Butler told ESPN, referring to how Wade called him before the game. “Knee a little banged up, but nobody cares. Go out there, continue to build your legacy. It meant the world to me, so I appreciate you D-Wade.” In addition to his 47 points, Butler also finished with nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 46 minutes.
- Following the Heat’s Game 6 win, Butler expressed immediate confidence about the team’s chances in Game 7, as relayed by Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). “We knew we were going to win this one. And we’re going to win the next one too.”
- Kyle Lowry‘s key performance in Game 6 seemingly came out of nowhere, Joe Vardon writes as part of a story for The Athletic. Lowry has been dealing with a hamstring strain for over a month, but he managed to record 18 points and 10 assists to keep the Heat’s season alive. “I’m never going to make an excuse,” Lowry said. “I played bad before. I have an opportunity to redeem myself. I got great guys in the locker room, great guys on our team, great organization, great people in my life who support me no matter what it is, ups, downs. They always say, ‘Just do you.’ Tonight was one of the chances that I think Coach said it, a legacy game.”
Green didn’t say he wanted Boston but most likely it will be Boston. Same Haslem that said he was the better defensive player than Green earlier this year. Shouldn’t Haslem be motivated that every sport writer in the country said Miami has no chance to win?
Players care what other players think. The u couldn’t care less what a sportswriter or a fan says. And anybody that thought Miami had no chance was obv dumb asf from the jump
just like the people here that said Warriors dynasty was over and they will never be in the finals again. Miami will use that to motivate themselves to win. Celtics are the ones that should be angry at Green for motivating the heat. I fear the heat because they have proven to have the most heart in the playoffs something that doesn’t come up on any stat sheet.
Imagine it being 2022 and still falling for Draymond’s mind games? He’s been doing this since 2014 and they still don’t get it?
Wow, the rest of the league really does stand no chance against GSW for the next 5-10 years, let alone this one. You have to play 5D chess against GSW, and the Heat are playing checkers right now with this stupid, low-rent, mouthing off.
Lol as a Heat fan, and a fan of Draymond Green, and someone that picked GS over the Heat in the finals at the beginning of the season, I knew UD was going to say something about it…I also suspected Draymond did it on purpose, b/c I know he has respect for those guys, but I still knew UD was going to say something about it…its Heat culture
Anyone who said GSW was done was probably responding to irrational homer A’sfaninUK.
People like to fire themselves up. I like Dray breaking the code with his podcast
PJ Tucker shouldn’t need Green to motivate him, it was an elimination game
Smh why are you like this? Nowhere did PJ say he needed Green or anyone to motivate him
I didn’t watch the interview bro but …
“Heat forward P.J. Tucker also thanked Green for the motivation during his post-game media session.”
Also PJ Tucker: “You were trying to steal her car. You didn’t think I was going to find you, but I got you now. I’m gonna bust your gut open and watch you die!”
Draymond already got in the Heats heads before they even won, lol this is going to be bloodbath, 4-0 or 4-1 GSW (they like to end it at home).
Lowry is a gamer and a winner. Heat will still need Bam to bring his A game in #7 to advance.
Jimmy Buckets ……
Bam ……. I know he played D. Heat need more offense from Bam
41 mins, 6 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast .
Can’t believe no Herro, All 0’s from Duncan. Lowry banged up. Heat win in Boston. This is why I don’t bet. Heat are for Real ….. just about winning. How can you root against that.
Boston’s been banged up as well with Smart and Williams in and out of the rotation. That’s why this series has been so fun, both teams have that will to win.
Smart only one I see really hurt. Tatum to me was an act. He was having a terrible gm.
Lowry Hamstring. You don’t come back from that. You have bad days good days.
Jimmy has a Knee he will need to fix.
Oladipo is not fully back from two major surgeries. Herro is out.
I agree both are tough and play great team gm. But Heat are dealing with more adversity due to physical injuries.
The Heat have 4 starters + Herro that wouldnt be playing if this was the regular season
I’m banging this drum again but the “all 0’s from Duncan” got me going. The kid is in the doghouse and no one knows why. Have to admit I’ve been an NBA fan for decades and can’t remember a pure shooter being told to pack it in. Has to be some story here
But he is missing shots. I hope he snaps out of it. When he is open. I expect it to go in lol. Haven’t see that this whole series. Heat need everyone now. Especially if you go to Finals.
Dumcan was firing up prayers the end of game 5, he was doing okay before that.
Him missing doesnt necessarily matter as much as giving them space on the floor. Also, not like Strus is lighting it up without him out there