The Celtics already know who they will play in the first round of the NBA playoffs—the Heat or the Bulls—thanks to Wednesday night’s results.
However, after reading an article published on Thursday morning by Shams Charania of The Athletic, both basketball fans and media members may feel obliged to include Chicago in their postseason brackets.
The Heat’s loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia during their Play-In Tournament match means Miami has to defeat Chicago on Friday night in order to claim the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. However, without star player Jimmy Butler, who is expected to miss “multiple weeks” due to an MCL injury, the defending East champs will attempt to win on own court.
At Wells Fargo Centre, Butler suffered the injury late in the first quarter. The six-time All-Star continued to play, finishing with 40 minutes, and he voiced his optimism that on Thursday morning, he would awaken to a stronger sensation in his knee. However, it appears that examination on the injury uncovered information that could spell the end for the Heat’s season.
Though it would certainly have an easier series versus the Bulls, Boston would be vastly favoured against both Chicago and Miami. After all, Butler and the Heat, who were ranked ninth, were the ones who kept the Celtics from making it to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year last season.
Miami, led by Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and top-five coach Erik Spoelstra, will continue to battle for a postseason spot. However, it’s safe to presume who the Boston Celtics would prefer to see enter TD Garden on Sunday afternoon.
