Miami is not only on the verge of a fourth title, after those won in 2006, 2012 and 2013 (failures in 2011, 2014 and 2020), but can achieve what no team has yet achieved in history: to be crowned champion having been seeded No. 8, moreover, after having to go through play-offs to reach the playoffs.

In 1999, the New York Knicks, also eighth in the East, had already managed to reach the finals, but then fell to the San Antonio Spurs, crowned.

No doubt the Heat dreams of another scenario, carried by the energy of the warriors that are given does not give winners and who finally topple mountains. After the Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks of Jalen Brunson and the Celtics of Jayson Tatum, they will play at even higher altitude against the Nuggets, literally - Denver, nicknamed "Mile High City", rises to 1,500 m - as figuratively, with Jokic and his gang who unceremoniously dismissed the Lakers of LeBron James.

"We stayed together"

The return of the Floridians to the last step of the championship, when few would have bet a dime (ten cents) on this assumption, during a complicated season, bears the seal of coach Erik Spoelstra and president Pat Riley, who have maintained the culture of the Heat, mixing discipline, work ethic and endless self-sacrifice.

It took all these ingredients, a tempered steel character and a good dose of basketball regained, not to crack under the pressure of the Celtics up like clocks, after being reduced the gap from 3-0 to 3-3 in this conference finals.

Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo Dunk during the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics on May 29, 2023 in Boston © Adam Glanzman/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"We stayed together," Butler said of the torment over the past 48 hours. "We're excited, but we still have four wins to go" to win the ring, added the MVP of the Eastern Conference games.

In the eyes of many, Boston seemed destined to become the first team in history to achieve the feat of reversing such a highly compromised situation, but for the 151st time in playoff history the miracle did not happen.

Tatum on one leg

First because it had already happened 48 hours earlier, when Derrick White, managed his miraculous tap at two hundredths of the buzzer to snatch the victory (104-103). Then because Jayson Tatum, the driving force of the C's, severely twisted his left ankle in his first action and he had to deal with pain throughout the game, having to settle for 14 points (at 5/13, 11 rbds).

In fact, Boston came up against an extremely tight defense of the Floridians, suffering 15 losses of opposing balls and being intercepted 7 times, without any player being able to really take over on offense, even if Jaylen Brown (19 pts) did not deserve.

The Miami Heat celebrates their qualification for the NBA Finals, May 30, 2023 in Boston © Adam Glanzman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Derrick White thought he was still playing the saviors in the third quarter by bringing his own to six units, managing 13 of his 18 points. But the Heat never wavered in this controlled game from start to finish, showing a big mind and a fierce fight to live up to their reputation.

Embodying this state of mind, Jimmy Butler, certainly not always successful, constantly led the charge to finish with 28 points (12/28, 7 rbds, 6 assists, 3 steals). Caleb Martin, substitute propelled starter - formidable shot managed by Spoelstra by way of adjustment - was a second lethal weapon in attack, author of 26 points (at 11/16, 10 rbds).

And as is often the case, when it comes in close, it comes in from afar, with the Floridians planting 50% of their award-winning banners (14/28), when the Celtics missed the target (9/42), their sin in this series.

© 2023 AFP