The Miami Heat were eliminated from the NBA playoffs in five games by the Boston Celtics, but star player Jimmy Butler believes things would have been different if he had been healthy.
Butler suffered a central nervous system sprain during the play-in tournament against the Philadelphia 76ers. He missed all five games against the Celtics.
“If I was playing, Boston would be at home,” Butler said in an interview recently. rock the bells. “If it was New York, I’d probably be shit at home.”
The Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference's best record (64-18) this season, but Butler's confidence likely comes from his rival's recent playoff history. The Heat beat Boston in both the 2020 and 2023 conference finals.
Butler was named the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging 24.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game against the Celtics.
Butler finished the brief interview. rock the bells Addressing New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, he played for the Chicago Bulls from 2011 to 2015 and again for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017 to 2019.
Thibodeau and the Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time in six games and will face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I love Thisbus, but I don't want him to win,” Butler said. “Tis, I love you, but I want to crush you to the core. It's like a one-sided relationship. You're in love with me. I love you.” But I'm not in love with you.”
Butler, 34, will be paid more than $48 million by the Heat next season. He has a $52.4 million player option on his contract for the 2025-26 season.
