Everything seems to be on the Boston Celtics’ side, even destiny.
At this point, it’s hard to deny that the Boston Celtics just may be a team of destiny. And Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on the road was a very clear indication of that.
The stage was set for the Heat to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. Miami was back at home after a disappointing showing in Game 5 on the road, and the team’s supporting cast was playing the best it looked this entire series (possibly with the exception of Game 3).
Miami was bombing 3’s (14-30 on the night), Gabe Vincent looked healthy again (15 points on the night), and the Celtics were struggling mightily from 3-point range (7-35 on the night). There was one thing off for the Heat, however. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were off all game. The Heat’s dynamic duo finished with a combined 35 points on shooting 9-37 on the night. And that might’ve been the story of the game if it wasn’t for what transpired in the final few minutes of the night.
With a little over four minutes left in the game, the Celtics held a 10-point lead over the Heat. But that’s when something completely changed. Miami would use a 15-4 run over the next four minutes to take a 103-102 lead with three seconds left in the game.
At this point, you couldn’t help but wonder if this was how it was all going to end for the Celtics. Boston had put up valiant efforts to make this a series again in Games 4 and 5, but no one comes back from a 3-0 series deficit. This was it.
But that’s when destiny took over.
With just seconds left, the plan for the Celtics was clearly to take a quick shot to give the team the opportunity for an offensive rebound and another putback attempt, if needed. Ideally, the first shot would fall. But if they needed a second shot at it, the Celtics would have some time to make it happen.
Marcus Smart catches the inbound pass and takes a turnaround jumper. The shot misses and takes an odd roll off the rim and Derrick White, in the right place at the right time, makes the putback as time expires.
Right place, right time, right opportunity. Win.
The referees reviewed the play and confirmed that the basket would count. Destiny.
The Celtics successfully outlasted the Heat on the road to force a possibly historic Game 7. Boston is now on the precipice of being the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit.
This feels more than the Heat blowing a 3-0 series lead. This feels like destiny. It feels like the Celtics are supposed to win this series and possibly more.
All of this becomes moot if the Heat figure out a way to win Game 7 on the road. But with how the two teams have played recently, it’s hard to imagine that the Celtics are going to let this opportunity slip through their fingers – ones that could very well have an added championship ring to it in a couple of weeks.