The Boston Celtics start their run at the 2024 NBA title with a first round matchup with the Miami Heat, the same team that sent them fishing in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. And while that might seem like a bit of poetic justice to Celtics fans, if star Heat forward Jimmy Butler is not able to play thanks to an MCL sprain, the outcome of this series might already be in doubt for Miami, no poetry required.
But Boston must resist the urge to play down to their opponent even a little, as the slightest crack can be turned into a chasm by Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and the healthy players on his roster.
We’ll take Boston handily in this one.