The stage is set for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat decimated the Chicago Bulls at home tonight and clinched the final vacant spot in the East. Despite missing Jimmy Butler due to injury, the Heat blew out DeMar DeRozan and Co. 112-91. Several Heat players balled out in Butler’s absence, including Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kevin Love. Now, the reigning Eastern Conference Champions will take on the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round. But Herro is not afraid of the massive challenge despite not having Butler in his corner for the highly-anticipated series.

During the post-game interview, Tyler Herro looked unfazed about the first-round series against Celtics. “It’s gonna be a tough challenge for us. But we are built for it, we are excited.” The Miami Heat guard also revealed the source of extra motivation for the team heading into the playoffs, “We gotta cover for Jimmy. So, we’re gonna go into Boston with a great mindset, and we are ready to roll.”

The Heat beat the Celtics in a thrilling 7-game series last season to become the Eastern Conference Champions. Miami and Boston have faced each other 3 times in the last 4 playoffs and are familiar with each other’s way of doing things. So, the first-round series will be a game of chess for head coaches Erik Spoelstra and Joe Mazzulla. Herro was also okay with Miami being heavy underdogs in the series against Boston. “I love this position honestly.”

Herro claimed the Heat performs best when their backs are against the wall. They proved it last season after reaching the NBA Finals despite being the 8th seed.

The odds are stacked against the Miami Heat

Although Tyler Herro seems confident for the first-round series against Boston, the odds are stacked against Miami more than ever. Their best player, Jimmy Butler, has been ruled out for several weeks following his MCL injury. His absence leaves a major void in Miami’s roster. Miami’s offense relies heavily on Butler during the playoffs as he is one of the few superstars who elevates his game in the postseason. Butler averaged 26.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the 2023 playoffs.

More importantly, the Celtics are a much better team than they were last season. With the addition of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, Boston’s depth has improved significantly. They have been the best team in the league all year and the only team to cross the 60-win mark in the regular season. For Miami to stand a chance at winning without Butler, every player on the roster will need to step up and perform above expectations. A lot will be riding on Spoelstra’s coaching and how he strategizes against the star-studded Celtics.

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