BOSTON – The Miami Heat was preparing on Wednesday to play against the Boston Celtics at 8:30 p.m., at the TD Garden in Boston.
Heat forward Jimmy Butler told Local 10 News Tuesday that he felt that the organization’s culture made him a believer.
“Yea, it’s real. I think more than anything it’s the belief that we have in one another and the belief you must have in yourself to realize how special you can be in this league, moment and organization,” Butler said.
Local 10 News reporter Janine Stanwood spoke with ‘confident’ Heat fans Friday night after the team defeated the New York Knicks in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
“This is a confident group,” said one Heat fan. “They play with a lot of energy and definitely don’t play like an eighth seed.”
After defeating the Knicks in six games, the Heat became the first eighth seed in nearly a quarter century to reach the conference finals.
Heat players said they feel like they have unfinished business after losing to the Celtics in game 7 of the ECF last season.
Electricity continues to flow through the fan base as the Heat aren’t the only team in South Florida making deep playoff noise in South Florida.
Fans will also prepare for a big week ahead as the Florida Panthers are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The Miami Heat and Florida Panthers both made history by reaching the conference finals in their respective leagues.
Over the last 40 years, there have been 16 instances of an NBA and NHL team from the same metro area reaching the Conference Finals in the same season, but none had clinched on the same day, according to ESPN.
As Heat fans prepare for their third Eastern Conference Finals appearance in four seasons, fans are encouraged to take a selfie and send it to Share@Local10.com.
They could be shown on-air, online, or on our social media accounts.
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