(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat gave the NBA one of its biggest upsets in playoff history on Wednesday night, eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round despite being the eighth seed in the East.
Not only was this feat exciting for fans of the Heat, but it was also inspiring for other players in the league.
De’Andre Hunter of the Atlanta Hawks, who is currently battling against the second-seed Boston Celtics, thinks his team could follow in Miami’s footsteps.
“They just showed [the template]. [Miami] played two play-in games. We played one. They got the number eight seed and beat the number one seed, and I feel like we could do the same,” Hunter said, according to Hawks insider Kevin Chouinard.
De’Andre Hunter, on watching an upset go down in the East:
“They just showed (the template). (Miami) played two play-in games. We played one. They got the #8 seed and beat the #1 seed, and I feel like we could do the same.”
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) April 27, 2023
There are similarities between the Heat and the Hawks.
Both teams had severely difficult seasons.
Despite high expectations, they struggled throughout the year and the playoffs weren’t guaranteed.
Just a couple of weeks ago, it looked like the Hawks were the better team, as they beat the Heat in a play-in game.
Now Atlanta is hoping to do what Miami did on Wednesday night.
Their situations are a little different and the Hawks have never held a series lead over the Celtics.
But they have shown fight lately and have brought the opening round to 3-2.
They will face off against the Celtics again on Thursday night, with Hunter, Trae Young, and Dejounte Murray all ready to play hard.
If they can earn another win, it’ll even the series and be a big accomplishment.
But if they can do that and then actually beat them in Game 7 as well, the NBA will have another huge upset on their hands.
The post Hawks Star Believes Team Can Replicate Miami’s Feat appeared first on The Cold Wire.