(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat shocked the world on Wednesday night when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs.
Just a couple of weeks ago, it looked like the Heat could possibly miss the postseason entirely.
Now they have taken down the odds-on favorite to go all the way and are sailing into the semifinals against the New York Knicks.
Knicks aficionado Stephen A. Smith thinks his New York team has what it takes to stop Jimmy Butler and his squad.
“I’m very concerned because he’s that dude,” Smith said, adding that he’s a “superstar in the playoffs” and “something special.”
However, after a fiery diatribe, Smith concluded that “[Jimmy Butler] will go down in this series. The Garden is a different animal.”
“[Jimmy Butler] will go down in this series. The Garden is a different animal.”@stephenasmith is riding with the Knicks vs. the Heat pic.twitter.com/oWtjmbtK36
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 27, 2023
Smith pointed out that Butler is in playoff mode right now and he hurt the Bucks from all over the court.
But he also added that Milwaukee helped the Heat in a few ways, including some questionable coaching and some bone-headed mistakes in the final seconds of Wednesday’s game.
Smith is certainly afraid of the Heat but he believes that the fear he and the Knicks feel will not discourage but encourage them.
It will give them the inspiration to play harder.
The Knicks have been terrific so far in the playoffs, easily dispatching the Cleveland Cavaliers.
They seem ready for any challenge coming their way.
So do their fans, as Madison Square Garden has been electric during home games.
The arena will definitely be shaking with enthusiasm when Game 1 of the second round tips off on Sunday.
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