The Boston Celtics have the best opportunity to write their names in NBA history books tonight.

They’ll host the Miami Heat for a crucial Game 7, looking to punch their tickets to the NBA Finals.

And as good as the Heat were in the playoffs and early in the series, Shannon Sharpe believes they should pack an extra bag so they can get their vacations started already.

Sharpe pointed out the fact that home teams in Game 7s have a 70+% winning percentage, adding that the Heat know they dropped the ball and missed their many opportunities to close this out while they still could.

"He knows that they squandered an opportunity…I'm gonna take the Celtics."

Shannon Sharpe on Erik Spoelstra and the Heat heading into Game 7

(via @undisputed)pic.twitter.com/qw1B95dXSQ

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 29, 2023

Miami could’ve closed them out in Game 6 when Jimmy Butler seemingly iced the game with his clutch free throws.

Then, Derrick White’s epic game-winner stunned them on their own court, just when it seemed like they were Finals bound.

Moreover, people seem to be ignoring the fact that the Denver Nuggets have had plenty of time to rest, heal, and watch film ahead of the upcoming NBA Finals.

Regardless of their rival, they’ll have homecourt advantage, which is also a significant edge in Colorado’s thin air.

Things couldn’t have gone any better for the Nuggets in this series, all things considered.

This seven-game series has been exhausting physically, mentally, and emotionally for both teams, and even if the Celtics manage to make history and win tonight, they may not have the stamina left to deal with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. after such a long grind.

The post Shannon Sharpe Makes His Game 7 Celtics, Heat Prediction appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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The Miami Heat have a tough mission in front of them, and they’ll need Jimmy Butler to be at his absolute best to get it done.

Butler is the heart and soul of this Heat team, and they can only go as far as he can lead them when they hit the road for Game 7.

The stakes have never been higher for him, and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins recently explained why.

In his latest appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, Perkins explained that a loss would hurt Butler’s legacy more than Jayson Tatum’s, and it wouldn’t be just because of the fact that they were up 3-0 in this series.

"I believe [Jimmy Butler's] legacy will be hurt more by this loss than Jayson Tatum… If he can win this Game 7 and get to the Finals, I think he will cement his legacy as far as a Hall of Fame player."

— @KendrickPerkinspic.twitter.com/O1gBwV8O1v

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 29, 2023

Perkins cites that Butler is getting older and that this could be his best and final shot at winning an NBA championship, whereas Tatum will have more chances down the road.

Moreover, Perkins states that Butler is making a case for being a Hall of Famer, and that case could be cemented with another trip to the NBA Finals.

His career numbers aren’t that impressive, but he’s got a reputation for taking his game up a notch in the playoffs, and he did lead the Heat to the Finals just a couple of years ago.

That being said, this would be an even bigger accomplishment, all things considered, given the shortage of talent around him and the fact that the Heat were the No. 8 seed.

But as good as they were and as dominant he’s been, it may all mean nothing if they don’t get the job done tonight.

The post Kendrick Perkins Says A Game 7 Loss Would Hurt Jimmy Butler’s Legacy appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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The Miami Heat were stunned, shocked, and in disbelief, and we’re not talking just about their fans.

No one witnessing could believe what just happened in the final split seconds of Game 6 when Derrick White knocked down that game-winner.

Some were quick to blame the Heat for not boxing out, and others praised the Boston Celtics, but most people were simply flabbergasted.

Notably, ESPN’s Nick Friedell even reports that the Heat’s locker room was dead silent after the loss, which was the first time it happened this season.

.@NickFriedell said Gabe Vincent played "Life Goes On" by Ed Sheeran in Miami's locker room after their Game 6 loss pic.twitter.com/LhAxdvPcL5

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 29, 2023

Friedell pointed out that Jimmy Butler usually has the stereo blasting loud after a game, win or lose, adding that Gabe Vincent then tried to lift them up by playing ‘Life Goes On’ by Ed Sheeran.

Notably, that’s been the motto and mindset of this team for most of the season, as they will try and take a ‘clean slate’ approach every single time they set foot on the floor, and that’s going to be the challenge as they enter Game 7 at the TD Garden.

The Heat will face their toughest challenge yet.

They’ve been through a lot to reach this stage, and they know that losing tonight would make them go from overperformers to chokers in the eyes of the media, the fans, and even their colleagues.

The beauty of Game 7s is that anything can happen.

A lucky bounce, or even officiating could be the difference between going back home empty-handed or a trip to the NBA Finals.

The post NBA Insider Says Heat’s Locker Room Was Silent After Game 6 Loss appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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