I’ve never been to Las Vegas. But even if I had been, I obviously couldn’t tell you. That’s how the rules work, right?
Anyway, I’m super excited to finally experience all the debauchery while also experiencing some hoops. Summer League has always been a bucket list item for me, so the fiancee and I finally booked our tickets last night. I’ll be right in the middle of it all with fellow fans and media members at the MGM Grand. If you have any recommendations of things to do/try or not do/try, let me know!
I can’t wait to watch the Bulls’ first-round pick go off! oh … crap … wait a second …
Derrick White was clearly studying some Ayo Dosunmu film before last night’s game. As Marcus Smart sent up the last-second heave, White booked it from his inbound spot to snatch the offensive rebound and finish a shot that will go down in Celtics history. If you have yet to see the moment, do yourself a favor and watch:
That Celtics-Heat Game 6 will go down in NBA history thanks to its incredibly bonkers ending. Jimmy Butler – in true Jimmy G. Buckets fashion – stole the lead with just 3.0 seconds left in the game. Al Horford fouled Butler as he went for the go-ahead 3-pointer in the corner, sending him to the line to give Boston a 103-102 lead. Then, for just the 6th time in NBA history, Derrick White knocked down a shot at the buzzer to dodge elimination.
This is the 6th game-winning buzzer-beater when facing elimination in NBA history and the 1st since Kawhi Leonard in 2019 against the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/vscNrBdWz4— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 28, 2023
White’s epic shot has now made this a truly historic Eastern Conference Finals. According to NBA Communications, this is now the first time since the early 80s that two teams have played each other in a conference finals Game 7 in back-to-back years.
The Celtics and Heat will meet in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals for the second season in a row.
This is the first time that the same teams will meet in Game 7 of the Conference Finals in back-to-back years since the Celtics and 76ers did so in 1981 and 1982.— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 28, 2023
Even crazier, the Celtics are now one win away from becoming the first team in NBA history to ever win a series after going down 3-0. While three other teams were able to win three straight and force Game 7s after falling into that hole, none were able to pull off the final victory.
The Celtics are the fourth team to force a Game 7 after trailing a playoff series 3-0. Other instances:
-1951 NBA Finals: Knicks forced Game 7 vs. Rochester Royals
-1994 West Semifinals: Nuggets forced Game 7 vs. Jazz
-2003 West First Round: Blazers forced Game 7 vs. Mavericks— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 28, 2023
It always goes back to MJ.
Derrick White is the 2nd player in NBA history to make a game-winning buzzer-beater when facing elimination and his team trailed prior to the shot.
The other player to do this? Michael Jordan in 1989 vs the Cavaliers.
So, like, who do I root for now? I really don’t like the Celtics, but it’s so hard for me not to want to witness history. Meanwhile, as often as the Miami Heat bother me, it’s so freakin’ hard not to want Jimmy Butler back in the NBA Finals! While I think the likelihood of the Nuggets stomping either of these teams is pretty darn high, Butler has proven that he can make life tough on really anyone.
The other big question I have is … what the heck happens to the Heat if they blow this? A lot of folks thought this could be a team that pursued a pretty drastic shake-up prior to this playoff run. They were just a couple of minutes away from losing to Chicago in the Play-In Tournament, and the clock continues to tick on the Butler-Lowry tandem. Would they now be expected to consider some big moves again with a loss or has this been enough to justify running it back for a least one more year? If one thing is for sure, they got some interesting free agents/trade targets the Bulls should keep an eye on (Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Cody Martin).
I have to watch this at least three times whenever it pops up on my timeline.
Lowkey, this is so painfully true. The more I watch these grand playoff moments occur, the more frustrated I am that Chicago has gone this long without being a factor in the postseason. With all due respect to DeMar DeRozan’s Game 2 performance last year, it’s been FOREVER since we’ve had a truly memorable playoff moment.
— Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 (@Metropolitans92) May 28, 2023
Bulls Legend Drew Gooden was also in the house! Is it just me or was Gooden one of those players who you consistently expected to be better than he was? Like, ten different teams in the NBA talked themselves into him at one point or another. And, funny enough, some of the best basketball he ever played came in Chicago. He appeared in 49 games averaging 13.4 points and 8.8 rebounds. Not too shabby. See … I’m talking myself into him again!
Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.
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