Prior to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Miami Heat looked like a team ready to hit the beaches of Cancun. Following back-to-back abysmal showings that put them in a 3-2 hole, not many outside of the Heat’s locker room gave them a chance to go to Boston and force a take-it-all Game 7.
Not that the Heat should’ve needed any bulletin board material to muster up the intestinal fortitude required to stave off elimination, but some extra motivation never hurts.
A quote from Warriors star Draymond Green seemed to spur the team’s attack in a raucous and rambunctious TD Garden. Following the Heat’s 111-103 win, longtime team veteran Udonis Haslem was quick to make it known that Green’s comments were not forgotten.
A happy and invigorated “UD” ran by the ESPN/ABC announcer’s table and yelled the following.
“Tell Draymond thank you.”
"Tell Draymond thank you."
Heat took Dray's words personally 🔥 pic.twitter.com/afirJuO6g2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 28, 2022
“Broke The Code” Is A Real Rallying Cry In These 2022 NBA Playoffs
Haslem an undrafted three-time NBA champion is the latest to talk about “breaking the code.” Haslem’s comments stem from Green saying his Warriors would face the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
“Draymond broke the code,” Haslem said. “You ain’t suppose to say some sh*t like that. That’s disrespectful. He know better than that.”
Green didn’t seem to want to pick a series winner but his TNT compadre, Shaquille O’Neal baited him in typical Shaq and Barkley style.
“He let Shaq peer pressure him into saying some sh*t he ain’t got no business saying,” Haslem continued. “I didn’t sleep much after he said that. That was some BS.”
Draymond put it out there, probably figuring he was doing no harm.
“I’m going to tell you who I think we’re going to play. We’re going to play Boston. That’s who we’re going to play.”
Haslem is the “OG” of the Heat and he’s going defend his guys at all cost. So it’s no surprise that he responded the way he did. But if the Heat needed that to motivate them to go out and save their season, that’s not a good look.
Could Green Being Playing Jedi Mind Games?
It’s no secret that Draymond Green is the type of player who’ll use any advantage he sees possible. It’s actually to Golden State’s advantage that the ECF is going to seven games. With the Heat having a slew of injuries and Boston having a couple guys battling knee ailments, playing an extra 48 minutes in that type setting is just what a healthy Golden State Warriors team wants to see.
Draymond Green on Thursday: “We’re gonna play Boston.”
P.J. Tucker after Miami won Game 6: “Tell Draymond I said I appreciate it."
A little motivation for Miami in Game 6 perhaps… 🍿 pic.twitter.com/dBX1S7DQwU
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 28, 2022
While Golden State rests, the Eastern Conference finals representative will be playing on just three days rest after Sunday’s game. The Warriors will have had nearly a week off before the Finals begin at their place in San Francisco. Maybe it was a savvy mind trick by a veteran who’s looking for any advantage possible to help GS hoist another Larry O’Brien Trophy.
