The Miami Heat were able to rally behind a strong second half to steal Game 1 on the road against the Boston Celtics — something a lot of people did not think would happen.
In fact, a majority of the ESPN “experts” and on-air personalities picked the Celtics over the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. ESPN Analytics also gave the Heat a slim three percent chance of winning the series.
And the players took notice.
The Miami Heat have a 3% chance of reaching the NBA Finals, according to ESPN Analytics 😮 pic.twitter.com/CbeoYzZQOx
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2023
Prior to the start of the series, Heat veteran Udonis Haslem appeared on The Dan Le Batard Show and ripped into ESPN’s analytics department, mocking the expertise and referring to it as “assalytics.”
“I’m sure the assalytics, assaholycs, or whatever they call themselves had us not beating Milwaukee in this first round,” Haslem said. “I’m sure the assalytics probably didn’t have me sitting here with three rings and [as] the leading rebounder in Heat history. I don’t listen to assalytics.”
“I’m sure the assalytics, assaholycs, or whatever they call themselves had us not beating Milwaukee in this first round.”
– @ThisIsUD reacts to ESPN analytics giving them a 3% chance to beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. #HEATCulture
📺 https://t.co/YVOVpqoxnX pic.twitter.com/g1ZRgFnHSc
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) May 16, 2023
The 42-year-old forward has not made much of an impact on the court over the past few years, but he is a leader on the bench and a veteran presence that helps keep the team together.
Haslem previously said the 2022-23 NBA season would be his final season, so he’s hoping that the Heat can continue their magical run through the postseason.
And with a crucial Game 1 win, the Heat very well could punch their ticket to the NBA Finals regardless of what the “assalytics” say.
