Would The Boston Celtics Have Fared Better Than The Miami Heat In The Finals?

Many are arguing the Boston Celtics would have been a better matchup for the Denver Nuggets than the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat’s slow collapse against the Denver Nuggets has some deeming this Finals “one of the worst” in recent memory.

This could be because of the lack of headliners like Steph Curry and LeBron James, or maybe the fundamental team basketball isn’t as exciting to fans. But the disapproval for these Finals seem to stem from the one-sided nature of the matchups. The Nuggets are bigger in size and play as a more complete unit, which shows in how they’ve dominated so far.

Meanwhile, Miami has to rely largely on role players and a hobbled Jimmy Butler with no star help outside him and Bam Adebayo. Because of this, Boston Celtics fans are insisting they would be a better Finals opponent.

Nuggets vs Celtics finals would have been for the ages man pic.twitter.com/0Brr0qEXwM

— 𝐽𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑦 (@CelticsValid) June 10, 2023

To be fair, they do make a point about having a better unit. Their team matches more favorably against Denver with their depth and superstar players. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, even for their inconsistency, are a superstar tandem. If they don’t perform up to standard, Derrick White and Marcus Smart can provide offensive production and solid defense.

Robert Williams, Grant Williams and Malcolm Brogdon give them playmaking in the second unit. Al Horford rounds out the starting five, giving them a slight size advantage over Miami.

But as some have pointed out, if the Celtics were really that much better, they’d be here instead.

Usually if my team gets embarrassed ima be mad at MY TEAM and slander them. Celtics fans giving the Heat more attention than their actual team…We’re sorry we beat you….? Don’t know why y’all so obsessed

— Austin (@ChefTrillie) June 8, 2023

Celtics and Knicks fans are trying to pile on the Heat.

Like we forgot Miami eliminated yall. It’s not hitting like you think lmao

— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) June 10, 2023

This Heat team is really good, but they are outmatched and outplayed by an even better Nuggets team. The Celtics wouldn't have done much better against the Nuggets either. #NBAFinals

— Carlos Gil (@carlosgil83) June 10, 2023

So, there’s certainly an argument for Boston, but this question can only be answered in a theoretical scenario.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.