The Boston Celtics and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> are in the middle of a thrilling series in the Eastern Conference Finals. Though many people believed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> and company were huge underdogs, the story has been totally different.



The biggest rivalry in recent years in the East is having a tremendous new chapter thanks to epic moments such as the exchange of words between Butler and Grant Williams.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/erik-spoelstra-sends-massive-warning-to-celtics-as-heat-are-now-considered-big-underdogs-20230525-BUS-3952.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230525_BUS_3952_erikspoelstra.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even with a 3-1 lead, Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat have become underdogs in the Eastern Conference Finals. The head coach had a warning for the Celtics.
" title="Erik Spoelstra sends massive warning to Celtics as Heat are now considered big underdogs" publication_id="BUS#20230525#BUS#3952"></div>


Now, there’s no margin of error for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics">Boston Celtics</a>. Read here to find out what happens if they lose Game 5 to the Heat. The entire <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> is watching what could be an instant classic.



<h2>What happens if the Celtics lose tonight against the Heat in Game 5?</h2>



There’e only one scenario in case the Celtics lose to the Heat at home. A victory by Miami will officially eliminate Boston as the series would be 4-1. The No.8 seed would advance to the NBA Finals. 


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-receives-incredible-message-from-lakers-about-nba-retirement-20230524-BUS-3503.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230524_BUS_3503_lebronjames-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="After LeBron James confirmed he&apos;s thinking about retirement, the Lakers sent him a shocking message. Read here to check out the details.
" title="LeBron James receives incredible message from Lakers about NBA retirement" publication_id="BUS#20230524#BUS#3503"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/grant-williams-sends-another-warning-to-jimmy-butler-after-game-2-incident-20230520-BUS-2646.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230520_BUS_2646_jimmybutler_grant_williams.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Jimmy Butler and Grant Williams had a heated exchange in Game 2. Even after the Celtics lost, Williams sent an incredible message to the Heat&apos;s star. Read here to check out the details. 
" title="Grant Williams sends warning to Jimmy Butler" publication_id="BUS#20230520#BUS#2646"></div>


Then, the Miami Heat would face Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets for the title. The NBA Finals are scheduled to start on Thursday, June 1st. Denver will have home-field advantage.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jimmy-butlers-hilarious-message-for-grant-williams-mocking-the-boston-celtics-20230520-BUS-2604.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230520_BUS_2604_jimmybutler_grantwilliams.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Jimmy Butler sent an incredible message to the Boston Celtics after his altercation with Grant Williams. Read here to check out the details.
" title="Jimmy Butler sends hilarious message to Grant Williams and Celtics" publication_id="BUS#20230520#BUS#2604"></div>


It’s important to remember that no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit. If the Boston Celtics win Game 5, they will still be alive and two victories away of one of the greatest feats ever in basketball.

NBA Playoffs 2023: What happens if Boston Celtics lose to Miami Heat tonight in Game 5?

Grant Williams sends warning to Jimmy Butler

LeBron James receives incredible message from Lakers about NBA retirement

NBA Playoffs 2023: What happens if Boston Celtics lose to Miami Heat tonight in Game 5? - Bolavip US

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> have been dominating the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> has been spectacular as the leader of a No.8 seed really close of pulling a major upset. They have a 3-1 advantage. 


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-receives-incredible-message-from-lakers-about-nba-retirement-20230524-BUS-3503.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230524_BUS_3503_lebronjames-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="After LeBron James confirmed he&apos;s thinking about retirement, the Lakers sent him a shocking message. Read here to check out the details.
" title="LeBron James receives incredible message from Lakers about NBA retirement" publication_id="BUS#20230524#BUS#3503"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/LeBron-James-emotional-message-for-Bronny-James-after-his-son-commits-to-USC-20230507-0010.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1683473996406/sites/bolavip/img/2023/05/07/lebronjames.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="LeBron James had a very special message for his son after Bronny&amp;nbsp;announced he will play for USC at the college level.&amp;nbsp;" title="LeBron James&apos; message to Bronny after his son finally committed to USC" publication_id="BUS#20230507#CMS#0010"></div>


However, when the Celtics won 116-99 on the road, the tide suddenly turned for many experts. That blowout at Miami has put Boston as en eight-point favorite prior to Game 5 at The Garden.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-admits-incredible-wrong-call-against-lebron-james-and-lakers-in-game-4-vs-nuggets-20230525-BUS-3812.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230525_BUS_3812_lebronjames-2.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="An official report from the NBA confirms a crucial mistake against the Lakers and LeBron James in Game 4 with the Nuggets. Read here to check out the details.
" title="LeBron James and Lakers got a game-winning wrong call in Game 4 against Denver Nuggets" publication_id="BUS#20230525#BUS#3812"></div>


Of course, Erik Spoelstra took notice of that and had an incredible answers for all those who doubt in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>. Read here to find out his reaction prior to a new chapter against the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics">Boston Celtics</a>.



<h2>Erik Spoelstra sends warning to Boston Celtics</h2>



Just hours before Game 5 at Boston, Erik Spoelstra faced the media and one of the first questions was if he already knew that the Miami Heat were considered almost double-digit underdogs. 



“We don’t give a s**t. We’re trying to compete. It’s a great opportunity and our guys love this kind of challenges. They love to compete. They love the playoffs and love playing in an environment like this.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jimmy-butlers-hilarious-message-for-grant-williams-mocking-the-boston-celtics-20230520-BUS-2604.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230520_BUS_2604_jimmybutler_grantwilliams.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Jimmy Butler sent an incredible message to the Boston Celtics after his altercation with Grant Williams. Read here to check out the details.
" title="Jimmy Butler sends hilarious message to Grant Williams and Celtics" publication_id="BUS#20230520#BUS#2604"></div>


Spoelstra acknowledge his players don’t put much attention to the rumors of a possible 0-3 comeback by the Celtics. It will be the first time of a feat like that in NBA history. “This is what it’s about. It’s not about getting ahead of it. You wanna be present for the competitive nature of what we can expect tonight. That’s how are guys are wired.”

Erik Spoelstra sends massive warning to Celtics as Heat are now considered big underdogs

LeBron James' message to Bronny after his son finally committed to USC

Erik Spoelstra sends massive warning to Celtics as Heat are now considered big underdogs - Bolavip US

Sometimes it can be hard for an athlete not to miss the good old days. Winning titles, receiving love from the fans and being praised by the media are great things an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> player can experience, but they don’t always last forever.



If not, just ask Dwight Howard. Though he still found a way to make headlines <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Rumors-Dwight-Howard-and-stars-playing-overseas-that-could-make-a-comeback-20221223-0017.html">from Taiwan</a>, he struggled to find a place in the league lately. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-draft-top-5-players-drafted-straight-out-of-high-school-20201106-0016.html">Back in the day</a>, any team would have taken him.



Unfortunately, those days are gone, and now he misses them. In an interview with Shams Charania, Howard admitted he would love to be back in the NBA and even try to win another ring. 



<h2>Dwight Howard wishes NBA return</h2>



“I would love to come back to play in the NBA,” Howard said. “I do enjoy playing international basketball. Just the experience is one of a kind. It’s a different type of grind of being in the NBA, and I had a chance to experience it. 



“But I would love to finish off my career with an NBA team, hopefully, win an NBA championship. But if not, I enjoyed playing basketball for so long, and I’m just thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to travel and play in the NBA. It’s the best life.”



Howard won a championship with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> in the 2020 bubble. It’s been a while since then, but he’s still active and hoping to be part of a championship team again.

Former NBA champion with Lakers wants another chance in the league

Former NBA champion with Lakers wants another chance in the league - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics">Boston Celtics</a> managed to force Game 5 in the Eastern Conference Finals after losing the first three games of the series against the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a>. However, they still face an uphill battle.



The Celtics avoided the sweep, but they’re still just one loss away from losing it all. Many wonder whether they’ll gain enough momentum <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/record-of-nba-teams-down-3-0-in-the-playoffs-how-many-of-them-forced-a-game-7-20230522-BUS-3139.html">to win four straight</a>, especially after everything that has been said about their chemistry.



Grant Williams tried to play mind games with Jimmy Butler in Game 3, something that backfired as the Heat star played with a chip on his shoulder for the rest of the game. Jaylen Brown didn’t make comments about his teammate’s attitude, something didn’t sit well with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/draymond-green">Draymond Green</a>.



<h2>Draymond Green claims Jaylen Brown should have defended Grant Williams </h2>



“When I saw JB after the game and they asked him about Grant poking the bear or whatnot, and he said, ‘Next question’. To me, I’m like, ‘Oh, they done.’ But JB situation, you still ride with your man and be like, boy you start talking, ‘Jimmy played well, it is what it is. We got to do what we got to do.’ You can’t next question, JB,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show.



“That was the mentality that their team took on in Game 3. Next question, next game, next play, this is it. You could tell there’s more there once that happened,” the Warriors star added.



With Golden State no longer in contention, Green is spending much of his time watching the playoffs and talking about them on his podcast. It’s always interesting listening to him, but maybe he’s not the best to talk about standing up for a teammate if we consider his incident with Jordan Poole.

Draymond Green calls out Celtics star for his attitude with a teammate

Draymond Green calls out Celtics star for his attitude with a teammate - Bolavip US

To say Austin Reaves had a breakout season is an understatement. The 24-year-old played a pivotal role in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>‘ run to the Western Conference Finals, making a strong case to land a big contract this offseason.



Reaves has played the final season of the two-year, $2.4 million deal he signed with the purple and gold <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Austin-Reaves-profile-Age-height-college-parents-girlfriend-and-nationality-20230416-0039.html">in 2021</a>, and now looks set to receive a lucrative contract. The Lakers are frontrunners, but they’re not the only team in the queue.



 Since Reaves becomes a restricted free agent, it’s up to LA to make him stay in California for a few more years. However, it looks like the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets">Houston Rockets</a> are also thinking about making a move for the guard.



<h2>Rumor: Rockets have Austin Reaves as high-ranking target</h2>



(Via Kelly Iko of The Athletic)



“Former franchise player and current 76ers guard James Harden is the top target for Houston in free agency, according to league sources, representing the veteran leadership and elite point guard needed to establish structure and offensive cohesion. Outside of Harden, other high-ranking targets for Houston include Brook Lopez, Dillon Brooks and restricted free agents Cam Johnson and Austin Reaves, league sources said. 



They also said acquiring a veteran point guard is Houston’s primary objective, meaning even if a move for Harden didn’t materialize, names like Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Donte DiVincenzo and even former Rockets player Chris Paul could be considered should they become available.”



The Rockets are certainly a team to watch this offseason, since they want to get back to prominence after so long. However, Reaves may be out of their reach since he seems to be happy in LA. Besides, the Lakers will probably do everything to bring him back.

NBA Rumors: The team that could steal Austin Reaves from the Lakers

NBA Rumors: The team that could steal Austin Reaves from the Lakers - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> suffered a crushing 4-0 blowout against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. At 38-years old, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> had extraordinary performances, especially in Game 4 with 40 points, but it wasn’t enough.



Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets proved why they were the best team in the regular season and now they’re waiting for the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics in the 2023 NBA Finals.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-receives-incredible-message-from-lakers-about-nba-retirement-20230524-BUS-3503.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230524_BUS_3503_lebronjames-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="After LeBron James confirmed he&apos;s thinking about retirement, the Lakers sent him a shocking message. Read here to check out the details.
" title="LeBron James receives incredible message from Lakers about NBA retirement" publication_id="BUS#20230524#BUS#3503"></div>


However, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> has sparked a huge controversy after admitting the referees made a big mistake during Game 4 of the series between the Lakers and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a>. Read here to find out the incredible details.



<h2>NBA admits huge blown call against the Lakers in Game 4 vs Nuggets</h2>



In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers fell 113-111 after they had a 15-point lead over the Nuggets. Nevertheless, an incredible sequence in the fourth quarter could have changed everything.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/LeBron-James-profile-Age-height-weight-wife-rings-and-net-worth-20230413-0007.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1681394740579/sites/bolavip/img/2023/04/13/lebronjames.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="LeBron James is a legend in the NBA. Read here to check out more details about him such as his age, height, weight, wife, rings and net worth.&amp;nbsp;" title="LeBron James profile: Age, height, weight, wife, rings and net worth" publication_id="BUS#20230413#CMS#0007"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/grant-williams-sends-another-warning-to-jimmy-butler-after-game-2-incident-20230520-BUS-2646.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230520_BUS_2646_jimmybutler_grant_williams.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Jimmy Butler and Grant Williams had a heated exchange in Game 2. Even after the Celtics lost, Williams sent an incredible message to the Heat&apos;s star. Read here to check out the details. 
" title="Grant Williams sends warning to Jimmy Butler" publication_id="BUS#20230520#BUS#2646"></div>


With only 1:07 remaining, Jamal Murray seemed to have lost the ball out of bounds after great defense by Rui Hachimura. The referees first pointed out Lakers’ ball, but then, following deliberation, gave it to the Nuggets because Austin Reaves had supposedly been the last to make contact.



Then, with 56 seconds on the clock, Nikola Jokic scored two points putting all the pressure on the Lakers. LeBron James missed the final shot and the rest is history. Denver clinched a ticket to the NBA Finals.



After the game, the NBA admitted there was a mistake by the officials on that call. “Possession is awarded to Denver. However, the ball touches Murray’s (DEN) left hand last before going out of bounds. Reaves does not make contact with it. Possession should have been awarded to Los Angeles.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/LeBron-James-emotional-message-for-Bronny-James-after-his-son-commits-to-USC-20230507-0010.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1683473996406/sites/bolavip/img/2023/05/07/lebronjames.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="LeBron James had a very special message for his son after Bronny&amp;nbsp;announced he will play for USC at the college level.&amp;nbsp;" title="LeBron James&apos; message to Bronny after his son finally committed to USC" publication_id="BUS#20230507#CMS#0010"></div>


Of course, Lakers’ fans couldn’t believe it. Though no one knows for sure what would have happened, LeBron James could have gotten the ball with the game tied and a lot of time on the clock. It would have been a totally different scenario than coming from behind.

NBA admits wrong call by officials could have cost series to LeBron James and Lakers

LeBron James profile: Age, height, weight, wife, rings and net worth

NBA admits wrong call by officials could have cost series to LeBron James and Lakers - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors </a>didn’t hesitate to sign <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Rumors-3-potential-landing-spots-for-Jordan-Poole-20230510-0026.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan Poole</a> to a huge contract extension. He played a big role in their <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship win and looked like a star in the making.



But there have been plenty of rumors about his continuity with the team, and not because of how bad he played in the postseason but because of his careless attitude and snubbing the team’s veterans and coaches.



With that in mind, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report believes the Warriors could benefit from trading him and Jonathan Kuminga to the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/toronto-raptors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Toronto Raptors </a>in return for OG Anunoby.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Warriors Could Trade Jordan Poole To The Toronto Raptors</h2>



(Transcript via Grant Hughes – Bleacher Report)



“Whether it was the preseason punch, a zillion early-season palming violations, the league figuring him out or general dissatisfaction with his role, Jordan Poole played like a guy who had a foot out the door all season.



His failure to fill a critical playoff niche as the Golden State Warriors’ main shot-creator behind Stephen Curry sealed the deal. The Warriors need depth, someone who’ll play within their system and financial relief, and the best way to get some of those things is to trade Poole, who’ll probably be better off running his own show without a teammate that tried to knock him out.”



Of course, this is a hypothetical move, but one that could make sense for both parties. The Raptors get two young players to build around and pair with Scottie Barnes, and one that’s already locked with a long-term deal.



As for the Warriors, they get a guy who’s way more coachable, and perhaps a better fit for their current project, even if he comes at a steep price and they have to give up two valuable youngins to get him.

NBA Trade Rumors: Warriors could send Jordan Poole to the East

NBA Trade Rumors: Warriors could send Jordan Poole to the East - Bolavip US

Finding success in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Draft-2023-How-good-is-Victor-Wembanyama-Video-20230516-0003.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Draft</a> is hard. Projections are just that, and more often than not, what’s written on paper ages quite poorly, and that was the case with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a> star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nikola-jokic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikola Jokic.</a>



Jokic was the 41st pick in his class. He was literally drafted during a Taco Bell commercial, and he wasn’t even in attendance. Fast forward to today, and he’s a two-time MVP and arguably the best offensive player on Earth.



So, now that Jokic has led the Nuggets to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/have-the-denver-nuggets-ever-been-to-the-nba-finals-20230521-BUS-2811.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Finals</a> for the first time in franchise history, we’ll take a look back at some of his scouting reports, which are obviously pure comedy now.



<h2>Nikola Jokic’s Scouting Reports From The NBA Draft Are Hilarious</h2>



<h3>Stevan Petrovic, NBADraft.net</h3>



“An average athlete lacking great speed and leaping ability … Foot speed is a big liability. He may struggle to stay in front of NBA athletes at the center position … Needs to improve as a post player, gain strength and develop a repertoire of back to the basket moves.



Defense is a real weakness at this point due to lack of lateral speed and lack of strength. His length is a big plus, but he’ll need to continue to work on becoming stronger and learn to anticipate in order to overcome his lack of quickness … Despite being a younger guy, his upside appears limited by his lack of explosiveness and foot speed.”



<h3>Daniel O’Brien, Bleacher Report</h3>



“As previously mentioned, unathletic players can survive in the NBA and even earn prominent roles. 



If Jokic can deliver accurate shooting and make the right plays when the ball is in his hands, he could be a poor-man’s Diaw and a long-range threat like Antic. Jokic would probably be the fourth or fifth scoring option when he’s in the game, but all that matters is whether he plays efficiently.



Unfortunately, his defense will likely prevent him from ever playing 30-plus minutes or starting. However, there’s no shame in being a respectable reserve on a winning team in the future.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/ja-morants-cryptic-message-on-social-media-alerts-the-police-and-nba-fans-20230524-BUS-3618.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230524_BUS_3618_Ja-Morant-Memphis-Grizzlies-NBA-2023.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Ja Morant has alerted the police and all NBA fans. The Memphis Grizzlies guard posted a cryptic message on social media, leading to an emergency check on the player.
" title="Ja Morant&apos;s cryptic message sounds off police alarms" publication_id="BUS#20230524#BUS#3618"></div>


Of course, this is not a knock on those scouts by any means. Not even the most optimistic staff member on the Nuggets thought Jokic would turn out to become a legend.



But that’s the funny thing with the NBA Draft. It’s not where you’re picked or how much praise you get when you enter the league; it’s all about proving the doubters wrong and never stop grinding.

Nikola Jokic's pre-draft scouting reports are pure comedy now

Nikola Jokic's pre-draft scouting reports are pure comedy now - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> season is over. LeBron James couldn’t get a shot up in the final possession, and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a> beat them in just four games to advance to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Finals.



James was spectacular in the first half of the game, even scoring 21 points in the first quarter alone. However, he ran out of gas at the end, which is normal for a 38-year-old in his 20th season.



However, as much as James put the team on his shoulders while facing elimination, former Laker Kwame Brown was far from impressed. That’s why the often-controversial big man took a huge shot <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at James</a> on social media.



<h2>Kwame Brown Rips ‘Stad-Padding’ LeBron James</h2>



“If I had a LeBron James jersey, I’d be burning it right now,” Brown said on Instagram live. “If I had a LeBron James jersey it would be on fire right now. I must say, the bust is upset.”



“I discovered, LeBron, you not that, bruh. I’m sorry,” continued Brown. “I can’t hate to say it — you’re a stat sheet junkie. You a bad boy when it comes to stats. Throughout history, the little nerds are gonna look up your statline, and they gonna say ‘He’s gotta be the greatest player to ever play the game.’ And people who actually play are gonna know that is bulls**t.”



“I have never seen a guy of your supposed caliber not even get a shot off. You got all these points, but you were looking for a bailout again,” Brown added. “Kobe Bryant probably would have rose up for a three and won the game. That’s what great players do. You can’t say that you are great, you have to do great things.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">why is Kwame going in on LeBron? 😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/xKbFl3INqA">pic.twitter.com/xKbFl3INqA</a>— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakeShowYo/status/1661501843044990976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Of course, people will always take Brown’s words with a grain of salt, but he did play with Kobe Bryant, so he knows one thing or two about his character. Even so, he’ll face plenty of backlash for these comments, but he must be used to that.

Kwame Brown destroys LeBron James in hilarious rant on IG live

Kwame Brown destroys LeBron James in hilarious rant on IG live - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Celtics</a> will clash&nbsp;again on Thursday at TD Garden in Denver in Game 5 of the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Eastern Conference Finals. Here you will find out when and how to watch or live stream free this NBA Playoffs game in the US.



<a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/StreamTV/stream-espn-disney-abc-online/?v=nbaonespn&amp;irad=950486&amp;irmp=3119684" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">[Watch Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics online free in the US on Fubo]</a>



This will be their 35th playoff game. The Miami Heat are the favorites in head-to-head clashes, claiming a win in 19 direct duels to this day, while the Boston Celtics have celebrated a triumph in 15 matches so far.



Their last meeting took place on May 23, 2023, and it ended in a 116-99 win for the Celtics away in Game 4 as they lowered Miami’s lead to 3-1. It promises to be an even more exciting clash as they meet again for Game 5.



<h2>When will Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics be played?</h2>



The 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics will be played today, May 25, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston.



<h2>Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Time by State in the US</h2>



ET: 8:30 PM CT: 7:30 PM MT: 6:30 PM PT: 5:30 PM



<h2>How to watch Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics</h2>



The fifth match to be played between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA 2023 Playoffs, will be broadcast on <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/StreamTV/stream-espn-disney-abc-online/?v=nbaonespn&amp;irad=950486&amp;irmp=3119684" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">Fubo (Free 7-day Trial)</a> and <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100543762-15484336" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">DirecTV Stream (5-day free trial)</a> in the United States. Other options include TNT, TNT Web.

Watch Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics online free in the US today: TV Channel and Live Streaming for Game 5

Watch Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics online free in the US today: TV Channel and Live Streaming for Game 5 - Bolavip US

A few months back, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> were not even in Play-In spots. Flash-forward to May, and Darvin Ham’s team made an impressive run to the Western Conference Finals. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a> swept them, but it was still an interesting resurgence.



All it took for the purple and gold to turn their season around was a major rebuild at the trade deadline. Rob Pelinka pulled off enough moves to give the Lakers a new look, and it worked pretty well. Still, the team couldn’t get <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-could-trade-for-a-former-all-star-to-help-lebron-and-anthony-davis-20230524-BUS-3496.html">where it really wants to be</a>.



With the right changes, the Lakers could elevate themselves from a dangerous playoff team to a legit contender. The front office is reportedly ready to do whatever it takes to go after a championship next year, including parting with one of their February acquisitions.



<h2>Rumor: D’Angelo Russell may not return to Lakers</h2>



According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers may not re-sign D’Angelo Russell following his lackluster performances in the Nuggets series. The guard did great in the regular season, but his playoff appearances left much to be desired:



“There’s a strong argument to be made that Russell should have lost his starting job early on in this series, as it was quickly evident the Nuggets’ plan of attacking him on the defensive end was sparking their historically good offense.



“Add in the fact that Russell has been unable to provide the scoring punch that made him such a good fit in these past few months, and it’s been the kind of unmitigated disaster that will likely make free-agency discussions with the Lakers far more complicated than most had expected just a few weeks ago.”



Russell will hit the open market this offseason, and while many thought he earned a place in LA in the last few months, the outlook may have changed after the Denver series. The Lakers have been linked with potential moves for Trae Young and Kyrie Irving, so we’ll have to wait and see whether Russell comes back.

NBA Rumors: The player that could leave the Lakers after brutal elimination to Nuggets

NBA Rumors: The player that could leave the Lakers after brutal elimination to Nuggets - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/ja-morant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ja Morant</a> is not going through the best time right now. After being eliminated by the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> from the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/memphis-grizzlies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Memphis Grizzlies</a> star guard posted a cryptic message on social media, alerting the fans and even the police.



The last weeks have not been the best for Ja Morant. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Ja-Morant-and-NBA-players-suspended-because-of-guns-20230308-0029.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guard was suspended by the NBA for showing off a gun</a> during an Instagram live. He <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Ja-Morant-reacts-to-NBA-suspension-with-Memphis-Grizzlies-20230304-0029.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reacted to the news</a>, and of course the player was not comfortbale with the situation.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Charles-Barkley-goes-at-Ja-Morant-over-his-offcourt-behavior-20230310-0015.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1678470681053/sites/bolavip/img/2023/03/10/ja_morant_x1x.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley didn&apos;t hold back and shared his thoughts on Ja Morant&apos;s suspension and off-court behavior." title="Charles Barkley goes at Ja Morant over his off-court behavior" publication_id="BUS#20230310#CMS#0015"></div>


This was the first alarm for the NBA. Now, after being eliminated from the 2023 Playoffs, Morant did it again. On his Instagram account, Ja posted several cryptic messages that alerted the police, so they had to check on the guard to see if everything was right.



<h2>Ja Morant alerts the police after cryptic social media posts</h2>



Ja Morant’s off-court behaviour has not been the best lately. After showing off a firearm on an Instagram live session, now he alarmed the police once again by posting images alongside cryptic messages.



Police from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee had to conduct a welfare check on Ja Morant this Wednesday, according to The Commerical Appeal. The guard posted phrases saying “Love ya ma,” “Love ya pops” and “You da greatest baby girl, love ya”, alongside pictures of each member of his family. The stories have already been deleted.



All those images alerted the police, NBA fans and, of course, his family. The last picture was of himself alongside the word “Bye”. Officers checked on Ja Morant and then the Sheriff’s Office released a statement about his status.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies checked on Ja Morant at his residence this morning and he is fine. He advised us that he is taking a break from social media.”</blockquote>


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Gilbert-Arenas-trolls-Ja-Morant-with-hilarious-post-after-leaked-video-20230313-0014.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1678727076586/sites/bolavip/img/2023/03/13/ja_morant.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="Controversial NBA alumni Gilbert Arenas took to Instagram to take a hilarious shot at Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant after a leaked video of him made the rounds." title="Gilbert Arenas trolls Ja Morant with hilarious post after leaked video" publication_id="BUS#20230313#CMS#0014"></div>


These were Morant’s first posts on his Instagram since being suspended by the NBA for displaying a firearm. The police were concerned about his health after these posts, so they reacted quickly to check on the guard.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Paul-George-gets-emotional-when-talking-about-Ja-Morant-20230315-0008.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1678886789589/sites/bolavip/img/2023/03/15/paul_george.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George got brutally honest when sharing his thoughts on Ja Morant&apos;s gun-related&amp;nbsp;situation." title="Paul George gets emotional when talking about Ja Morant" publication_id="BUS#20230315#CMS#0008"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Grizzlies-coach-breaks-the-silence-on-Ja-Morants-return-20230310-0004.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1678454583764/sites/bolavip/img/2023/03/10/ja_morant.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins broke the silence on Ja Morant&apos;s controversial situation and impending return to the team." title="Grizzlies coach breaks the silence on Ja Morant&apos;s return" publication_id="BUS#20230310#CMS#0004"></div>

Ja Morant's cryptic message on social media alerts the police and NBA fans

Grizzlies coach breaks the silence on Ja Morant's return

Paul George gets emotional when talking about Ja Morant

Ja Morant's cryptic message on social media alerts the police and NBA fans - Bolavip US

Ja Morant's cryptic message sounds off police alarms

Even though they don’t make it <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-draft-top-5-players-drafted-straight-out-of-high-school-20201106-0016.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">straight out of high school </a>anymore, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>has become younger by the year. One-and-done players are the rule nowadays in college, and not many second or third-year guys go in the first round of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Victor-Wembanyama-profile-Age-height-weight-team-and-nationality-20230421-0031.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Draft.</a>



Of course, having younger players allows the teams to keep them for longer, which translates into more money. But as good as that might seem, they also need proper guidance.



That’s why <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> star Draymond Green believes that most teams should consider having several veterans on their roster, so they could teach the ropes of the game to all the youngins.



<h2>Draymond Green Says NBA Teams Need More Veteran Leaders</h2>



“When you got teams struggling with leadership, struggling with veteran presence, struggling with people with winners’ mentality. And, like, you had that guy sitting there the entire year,” Green said.



“That is actually a huge problem in the NBA,” he continued. “It’s why we see a lot of the things we see in as far as off-court issues because there’s no veterans. There’s no veterans showing these dudes how to move, showing them the way. So you think that you’re just gonna go young, think that’s just gonna work. That s**t don’t work.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"It&apos;s why we see a lot of the things we see in terms of off-court issues: there&apos;s no veterans showing these guys the way" —<a href="https://twitter.com/Money23Green?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Money23Green</a> speaks on the "veteran problem" affecting today&apos;s NBA <a href="https://t.co/a6de76TKQD">pic.twitter.com/a6de76TKQD</a>— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVolumeSports/status/1661099428772454407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Green Knows He Failed As A Leader</h2>



Likewise, Draymond admits his altercation with Jordan Poole was the main reason behind his team’s woes this season, citing that he didn’t try and lead because he knew that incident had taken a toll on his reputation:



“We’re not playing right now because when you speak about the foul and all the slippage we had on the road as a team, not being able to come together,” Green told Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. 



“None of those things happen if that (punching Poole) doesn’t happen because of the voice and departments I lead this team in, there was a ton of slippage due to me sitting back, not saying anything, me allowing that situation to play itself out and giving it time to heal,“ continued Green.



“Why are you giving it time to heal? I would say by February I started to feel like myself again but guess what, there were five months of the season where slippage kept occurring,” Green added. “By February, if the slippage has been going on for that long, you are who you are. You built those habits, so try to correct them then. You may get a little better, we ended up in the second round of the playoffs, but not at a championship level.“



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Draymond Green told me that he believes the Warriors would still be playing if it wasn’t for the incident between him and Jordan Pool <a href="https://t.co/B9txJCl0OY">pic.twitter.com/B9txJCl0OY</a>— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1658664833464651776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Young players need to listen to their veterans, but they also have to lead by example, and that was a prime example of that. Hopefully, more teams and GMs will understand this and consider it when building their rosters.

Draymond Green explains what's wrong with today's NBA

Draymond Green explains what's wrong with today's NBA - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> had another amazing run with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> during the NBA playoffs. At the All-Star break, the 2022-2023 season seemed lost for the team with a 27-32 record. However, they made an impressive turnaround.



The Lakers eliminated Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs and then stopped a dynasty when they faced the Golden State Warriors. James delivered perfomances for the ages against Stephen Curry and the defending champions.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/LeBron-James-emotional-message-for-Bronny-James-after-his-son-commits-to-USC-20230507-0010.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1683473996406/sites/bolavip/img/2023/05/07/lebronjames.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="LeBron James had a very special message for his son after Bronny&amp;nbsp;announced he will play for USC at the college level.&amp;nbsp;" title="LeBron James&apos; message to Bronny after his son finally committed to USC" publication_id="BUS#20230507#CMS#0010"></div>


However, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a> were extraordinary in the Western Conference finals. Los Angeles had no answer for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nikola-jokic">Nikola Jokic</a> and went home after a 4-0. As a result, LeBron James mumbled retirement and now the Lakers have responded to that.



<h2>Lakers send emotional message to LeBron James about retirement</h2>



LeBron James shocked the NBA after Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets. “We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know. I have a lot to think about to be honest. Just for me personally going forward in the game of basketball. I have a lot to think about.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jimmy-butlers-hilarious-message-for-grant-williams-mocking-the-boston-celtics-20230520-BUS-2604.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230520_BUS_2604_jimmybutler_grantwilliams.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Jimmy Butler sent an incredible message to the Boston Celtics after his altercation with Grant Williams. Read here to check out the details.
" title="Jimmy Butler sends hilarious message to Grant Williams and Celtics" publication_id="BUS#20230520#BUS#2604"></div>

 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-playoffs-lebron-james-reaches-another-amazing-milestone-in-game-4-vs-nuggets-20230523-BUS-3166.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20230523_BUS_3166_LeBron-James-Los-Angeles-Lakers-2023-NBA-Playoffs.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="LeBron James has once again reached another incredible milestone. This time the Denver Nuggets were the power forward&apos;s victims during Game 4 of their 2023 NBA Playoffs series.
" title="LeBron James reaches another incredible NBA milestone" publication_id="BUS#20230523#BUS#3166"></div>


Now, the Lakers’ front office has responded to a situation which might change drastically the plans for the upcoming 2023-2024. Nevertheless, Rob Pelinka, the general manager, confirmed James has all their support.



“We’ll look forward to those conversations when the time is right, but I will say this: LeBron has given as much to the game of basketball as anyone who’s ever played. And when you do that, you earn a right to decide whether you’re going to give more.”



This is a crucial statement from the Lakers as they publicly acknowledge there’s no rush or pressure for LeBron at 38-years old. “I think sometimes we put athletes, entertainers, on a pedestal, but they’re humans and just like us. They have inflection points in their career”, said Pelinka.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/LeBron-James-profile-Age-height-weight-wife-rings-and-net-worth-20230413-0007.html" image="https://bolavip.com/__export/1681394740579/sites/bolavip/img/2023/04/13/lebronjames.jpg_1890075089.jpg" excerpt="LeBron James is a legend in the NBA. Read here to check out more details about him such as his age, height, weight, wife, rings and net worth.&amp;nbsp;" title="LeBron James profile: Age, height, weight, wife, rings and net worth" publication_id="BUS#20230413#CMS#0007"></div>


Furthermore, Rob Pelinka assured the Lakers want LeBron James as the face of the franchise. “Our job as a Laker is to support any player on our team if they reach a career inflection point and really providing nothing but support for him. Obviously, our hope would be that his career continues, but we want to again just give him the time.”

LeBron James gets a shocking message from Lakers about retirement

Jimmy Butler sends hilarious message to Grant Williams and Celtics

LeBron James reaches another incredible NBA milestone

LeBron James gets a shocking message from Lakers about retirement - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> knocked on the door of another trip to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Finals. But despite <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James’</a> heroics and Anthony Davis’ defense, they just couldn’t get the job done.



James isn’t getting any younger and needs help now more than ever. The Lakers’ title window is closing right before their eyes, so they need to make moves soon to make the most of it.



With that in mind, NBA insider Zack Buckley of Bleacher Report hinted at the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving D’Angelo Russell to get <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chris-paul" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chris Paul </a>in Los Angeles.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Trade For Chris Paul</h2>



(Transcript via Bleacher Report)



L.A. doesn’t have a natural table-setter to complement James. Russell, Dennis Schröder and Austin Reaves can all initiate offense, but they’re better as scorers than passers. Paul, meanwhile, still ranks among the Association’s best decision-makers, having just averaged 8.9 assists per game against only 1.9 turnovers.



He’d help the Lakers maximize each position, and he’d consistently put James and Davis in favorable scoring situations. Paul would even elevate the supporting cast by knowing where his teammates are most effective and learning how they like to be set up. He’d also be a defensive upgrade over Russell.



(…)



The Suns, meanwhile, might be willing to lose Paul’s passing to get Russell’s superior scoring and shooting. Their offense runs through Devin Booker and Kevin Durant a ton anyway, so they might get more out of a scoring-focused Russell than they would Paul’s distributing.”



Of course, this version of Paul might not be what the Lakers need, but he’d still be an upgrade as a facilitator and table-setter, assuming he can stay healthy throughout the playoffs, which is a big ‘if.’



As for the Suns, they’d pair Devin Booker with one of his best friends and would get a healthier, younger player to try and make another deep postseason run next year.

Lakers could trade for a former All-Star to help LeBron and Anthony Davis

Lakers could trade for a former All-Star to help LeBron and Anthony Davis - Bolavip US

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