The Miami Heat are no longer apart of the playoff conversation. After a short series, where they were, just, obliterated by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat are now in that part of the season where the real fun starts.
No, but seriously, though the Miami Heat are out and by no means, is this to say that the offseason is equivalent to making a run, at least another fun part of the year is about to start… right? Perhaps not.
Ok, if that isn’t enough to excite you, then seeing some of your favorite former Miami Heat guys who are still in action might, again… perhaps? If so, then this is for you.
A fan favorite from last year’s Miami Heat team that made a run all the way to the NBA Finals was Jae Crowder. As devastating as it seemed when he left for Phoenix, it was understandable based on his desires for a certain level of contract and the Suns’ willingness to give him, almost, exactly what he wanted.
Though the Miami Heat are out of the playoffs, there are still a few things to keep an eye on. The interactions between these two former Heat guys was one.
Well, fast forward to recently and Thursday night to be specific, Jae Crowder is once again helping to propel his team throughout the postseason and into a potential playoff run. While he struggled shooting the ball to begin his current playoffs, he came on mid-way through with the shooting, to go along with the steady basketball toughness and defense he provides.
In a series with the Lakers and in a kerfuffle that probably dates back some time, definitely spurned on by last year’s series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat, Crowder and The Chosen One, LeBron James, weren’t exactly friendly with each other throughout this series either between Crowder’s Suns and LeBron’s Lakers.
Tussling every game, you could literally cut the vitriol that it was so thick. Well, after eliminating them in the first-round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on Thursday, The Boss Man got the last laugh.
In a series of photos posted to his own personal Instagram account, Jae Crowder looks back on the disdain between the two in the series. He, appropriately, captioned the series of photos with this.
“AINT NO FUN WHEN THE RABBIT GOT THE GUN.!! 12 MORE TO GO.!! BIG 99”. This was likely a dedication to the energy or bravado that was and is shown by LeBron when he wins, as opposed to the temper-tantrum-like emotions he displays when he loses.
Jae Crowder not only got the last laugh here, but he was right in his sentiments. You have to keep the same energy in defeat that you have in victory.
That’s a lesson that The King is probably pondering on his throne today.