Jimmy Butler Sends Defiant Message to Miami Heat Doubters After Game 1 Win Over Celtics

• Jimmy Butler is not concerned about Miami Heat's doubters
• Butler and the Heat stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals
• The Heat have surprised many in the playoffs after knocking out the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round

Miami Heat superstar, Jimmy Butler, has sent a defiant message to doubters after they stunned the Boston Celtics in game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Heat won Game 1 123-116 on the road. Butler finished with 35 points, seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds. Butler doesn't care about their doubters.

The Heat have been on a ridiculous run in the playoffs as an 8th seed. Butler's heroics saw them stun title favorites and the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in five games.

They easily dispatched the New York Knicks in six games and have now gone 1-0 up against the Celtics, who have been tipped to win the title. They have thrived as an underdog

Patrick Beverley says 50 per cent of NBA players don't love basketball

NBA

It was business as usual for the Celtics, who were up nine at halftime in Game 1. However, the Heat refused to lie down. They outscored the 17-time NBA champions 46-25 in the third quarter. Celtics' comeback in the fourth fell short, per the Athletic.

Butler's message to doubters

After the game, Butler sent a powerful message to Heat doubters. He said they believed they could surprise everyone.

"We did. And the best part about it is we still don't care what none of y'all think, honestly speaking. We don't care if you pick us to win. We never have. We never will," via ESPN.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler gives the rest of his teammates belief with his performances.

"You can't quantify it," Spoelstra said. "There's no analytic to it. Just the feeling of stability in the locker room. Even when you're down nine in the first half ... there's just a settling effect that is impossible to quantify."

Did Joel Embiid call out his Sixers teammates after the Game 3 loss?

NBA

The Heat have now stolen home court but will need to produce the same performances in this series to eliminate the Celtics.

Is 'Playoff Jimmy' a thing?

Sports Brief earlier reported on Butler saying the 'Playoff Jimmy' nickname is not a thing after they beat the Bucks in Game 4 in Round 1.

Butler scored 56 points in the clash to help his team narrowly win 119-114 and take a 3-1 series lead before they won in five games. He averaged 22.9 points in the regular season.

"It's not a thing. It's not. I just be hooping."