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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Giri Nathan

A statue of Dwyane Wade outside the Miami Heat's arena

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That Isn’t Dwyane Wade, Sir

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Nikola Jovic #5 and Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat walk to the bench during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 01, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Miami Heat v Boston Celtics – Game Five

Thank God That’s Over

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat celebrates a three-point basket as he runs past Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Miami Heat v Boston Celtics

The Heat Beat Boston At Its Own Game

Nicolas Batum #40 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2024 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2024 SoFi Play-In Tournament  – Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers

Nicolas Batum Ruined My Night

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat rebounds the ball against Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 29, 2024 in Miami,

Phoenix Suns v Miami Heat

My Bad: I Cursed The Miami Heat

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat celebrates a 95-94 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on January 15, 2024 in New York City.

Miami Heat v Brooklyn Nets

There Goes Miami’s Herro

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Chris Thompson

Damian Lillard of the Trail Blazers looks on during a game in Portland, Oregon.

NBA Urges Teams To Disregard Damian Lillard’s Threats

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

2023 NBA Finals – Miami Heat v Denver Nuggets

The Heat’s Fire Turned Back To Embers

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Tom Ley

DENVER, CO - JUNE 12: A overall view of the Denver Nuggets team during the post-game celebration during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

A Championship Deciphers The Past

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets grabs the rebound during Game Three of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on June 7, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

2023 NBA Finals – Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat

The Nuggets Were Just Too Damn Big

Duncan Robinson (55) of the Miami Heat flexes after a strong finish as Nikola Jokic (15) and Denver Nuggets teammates head to the bench for a timeout in the fourth quarter of Miami's 111-108 win during Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, June 4, 2023

DENVER NUGGETS VS MIAMI HEAT, NBA PLAYOFFS

A Little Duncan Robinson Can Go A Long Way

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Patrick Redford

DENVER, CO - JUNE 4: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets on June 4, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Punches Back

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Ray Ratto

Miami's Duncan Robinson argues with referee Eric Davis during Game 1 of the NBA Finals

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The Heat Have Bigger Problems Than The Refs

Nikola Jokic defends against Bam Adebayo.

The Heat Forgot Which Direction The Rim Is In

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Albert Burneko

An old black-and-white photo of a game between the Celtics and Royals

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A Timely And Data-Loaded 2023 NBA Finals Preview, For Basketball Idiots

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David Roth

Gabe Vincent, Bam Adebayo, and Caleb Martin stand together as the team is introduced before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

2023 NBA Playoffs – 	Boston Celtics v Miami Heat

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Eat Culture, With Rohan Nadkarni

Caleb Martin of the Miami Heat shoots over Derrick White of the Boston Celtics in Monday night's Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals

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The Heat Win Ugly

MIAMI, FL - MAY 27: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics shoots the game winner during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on May 27, 2023 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

2023 NBA Playoffs – Boston Celtics v Miami Heat

Derrick White Was In Place

Jayson Tatum blocks the shot of Bam Adebayo.

It’s Fine That The Celtics Are Kicking The Heat’s Butts Off. I’m Not Worried. It’s Fine!

Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics holds the ball while Jimmy Butler makes a Jimmy Butler Face in an Eastern Conference Finals game..

Boston Celtics v Miami Heat – Game Four

Sacred Oafs, Holy Madmen, Culture Wars, Things Of That Nature

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball ahead of Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals at Kaseya Center on May 23, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Celtics Live To Disappoint Another Day

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Joe Mazzulla Looks Totally Lost Out There

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


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Charles P. Pierce

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Round 3 Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics on May 17, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Jimmy Butler Is A Good College Player In Reverse

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat exchanges words with Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Miami Heat v Boston Celtics – Game Two

The Celtics Are Gifting The Heat This Series

BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Heat