The key for the Celtics? Don’t underestimate the Heat

This is what the Celtics wanted.

This is what everyone in New England wanted.

This is what the NBA wanted.

A Celtics-Heat rematch felt inevitable, and we all naively convinced ourselves it would be different this time around.

Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday will change everything. Caleb Martin won’t shoot 97-percent from 3. Erik Spoelstra won’t have any more tricks up his sleeve. Oh, wow. Jimmy Butler’s out? Celtics in 4. Maybe 5, if Miami gets lucky.

We all did it. Every last one of us. We fell for the trap – again. This is exactly the way the Heat want it (well, they’d probably prefer having Butler, but you get the idea). They love being the underdogs. They love messing up a game plan. They love terrorizing the opponent – and the Celtics, in particular.

Wednesday’s 111-101 Heat win was just one game, but it carried more weight than a typical setback. It reminded everyone that this Miami team should, under absolutely no circumstances, be taken lightly. Spoelstra is the best coach in the NBA and has them prepared every night. The Heat are relentless, and they know how to beat the Celtics.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Jayson Tatum told reporters. “It’s the playoffs and especially with that team, it’s never going to go how people expect it to go and that’s the beauty of the playoffs.”

OK, that’s nice and all, but they have to actually keep that in mind on the court. The Celtics should slap bright yellow caution tape on each Heat player’s forehead that reads: “WE ARE GOOD.” Instead of giving fans Celtics towels, they should hand out “HEAT CULTURE IS REAL” signs.

I still believe the Celtics will win this series, but this was a humbling reminder that nothing is guaranteed in the playoffs. It’s critical for the Celtics to not underestimate the Heat moving forward. If they do, we all may be left wondering what could have been – again.

I believe the Celtics are telling themselves to not underestimate the Heat, but telling yourself to do something and actually doing it are two entirely different things. For instance, you can map out a diet perfectly, and tell yourself to follow it, but if you sneak downstairs and devour that irresistible Yodel…