Miami Heat insulted, motivated by Celtics

MIAMI – And, still, the disrespect.

No wonder the Miami Heat have had little trouble finding fuel amid this unexpected playoff run that has them one victory from their second NBA Finals appearance in four years.

This time, in what otherwise might have come off as a benign moment, it came from Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown late Monday night, in the wake of the 128-102 victory that gave the Heat a 3-0 lead in these best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

“To their credit,” Brown said downcast but respectfully, “they’re playing well above their means.”

And there, right there, is your bulletin board for Tuesday’s 8:30 p.m. Game 4 at Kaseya Center, this ongoing notion that even after eliminating the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, taking the best shots from Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in the second, and then going into Boston and winning twice at TD Garden, the Heat still are part of some sort of imposter syndrome.

“They’re balling right now,” Brown continued. “I’ve got to give them respect, Gabe Vincent, [Caleb] Martin, [Max] Strus, Duncan Robinson, guys that we should be able to keep under control are playing their ass off.”

And that, as much as the “above their means” comment, crystallizes this ascension from seventh place in the Eastern Conference and the No. 8 playoff seed.

Sometimes it’s also about the little engines that could.

Spend time around Erik Spoelstra and his players and it almost is cult-like. To that end, Spoelstra is candid with his ubiquitous Heat axiom of “we’re not for everyone.”

But provide the proper motivation, and the engines roar.