Blakely: Get ready for plenty of Smart v. Butler in Celtics-Heat series

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Itā€™s 2017 and the then-top seeded Boston Celtics found themselves in the most precarious of positions: down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series to the Chicago Bulls.

Boston pulled out a much-needed Game 3 win and were well on their way to evening up the series in Game 4.

That's when a flashpoint occurred --Ā or a Marcus Smart/Jimmy Butler brouhaha, whichever you like more --Ā that in hindsight speaks to why this Boston-Miami Eastern Conference finals matchup that begins with Game 1 on Tuesday will be one of the grittiest postseason battles in the Bubble. In large part because of the grit and grind of two men --Ā Smart and Butler.Ā 

They are two of the NBAā€™s most competitive players, self-proclaimed Dogs of the Hardwood.Ā 

And by dogs, weā€™re not talking about the cute and adorable Pugs and Pamerians of the world.Ā 

No, these two are more of the Junkyard Dog variety, the type of players who willĀ bite, scratch and claw their way around and through youĀ if you stand between them and victory.Ā 

And while the intensity and competitive drive between these two has been high in the past, there's a calm before the storm vibe around these two now.

ā€œHeā€™s just another opponent I get the opportunity to go up against,ā€ Butler said. ā€œIā€™m not going to sit up here and make this about me versus him. Because thatā€™s not the case. I donā€™t think he can win it by himself for the Celtics. I canā€™t win it by myself for the Heat. So weā€™re going to focus in on how we can help our team win and not make it a one-on-one, me-versus-him-versus-me. Nah, not that.ā€

Celtics Talk Podcast: Why Tom Haberstroh is taking the Heat over the CelticsĀ Ā | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Still, the tough-minded brand of basketball both play will be the template their teammates will try and replicate throughout the series.Ā 

Because of their respective roles within the framework of their teams, more attention will be paid to how Smartā€™s defense matches up against Butler.Ā 

Although Boston and Miami played three times this season (Boston won twice), only once were Smart and Butler healthy enough to play in the same game.Ā 

That would have been Jan. 28, a game that ended in an eight-point Celtics win.Ā 

In that game, Butler was defended by Smart (four minutes, 34 seconds) longer than any other Celtics player.Ā 

While matched up against Butler, Smart limited him to just two points on 1-for-3 shooting.

Thereā€™s an undeniable respect for one anotherā€™s game, especially considering their small-town roots that for both players began to take shape in Texas.Ā 

And that competitive fight and spirit that both play withĀ has been instrumental in their individual success as well.Ā 

So it should come as no surprise that these two badasses have had a run-in or two during their NBA days, the first significantly notable one being in the 2017 playoffs between the Celtics and the Bulls, who at the time were led by Butler.Ā 

During Game 4 of that series, Smart and Butler got into a shoving match during the game which led to some uh, interesting comments from Butler afterwards.Ā 

ā€œHeā€™s a great actor, acting tough,ā€ Butler said following the Game 4 loss in 2017 to Smart and the Celtics, who would go on and win the series with four straight wins after dropping the first two games. ā€œThatā€™s what he does, but I donā€™t think heā€™s about that. Iā€™m the wrong guy to get in my face. He needs to take it somewhere else because Iā€™m not the one for that.ā€

After learning of Butlerā€™s comments, Smart had a rebuttal.

ā€œI laugh at that,ā€ Smart said at the time. ā€œItā€™s about the Celtics versus the Chicago Bulls, not Marcus Smart versus Jimmy. I ainā€™t got to sit here and say this and say that; I ainā€™t that type of guy. My actions speak louder than words.ā€

Their actions will indeed speak loud and boldly beginning with Tuesday nightā€™s opening tilt, a game that will be both physically and mentally taxing in so many ways for all involved, including the two badass Dogs leading their respective packs into battle.

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