Chris Bosh knows how Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat operate better as well as almost anybody, but even he is “surprised” by Miami’s impressive postseason run to the NBA Finals in the bubble.

Miami became the first No. 5 seed or lower to reach the Finals since the 1999 Knicks, who were the East’s no. 8 seed after a strike-shortened regulars season.

“I am surprised they made it to the Finals. But at the same time, knowing Spo and knowing Pat [Riley], they wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bosh said to The Miami Herald. “Jimmy [Butler] and the way that he leads that team, they’re just a bunch of scrappy guys. You can tell that they’re right in their wheelhouse, where they’re comfortable and where they prefer stuff.”

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Bosh played the final six seasons of his career for Spoelstra in Miami, winning two titles and making the All-Star game every year. He averaged 18.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Heat (14.9 PPG in the playoffs).
Spoelstra had similar praise for Butler after the All-Star’s gritty masterpiece in Miami’s 111-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday to force a Game 6. Butler played 47 minutes, posted 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and five steals, while shooting 11-for-19 from the field, 12-for-12 from the free throw line — all while largely guard LeBron James.

“His will to win is remarkable,” Spoelstra said about Butler in his postgame remarks on Friday. “To do that in 47-plus minutes, and take the challenge on the other end? Every young player coming into the League should study footage on Jimmy Butler, the definition of a two-way player, competing on both ends.”

In March 2019, Bosh explained why Spoelstra is the best coach he ever played for.

“He believes he can stay positive and cool under pressure,” he told Tim Reynolds of the Associate Press. “The fact that he was in one of the biggest moments in league history and was like, ‘All right, here’s what we’re going to do,’ and put us in what we needed to do, he made great decisions.”