“I’m praying I don’t see Jimmy Butler” – Kendrick Perkins warns Boston Celtics on facing Miami Heat in playoffs

Jimmy Butler has made it clear that after going ring-less in college, he wants to win an NBA title before his career is all said and done. As he and the Miami Heat look ahead to the playoffs, there's plenty of tough matchups ahead for them.

Boston Celtics, for example, have been on an absolute tear recently. Despite that, the team could very well find themselves with a tough first-round matchup in the playoffs. As the Miami Heat sit in seventh-place, two games above the Atlanta Hawks, the team could clinch the seventh seed with a first-round Play-In Tournament win.

If they do, the Heat could find themselves matched up with the Boston Celtics, who are eager to make it back to the Finals and avenge their loss from last season. With just two games left on their schedule, the Heat still have a chance to overtake the sixth-place Brooklyn Nets.

If they're able to do so, they would bypass the Play-In Tournament and punch their ticket to a first-round matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. During a recent installment of NBA on ESPN, the veteran turned analyst spoke about a potential first-round matchup between the Heat and the Celtics.

“If I’m the Boston Celtics, I’m praying I don’t see Jimmy Butler in the first round… It would be upset alert.”

As many were quick to point out, it seems as though Perkins has continued to underestimate the Celtics in recent years. Despite that, his point of view seems to have some numbers to back it up when looking at the season series between these two teams.

Miami Heat v Houston Rockets

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Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat vs. the Boston Celtics this season

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have faced the Boston Celtics four times during the regular season so far.

Back in October, they faced off early in the year, with the Celtics claiming a big 111-104 win, where Jayson Tatum put up 29 points, and Jaylen Brown put up 28. The following month, the Celtics once again picked up a win, however, this time around Jimmy Butler was sidelined.

Again, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown absolutely went off, with Tatum scoring 49 points and Brown scoring 26 as the team jumped out to a 2-0 regular-season lead.

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Boston Celtics v Miami Heat - Game Seven

In December, the two teams matched up again, with the Heat picking up an overtime win 120-116, where Jimmy Butler scored 25 points and hauled down 15 boards. This time, the Heat were able to contain Jayson Tatum, holding him to just 14 points as the Heat brought the season series to 2-1.

To close out the regular-season rivalry, the two teams matched up in late January, with the Heat tying the season series with a 98-95 win. This time, however, it was Jaylen Brown and Jimmy Butler who notably didn't play. Despite that, with the season series tied 2-2, the Heat certainly have confidence should they meet in the playoffs.

Whether or not that means Perkins prediction comes true, only time will tell.

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