The stage is set for yet another intense playoff showdown between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, as the two teams prepare to face off in the NBA playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. The previous three meetings all took place in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Heat coming out on top in 2020 and 2023, while the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals in 2022.

However, this matchup carries a different tone, with the Heat entering the series without their star scorer and Boston's nemesis, Jimmy Butler. Butler sustained a significant knee injury during the Play-In Tournament, which may keep him sidelined for several weeks. Despite this setback, the Celtics managed to sweep the regular season series against the Heat, securing three victories.

During the Heat's recent Play-In victory over the Chicago Bulls, Heat fans at the Kaseya Center showed unwavering support for their team, chanting "We Want Boston" throughout the arena. This chant has gained popularity among fan bases facing the Celtics in the playoffs, with two notable instances in recent history.

In 2018, the "We Want Boston" chant went viral when it was heard during the New York Yankees' victory over the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card Game. The Yankees' triumph set up a highly anticipated American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, who ultimately emerged victorious in four games, including a dominant 16-1 win in Game 3.

More recently, in 2022, Brooklyn Nets fans voiced their desire to face Boston in the playoffs with their own rendition of the chant. However, their hopes were dashed when the Celtics swept them out of the playoffs in the first round, crushing the Nets' championship aspirations.

Now, as the Celtics and Heat prepare to renew their playoff rivalry, the question looms: Will the infamous "We Want Boston" chant have any impact on the outcome of the series? The No. 1 seeded Celtics will host the No. 8 seeded Heat in Game 1 on Sunday at TD Garden, where both teams will fight for a crucial victory in establishing early dominance in this postseason battle.

Fans from both sides are eagerly anticipating a heated and fiercely contested series, while the Celtics aim to continue their dominance over the Heat and advance further in their playoff run. As the story unfolds, basketball fans can only wait and see if the chants of opponents truly hold any power to alter the fate of these intense playoff matchups.