Dwyane Wade Responded To Ersan Ilyasova Saying Miami Games Were ‘Half-Empty’

The first-round series between the Sixers and Heat was the shortest of all the Eastern Conference series, lasting just five games before Philadelphia moved on to the second round, but it was also the most intense over that short stretch.

The two sides found themselves in some chippy games, with some kerfuffles and skirmishes lasting well beyond the whistle. The Sixers won in five games, but the majority of games saw things tight entering the fourth quarter, which led to much of the intense action. While Philadelphia has moved on to face Boston, the budding rivalry between the Sixers and Heat got just a bit more fuel added to it when Ersan Ilyasova offered something of a parting shot to Miami’s fans when discussing their upcoming series with Boston.

When prompted on the atmosphere in Boston’s TD Garden, Ilyasova noted how different it will be compared to what they faced in Miami where, as he put it, “the gym was half-empty.” Naturally, this didn’t sit well with Miami fans, and on Monday, Dwyane Wade responded on Twitter by taking a jab at Ilyasova being someone most fans “don’t even know.”

Wade is, of course, fiercely loyal to Miami, despite a two-year trek through the Midwest, and has returned to the Heat to once again serve as their vocal leader (and at times, on court leader too). The problem for the Heat in this emerging rivalry with the Sixers is that they don’t have the firepower to matchup with Philly, and their cap situation will prevent them from doing much to fix that this summer, so the Sixers will likely be the ones able to back up what they’re saying when the two meet again next season.

That said, don’t expect Ilyasova or anyone on Philly to get much of a warm welcome from the Heat faithful whenever they meet in Miami next season, and while the games might ultimately go the way of the Sixers, there will be plenty of motivation on both sides.