Discover the TOPS and FLOPS of this victory of the Heat of Jimmy Butler against the Lakers (115-114).
TOPS
Jimmy Butler superstar
He’s a surprisingly relaxed, flea-excited Jimmy Butler we saw before this kick-off. Game 3 of the NBA Finals, on the images of American TV. However, without Bam Adebayo (neck, shoulder) nor Goran Dragic (foot), there was nothing to show off for the Heat… But Butler was inhabited by XXL confidence, and we saw it from the start The former Chicago, Minnesota and Philly was in the oven and the mill: scoring, fouls caused, defense, assists, rebounds … Omnipresent. He took his team on his shoulders and took them to the Promised Land. Statistics ? Gargantuan. 40 points at 14/20 on shots and 12/14 on throws, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and two blocks in… 45 minutes! So far, only two players had achieved a triple-double at 40 points or more in the final, LeBron James in 2015 and Jerry West in 1969. They are now three. What a Butler match!
Tyler Herro en lieutenant
No, Tyler Herro is not just a shooter. The rookie (20 years) from Miami, again holder in the absence of Goran Dragic, demonstrated it again Sunday night, showing the extent of his offensive palette to finish with 17 points, like Kelly Olynyk. And this while he was not particularly successful by far (2/7). 6/11 with two points, three rebounds, a pair of assists, an interception and a loss of ball for Herro, lieutenant of General Butler and not scared in the hot times. Note the 13 points of Duncan Robinson, awkward (3/10 from far) but who scored important points.
At least two more matches
The good news of the evening is that NBA fans will still be entitled to at least two nocturnal dates. And this before long months of famine, the 2020-21 season not having to start before Christmas at the earliest, probably in January. With this victory (115-104), Miami is only 2-1 led. The two teams will meet in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday (3h) for Game 4 and in the night from Friday to Saturday (3h), for game 5. In the event of Game 6, it would be on the night of Sunday 11 to Monday 12 (1h30). Game 7? It would be on the night of Tuesday 13th to Wednesday 14th, around 3 a.m.
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FLOPS
Anthony Davis goes through
Author of two high-level performances to start these NBA Finals, “AD” had a serious air gap. Two fouls in the first quarter, the third quickly in the third and the fourth from the start in the second half. It doesn’t help. Not found in attack in the first quarter (0 pt), he never found his rhythm and weighed as much on the debates as has been the case so far in the series. 15 small points (6/9), five rebounds, three assists and two steals. The former New Orleans also lost five balls. All without the best interior in Miami, Adebayo. Did the comparisons with the Shaq-Kobe tandem come to his head? In any case, the interior of the Lakers clearly missed out on his match (+/- at -26). The breakdown.
“KCP” and Danny Green out of address
Fortunately for the Lakers, Markieff Morris (19 pts) and Kyle Kuzma (19 pts) found address from afar. Because it was not necessary to understand on “KCP” and Danny Green for that Sunday. They only landed one in seven award-winning shots between them. LA will only have returned 14 of its 42 long-range shots (12/34).
LeBron James and the loss of balls
Certainly, LeBron James has worn the Lakers for a long time. And he still displays a satisfactory line of statistics, very close to the triple-double: 25 points (9/16), 10 rebounds and eight assists. Two counters too. Finding it in the “FLOPS” category may therefore seem a little harsh… In fact, it would also deserve to be included in the “TOPS”. But the “King”, clumsy from afar (1/5), committed eight of LA’s 20 ball losses in this game. Including three who hurt very badly in the last quarter, when the Lakers had taken over and victory was still largely within reach. Butler’s defense in the “money-time” is not for nothing. But we expect better from the second best passer in the history of the play-offs in hot times. Note that LA lost 10 balls in the first quarter. One more than for the whole of Game 2. A “record” for 2019-20, regular season and play-offs included.
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