After Jimmy Butler missed a last-minute crucial throw in Game 7 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Butler didn’t sulk. He didn’t watch his litter in a loop in the summer. He didn’t spend the offseason wondering, “What if?” Instead, he told those close to him that he would not throw such a brave three-pointer again. And if he did, he would clean it up.
On Monday, Butler delivered a whopping 56 points in the first round of the NBA playoffs – including two stunning “pull-up jumpers” late in the last quarter – to give the Heat a 119-114 win and a 3-1 draw. Lead against the Bucks, putting the NBA’s best regular-season team on the brink of elimination. In doing so, Butler showed that he is the current top dog in his conference and perhaps the entire NBA playoffs.
Butler was great against the Bucks. He scored his 56 points in just 28 throws. He hit 15 of 18 throws from the free throw line and three of eight three-pointers. Otherwise, he bullied the Bucks with his feathery touch on midrange Js and floaters. The level of difficulty was incredibly high, with Butler primarily competing against the rugged Jrue Holiday. Butler relocated everyone from Holiday to Giannis Antetokounmpo to Brook Lopez and everyone else between him and the board. Despite being chased by Holiday and surrounded by Milwaukee defenses, Butler hit 80 percent of his 20 two-pointers.
Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler shines against Antetokounmpo
Butler also saved the best for last. In the fourth quarter, he came up trumps when the Heat was 87-98 behind. In the final eight minutes, he outscored Milwaukee 22-16 alone and added seven points during Miami’s 13-0 run, which overturned an 89-101 deficit late in the fourth quarter. Butler, he sank two massive jumpers to turn the game. The first was a sudden pull-up from the left wing to give Miami a 110-109 lead with 1:20 left. Then, on the next possession, from the left wing but with his foot on the three-point line, Butler rose and threw over Holiday to extend the lead to three points.
And Butler did all of this with very little offensive help from his teammates. The rest of the Miami squad combined for just 31 points. Butler threw 67.9 percent from the field in Game 4. The rest of the team only 40.1 percent.
Other great personalities have featured in the NBA playoffs, from Devin Booker to Nikola Jokic to Jayson Tatum. None of them play against a opponent as difficult as Milwaukee. With Tyler Herro out, none of them lack a second shot like Butler. This also doesn’t even begin to take into account what Butler has done defensively, where he has remained strong despite his offensive work. In the NBA playoffs against the Bucks, Butler averaged 36.5 points, 62.8 percent on his throws, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The season is long but nobody is playing better than Butler right now.
Milwaukee Bucks face NBA playoff exit
Butler’s efforts in Game 4 thwarted the return of Antetokounmpo, who was back on the floor in his first game since his back injury in Game 1. “The Greek Freak” made a triple double on his return with 26-10-13. For most of the game, his presence seemed to outweigh the Heat and their relative small size. Without Butler, it would probably have been about Giannis’ oversized impact. Instead, he encountered an unstoppable force in the final quarter.
Milwaukee is on the ropes because it won’t be easy against Miami. In the worst case, the end threatens in the first playoff round. Two of the last three games of the series against the Heat will be played in Wisconsin. Without Butler, Miami looks lost on offense. Still, the Heat will go into the rest of the series knowing they have the best player on the floor. Giannis is certainly capable of reclaiming that crown, and he’ll be going all out in Game 5. But Butler has presented Miami with an incredible opportunity. He wants to take advantage of this opportunity as well.
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2023-04-25 11:33:52
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