Jimmy Butler disappears with his worst game in these playoffs: “I have failed a lot”

Between prophecies, trash-talking and braggadocios, to Jimmy Butler he likes ‘long’ too much. Which is not bad at all, because in the end he is sincere even though he ‘doesn’t have a grandmother’, he adds sauce to the matter, and he has earned the right to do so. But the only thing that will be talked about until Game 2 on Sunday, and a lot, is his silence in this first game of the Finals, with a clear 104-93 win for Denver.

And it is that the forward has gone to score his worst game so far in these playoffs right in the debut of the series for the title, only 13 points with a 6/14 shooting from the field, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. The worst thing is that when more could be expected, in the last quarter, he barely scored 2 goals.

the eave of 33 years was able to partially compensate for his discreet performance with 7 basket passes, something that, however, had very little impact on some Heat that, when they got closer, went to 9 points in the last set and without Nikola Jokic on track. But, more than the numbers, it was what Jimmy Butler transmitted, indecisive, passive and even apathetic. And how she was disappearing, with a decent first quarter with 7 points but then only 6 among the next three.

Aaron Gordon he did a good job with the Heat star, but overall, all the Nuggets were able to limit Butler no matter what the matchup, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also making it very complicated and Denver collapsing the paint at the right time. “I missed a lot of shots. We have to attack the rim more and I include myself. That it ended without free throws is completely my fault, ”admitted the forward making self-criticism.

Miami tried to take him to an individual duel also more comfortable with double locks and clarifying the side where he was penetrating, but, whether it was because of Denver’s height, indecision or simply because of all the credit the Nuggets defense deserves, Butler did not dare attack the rim.

The best moment for the Spoelstras did not come with him but with the appearance of Kyle Lowry in the last quarter, longing for a magnificent Bam Adebayo with 26 points plus collaboration from his duo partner. Knowing him, surely Jimmy Butler is going to take all the criticism as food to go out and turn everything upside down in Game 1. But, first time, it has failed.

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