Jimmy Butler was reluctant to accept the “Playoff Jimmy” moniker, even after one of the most remarkable postseason performances in Heat history, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN. Butler set a franchise record with 56 points and led an incredible comeback on Monday night to give Miami a 3-1 lead in its series with the top-seeded Bucks.
Butler was 19-of-28 from the field and 15-of-18 from the foul line as he tied Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Charles Barkley for the fourth-highest point total ever recorded in the playoffs. He’s now the leading scorer in this year’s postseason at 36.5 PPG.
“I love the competitive aspect of (the playoffs),” Butler said. “This is where all the best players, they show up and they show out. I’m not saying I’m one of those best players; I just want to be looked at as such. I want to do everything for my team to win, along with everybody on this roster. I think (team president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra) wanted me here for a reason. I feel like this is part of that reason.”
Holding a 12-point lead with 6:08 left to play, Milwaukee was on the verge of evening up the series before Butler took over. He scored or assisted on 22 of the Heat’s final 30 points and personally outscored the Bucks 13-8 over the final five minutes of the game.
Milwaukee used seven different defenders to try to control Butler, Collier adds, but he was able to make 16-of-21 shots that were classified as contested.
“When he gets in that zone, he’s just such a killer,” Kevin Love said. “Lions like to hunt, man. They make their kill, and they keep hunting. That’s what he does. He’s got a huge heart. He wants to see us win. He doesn’t want to make it about him; he just wants to go out there and get the job done.”
There’s more from Miami:
- The Heat could use another scorer to help Butler, but their salary structure for next season makes that difficult, per Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Butler will earn $45.1MM in 2023/24, and the team has close to $90MM committed to Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry. Unless Miami can unload some of that salary, the need for Butler to carry the offense is unlikely to change.
- Victor Oladipo has remained in good spirits despite his latest knee injury, Winderman adds in another Sun Sentinel story. Spoelstra addressed the media Monday for the first time since Oladipo was diagnosed with a torn left patellar tendon that will require surgery. “He said, ‘Don’t shed any tears for me, I’m going to get through all of this,’” Spoelstra said. “That human side, we keep on talking about, when you see how much he’s been able to go through and over time, you just naturally are kind of rooting for him these last three years. But he will. … He has all of convinced he’s going to get through this and he will find a way. He has that kind of a fortitude.”
- Oladipo’s injury has resulted in a greater role for Haywood Highsmith, notes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The third-year small forward was the first player Spoelstra used off the bench Monday night.
Jimmy Butler is HIM. Unbelievable competitor
Highsmith should have been starting all year, and now that he is finally playing, hopefully he can find a rhythm in that corner 3 area
I still dont get Milwaukee’s rotation decisions…They decided to play Brook Lopez for almost 39 minutes, which is a mistake. Ya he had 36, 11, 2 steals and 3 blocks, but he was -9 for a reason. His minutes need to be cut by almost 20, and the rest of those should go to Bobby Portis and Jae Crowder. Lineups with Portis or Giannis at the 5 should be a significant problem for the Heat, especially if they try to use Zeller or Yurtseven again…I also think Milwaukee should use Goran Dragic in this matchup
Kyle Lowry was amazing last night, and they need a lot more minutes from him, and hopefully Lowry, Duncan, and Highsmith start the next game
Brook Lopez is huge for them defensively. Basically shut down Bam Adebayo into a role player
Meh, often times Bam shuts himself down into a roleplayer
In most matchups, they dont need that from Bam though, especially this one. In this matchup, they need him to take and make those mid range shots in half court situations, but they need him more as a defender and playmaker, and without Bam in that 4th quarter, the Heat lose that game, despite Jimmy
I agree his defense is key. But, without tyler herro, Miami needs someone besides Jimmy Bulter to score. Can’t expect him to drop 50+ every game. Bam is paid like the 2nd star and Miami is much better when he’s aggressive and scoring. Need more from Bam offensively if Miami is going to go far in the postseason
He is also playing through a hamstring injury, but he took and made shots he didnt take against them 2 years ago
In other matchups for sure, but he was a couple of easy baskets at the rim away from 20, so it’s not like he isnt scoring at all. He took and made some big shots, and again, he is playing through a hamstring injury
Take out one of the top defensive centers who also happened to have 36 points? In hopes that by going small the heat would for some reason then bring in Zeller and Yurtseven?
It’s fine. Believe what you want. Brook lopez playing 40 minutes is how they went down 0-2 in the finals, and them halving his minutes is how they won that series…they also literally beat the Heat that way 2 years ago, but whatever…
Heat have zero options at smallball 5 behind Bam. They cant guard them with 1 of those 2 guys at the 5, but Milwaukee is still good defensively without Lopez, and it opens the floor more for them
I agree with Lopez. He’s a stiff. He’s great at what he does amd within their system and as long as everyone around him is making the correct rotations. But when he is pulled out of position, he becomes useless.
Chicago Bulls on line one, Zach would offer scoring and They could take some of those salaries
Yea he would be a great fit for Miami. He’s got toughness.
The Bulls are in a hard spot. They are just one player away, and that one player is Lonzo Ball. But unfortunately it looks like his career is over and I’m not sure how they can replace him
People need to start recognizing Butler. The reality is, if you took any of these playoffs teams and replaced their best player with Butler, they winning the championship.
How long have I’ve been talking Jimmy B. He’s the best 2way player in the gm. He plays to win. Not for stats. He knew he was hot. So he dare them to stop him. Then he makes the defensive play of the gm.
This is why Thibs loves Jimmy. He’s worked his way into this player. He believes you can too. At worst you work your way into a better player. A pro player. Should always be getting better. Always something you can improve. Thibs way. Just ask Jimmy …..
Great gm Jimmy
Yea Butler is a perfect example of how narratives can hide the truth. When he got to Miami the narrative was he was toxic and toxic for teams. But the truth is, he is the best teammate any could have. He makes everyone around him better.
Just look at history. Bulls havent been as good since he left. Timberwolves had their best year since KG and haven’t been as good since he left. Sixers had their best year since Iverson, and haven’t been as good(pending this year I guess) since he left. And so far in 3 yrs in Miami he’s been to the Finals and 2 ECFs. And as much as I like Bam, Butler has done it with no legitimate #2 guy.
All that being said, the Knicks is not a matchup I want to see, as a Heat fan. I was hoping for either Philly or Milwaukee, and losing to Atlanta on purpose did that, but I think that Knocks matchup looks like its happening
Again, a matchup I didnt want, especially with our guys out now. I had a lot going on during this first round, so I’m going to try and catch up on games I missed when I get a chance, but that knicks-Cleveland series was one I had significant interest in. I saw game 1, which was incredibly 1 sided officiating, but the Knicks also destroyed them on the boards, which was the ultimate difference in that one. I was rooting for them before that game, but now, I’d like to see lineup adjustments from cleveland to make that more of a series. I also think Cleveland misses Kevin love in that specific matchup a lot
Randle is a serious problem for the Heat in a series like that, and I would worry about Quentin Grimes and Josh Hart against us in that matchup, especially without Oladipo and Herro. Heat would need Butler, Lowry, Duncan, and Strus to have big games every night in that matchup, in my opinion
Is highsmith any good?
He is a 4/3 that needs to be more consistent with his shot and decision making, but he defends more than adequately, rebounds, and can put the ball on the floor a bit