In the closing moments of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jimmy Butler turned his right ankle against Josh Hart of the New York Knicks, and cameras captured Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra shouting the word “F***.” His response reflected the feelings of countless many: When its greatest player was absent, the eighth seed had little chance.
Butler was absent when the Knicks tied the series, and he didn’t play in Game 3 until he had rested for five days. Since then, he has played an average of 40 minutes in 13 games, helping the Heat defeat New York in six games, defeat the New York Knicks in seven games in the conference finals, defeat the Boston Celtics in seven games in the NBA Finals, and help the Heat return home tied 1-1 with the Denver Nuggets. It is difficult to say that Butler’s injury has prevented his team from winning.
That does not imply that it won’t play a role in the final match, which is currently a best-of-five contest.
How is your ankle? was Butler’s question to Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill last week at the Finals’ yearly media day. You hurt it against the Knicks, and in Game 7, you slightly tweaked it. Are you fully yourself? You’re almost at 100%, right? Is it a glance that suggests you’re about to lie?
I’m not lying, so no. I’ll say that nobody is concerned. Butler made a joke to Goodwill at the meeting, “You don’t, either. If I take the floor, I shall do my work at a high level as I am still required to do. We’ll be fine, I promise. Don’t do that; we’re going to finish the work, bum ankle or not, and I’m not taking a follow-up.
You simply never know with ankle sprains, as Spoelstra noted right away.
Butler may not be at full strength, according to statistical research. He averaged 37.6 points on 59.7% field goal shooting and 9.6 free throw attempts in a five-game series win against the Milwaukee Bucks before injuring his ankle. He made more than half of his free throw attempts in each game.
On four or five days’ rest since the injury, his output has increased to 31.5 points on 45.6% shooting and 10.5 free-throw attempts in two games. Since Game 1 against the Knicks, he has only made 50% of his shots once, going 5 for 10 in a defeat to the Celtics in Game 5, which was his lowest postseason field goal total.
Declare his early success versus the Bucks to be unsustainable.
In particular, Before the injury, he converted 72.7% of his 12.8 attempts a game from the paint, but since it, he has shot only 44.2% on those 10.6 attempts. The eye test confirms this as well, as in recent weeks, he has resisted challenging taller defenders around the rim and frequently failed to execute his signature pump fake.
When Miami most needed him, Butler used all of his iron will reserves.
Spoelstra wavered between stating Butler is bearing the same weight as he did before injury and implying Miami’s supporting cast members had taken on greater responsibility.
In terms of offense, I still believe we have a fantastic environment where everyone is at ease. If your role players can enter the game and immediately begin to perform well, it’s typically because they pick up confidence from the greatest players, Jimmy and Bam.
They instill aggression in all of our guys. Because of the way [the Nuggets] defend, they prioritize keeping [Butler] out of the paint, so he needs to make the right reads. Those were some of his best plays in the final stretch. In tight games, that is crucial for us. Regardless of how many points he scored in the final six minutes, his influence was felt heavily.
By averaging almost twice as many assists as he did in the Milwaukee series, he has evolved into more of a facilitator.
In the fourth quarter of the Heat’s comeback against the Nuggets in Sunday’s Game 2 of the Finals, Butler said, “Keep playing basketball as far as I can,” after overcoming a 4-for-14 start. playing for other people. Every time I have the chance, I score. And above everything things, just figure out a way to triumph. We’ll keep doing that as a group, I believe, as we did tonight.
Given Butler’s declining talent and the Heat’s negative point differential throughout the regular season, it is amazing that they are in this situation. Since the injury, they have gained +0.8 points per 100 possessions with him on the field and +9.3 points per 100 possessions without him. Miami is +6 in 33 possessions without Butler and -14 in 145 possessions with him through two Finals games. The Heat’s ability to maintain that lead to a championship seems improbable, but everything this No. 8 seed has accomplished also seems improbable.
Maybe Miami can keep making shots from beyond the arc and rely on Butler’s surprising bursts to lead them to three more victories and a championship. Maybe having two days off in between every game of this series save games 3 and 4 will help him get stronger. Perhaps facing yet another club with greater potential on paper, the Heat runs out of gas. The condition of Butler’s ankle may determine if Miami finds a higher gear in these Finals.
