The Miami Heat had a chance to close things out on Friday, but they weren’t able to. In order to get it done on Sunday, they’ll need a “Jimmy Butler Game”.
The Miami Heat had the chance to finish it on Friday night. They were unsuccesful.
After being up by double digits early on in the contest, the Miami Heat proceeded to let the Boston Celtics have a nearly historic third quarter on them, which all but sealed the game. The 41 points that the Miami Heat allowed the C’s in the third quarter were tied for the most ever allowed by a Heat team in the playoffs.
That’s “ever” as in all-time. That’s as in, “never been done before” or only once when thinking about the tie. That will get you beat every time.
Luckily for the Miami Heat here though, they don’t have to wait three days in between games, as they did between Games 3 & 4. They have the chance to stew in their let down and come right back out on Sunday to do it all over again.
The Miami Heat weren’t able to get it done on Friday. Jimmy must ensure that they do on Sunday.
Here’s the thing though. In my humbled opinion, if the Miami Heat are to close out these scrappy and talented Celtics on Sunday, it’s going to take a Jimmy Butler Game.
“What’s that even mean”, some of you are asking right now. That’s good, because I plan to tell you.
It isn’t that hard to concoct. We are going to need Jimmy to score at least 27 points, drop off at least four dimes, and grab at least six rebounds.
Jimmy is at his best when he is impacting the game from a myriad of directions. We need him to sway the game from multiple angles on Sunday, that’s they way that they can close them out.
While other players need to continue to play up to their best level, such as Tyler Herro, and while others need to pray for a regained shooting touch, such as Jae Crowder, if Jimmy does Jimmy, then the Miami Heat should still be ok.
That’s all. That’s it.
It’s as simple as that. If the Miami Heat want to avoid going to a win or go home Game 7, then Jimmy Butler must will them to victory.
He can. He will. He must.