The Miami Heat got back into the NBA Finals series on Sunday night with a win behind Jimmy Butler’s greatness. They are a ‘live dog’ now and that should be scary.
The Miami Heat were able to make things interesting again with their play on Sunday night. They came out and were the aggressors from the opening tip, being led by Jimmy Butler and to the point where they just overwhelmed the Lakers with their hustle, effort, and grit.
The Miami Heat simply wanted it more than the Lakers did on Sunday night. That certainly goes for Jimmy Butler, who willed the Heat to victory with everything he had in him.
He left it all out on the court Sunday night. To a tune of 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Jimmy Butler was LeBronian on Sunday night, that’s the only way it can be classified or quantified.
Here’s the thing though, Sunday night’s win was about a lot more than just Sunday night. By winning on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers could have all but assured a few different things.
With a win on Sunday night to go up 3-0 in an NBA Finals series, they would have all but assured a victory at some point, as it would have just been inevitable with them only having to win one game while the Heat needed four straight.
They would have ensured that the last time they saw Bam Adebayo and/or Goran Dragic this season would be Game 1 of this series when they last played. That is definitely not the case now.
The Miami Heat needed a massive victory on Sunday night to remain alive in the NBA Finals. Jimmy Butler told them to get on his back.
After hearing Jimmy Butler’s press conference on Sunday night, I am almost sure that Bam Adebayo will be ready to go by Wednesday night’s Game 4. If Goran Dragic can go, that’s a bonus and just that much more of a problem for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jimmy Butler on Heat’s defense in Game 3 win over Lakers: “We made a lot of things difficult for them. ... I think it’s going to be even better when we get Bam (Adebayo) back.” pic.twitter.com/lL9ZvXqueK
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 5, 2020
Lastly, they have assured themselves a long series again. Here’s the thing.
When dealing with a group like the Miami Heat, that never believes they are out of anything anyway, you can’t give them any glimmer of hope. That all but certifies that what they have always believed anyway is accurate.
Now that you have given them tangible and real proof that the principles they play and live by all the time are fully accurate, they are as dangerous as any team can be at this moment. They have confidence and they know that they can beat you when they are far from their best.
Their thinking is this, if we can be a little bit better from here out in every game, it’s, at worst, a 50/50 shot. Things definitely got a lot more interesting after Sunday night’s results, because the Miami Heat are definitely now a live dog and the Lakers should fear the confidence that breeds.