Miami Heat: What is happening to Jimmy Buckets in the NBA Playoffs?

The Miami Heat need to get Jimmy Butler going if they don’t want to go down 0-3 in the Bucks series.

In Game 2, he shot just four free throws. The defense is clearly starting to get to Butler.

Several times, put-back gifts have led to misses for Butler, despite shooting them right under the basket. And in overtime of Game 1, the defense just started giving him open deep shots.

Butler needs to shake this slump if Miami is to have a chance. What’s the answer?

Screen to the grave. Butler isn’t a good enough shooter to play off-ball and drill threes, while pick-and-rolls are probably the best way to get Adebayo back in the series.

So, screen like the 2016 Golden State Warriors. Double-screen and set staggered pin downs, as to try and blend up the Bucks defense is the best way to reshuffle the deck for Miami and Butler.

Get Tucker off of him, throw the help defense in flux, and pit him against lesser defenders. Most importantly and for a player kicking a slump, set him up to see the ball go through the basket a few teams easily.

The Miami Heat must help him to muster up a monster quarter, get his confidence back, and then, force mistakes. Make a comfortable Bucks defense pivot and adjust.

Get creative, get Butler loose, and do it quick; 0-3 is a mistake away. While it isn’t impossible, going down 0-3 in the series, more than likely, seals their fate.