The Miami Heat knew what they had to do. They knew that this was a closeout situation that they had to take as seriously as it was for them.
As their head coach would say on Thursday ahead of the game, “the urgency” was present for this team. After allowing it to be a home team series, where the team at home had won all of the games prior to Game 6, the Miami Heat knew the best thing for them to do was to end it on Thursday.
Erik Spoelstra after today’s morning shootaround in Philadelphia: “The urgency is there.”
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) May 12, 2022
Well, that’s what they played like, coming out to be the higher energy squad on both ends from the very onset. They would get high-level production from the entire team.
Gabe Vincent would continue to use his toughness, quickness, and defensive intensity to help set the tone. P.J. Tucker would continue to be the hardest working dude on the floor during his time.
With the Miami Heat facing a chance to move on to the ECF Thursday, they would need everyone to step up. They did but of course, Jimmy Butler led it all.
Bam Adebayo would continue to look like one of the foremost premier defensive forces that the NBA has ever seen. Heck, Max Strus would continue his well-rounded hot ways, going for 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five dimes.
All of that was great, as the entirety of the team was on Thursday. However, no one, including every other player besides one in the entire NBA Playoffs, was as effective and productive as Jimmy Butler.
Continuing upon the sheer dominance that he has put on from the very beginning of the NBA Playoffs, Jimmy Butler continued to look like the best player on the floor Thursday. As he always does, he gave the Miami Heat whatever it was that they needed at any given moment.
Of course, you had the defense and of course, he gave you the rebounds, you know he dropped off a few dimes—but he continued to highlight it all by lighting up the scoreboard again in Game 6. Finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, he would also shoot 33 percent from three, going 2-6 from deep.
That isn’t great, but for a guy that is as effective inside of the three-point line as Jimmy is, that’s enough and especially when you think about how poorly he shot it from out there up until the end of this season and going into this postseason.
The Miami Heat handled their business and now they get to wait for the other Eastern Conference series to finish. As for now though, they can get some rest while the Bucks and Celtics sort things out.