The Miami Heat are officially in a do-or-die scenario. Losing Game 5 in Miami on the back of a putrid second half of play, they find themselves in a position where they are facing a Game 6 elimination scenario on Friday in Boston.
While many things have gone wrong for the Miami Heat in these playoffs and in this series specifically, such as their offense, the whistle, and overall health, one man’s fortune has been extremely crippling.
After a knee injury that caused him to miss the second half of Game 3, Jimmy Butler hasn’t been the same guy that he was prior to the injury. Being one of the best players in the playoffs prior to that, arguably the best and at worst, top two, he has since become a shell of the guy that he had been for the entire Miami Heat playoff run.
Jimmy won’t lean on that though. Here’s what he had to say after Game 4.
“I’m straight. No excuse for how I played tonight. Ain’t got nothing to do with my knee.” — Jimmy Butler pic.twitter.com/16LXGS7oXx
— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) May 24, 2022
Continuing to look like a man depleted of his bounce or athletic pop, Jimmy Butler wouldn’t be that much better in Game 5.
The Miami Heat have gone as far as they have this season on the back of Jimmy Butler. And though he won’t say it or make excuses, he’s hurting out there.
Here is what Miami Heat reporter, Will Manso, had to say on the topic near the end of that Game 5 contest.
"You guys keep asking what’s wrong with Jimmy. He’s hurt. It’s that simple. Butler won’t use that as an excuse, but he doesn’t look anywhere near as quick and aggressive as he’s been most of playoffs. That doesn’t excuse the rest of the poor play tonight from the Heat.It could never be just “Jimmy save us” to beat a team like Boston. The Heat pride themselves on everyone doing their part. Tonight very few did that. Meanwhile, the Celtics woke up and took advantage."
Listen, there are no excuses and jimmy won’t make them either. Everybody is banged up around this time of the year.
However, for a guy that has, again, been the second-best player, at worst, in the NBA Playoffs up until he tweaked that knee, you have to acknowledge what you’re seeing. There is no logical way that he goes from that to what he has been in the last two games without something going on.
He’s hurt and that’s all that can explain it. He’s gutting through it though.
At the very least, you just hope he isn’t risking long-term health, though you appreciate him fighting through it. Because if the Miami Heat are going to pull off the improbable, they’ll need some version of him to do it.