They are reasons why no one will discount the Heat against Denver even if it looks like the Nuggets are better.Īsked if he planned to say anything to Martin and Strus about their shooting struggles in Game 1, Butler didn’t hesitate. It's all about what we're going to do."īutler’s confidence, his belief in his teammates and his teammates’ belief in him are reasons why the eighth-seeded Heat reached the Finals, beating No. "We are in there laughing, in there smiling, knowing that we could play better," Butler said. He planned to go to an escape room later in the day, perhaps a metaphor for unlocking the door to victory in the Finals. No matter what."īutler delivered a masterclass in leadership Saturday, expressing optimism, calm, direction and perspective. I love that about them because they're never shook. I'm very consistent in everything that I do, whether it's before the game, after the game, during the game, and I think when my guys look at me like that, they follow suit in every single way. "I would like to say that I'm never rattled," he said. It didn’t help that Miami shot 33.3% on 3-pointers, and Caleb Martin was 1-for-7 from the field and Max Strus was 0-for-10, including nine missed 3s. Underappreciated part of Nuggets' success: How does Nuggets' X-factor focus? He journals to show gratitude, vent.īutler took 14 shots (just five at the rim) and didn’t attempt one free throw, even though he entered the Finals taking 9.1 free throws per game through the first three rounds. Unheralded heroes: Undrafted players portray significant role on Heat's successful roster So I have to be the one to come out and kick that off the right way, which I will, and we'll see where we end up." "They definitely follow suit whenever I'm aggressive on both sides of the ball. "That's just that, and that will change come Game 2. "I just think I've got to do a better job of getting the ball, demanding the ball, being more aggressive (at the rim)," Butler said. He knows he needs to be better in Game 2 on Sunday in Denver (8 p.m. He had an unaffecting 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. It’s how he pushed and pulled, carried and dragged the Heat to the 2020 NBA Finals, to seven games against Boston in last season’s Eastern Conference finals, to this season’s seven-game victory against the Celtics in the conference finals and to this season’s Finals against the Denver Nuggets.īutler can’t win the NBA Finals against the Nuggets by himself, but the Heat also can’t win the title with Butler having the performance he did in Denver’s 104-93 victory in Game 1 on Thursday. He invites the burden, wants the responsibility. That weight is not distributed evenly either.įor the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler absorbs the heft of championship expectations. DENVER ― The weight of a team is never on one person.
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