Jimmy Butler kept the Miami Heat alive with a celebratory performance. Game 6 against the Boston Celtics brings back memories of the famous LeBron James game nearly ten years ago at TD Garden.
How history repeats itself. The Boston Celtics still have to wait for their final appearance for the first time in twelve years, and for the third time in a row they have lost a closing game at their TD Garden. In 2012 and 2018, LeBron James stood in their way, and this time it was Jimmy “James” Butler (Copy to: Brett Brown), who brought back memories of LeBron’s famous 2012 match with 47 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals.
At the time, the Big Three around LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were on the verge of collapsing in Game Six, but James saved Miami with a 45-15-5 gala in Game Seven and won his first title a few weeks later. The current Heat team has yet to walk away, but Butler’s performance was no less impressive.
One of the Big Three members at the time even approached Butler before the match, as he revealed after the match. “D-Wade wrote me before the game and said I could do it. My knee might hurt, but nobody cares. Get out there and write your own story. It meant a lot to me.”
And the butler made history. Only Wilt Chamberlain scored more points than the 32-year-old (50) in the 1960 elimination match, but Butler missed the 2014 playoff franchise record for LeBron James by just two points. So far, the NBA has never seen a 47-9-8-4 perform with at least 50 percent of the field.
Jimmy Butler: Ten cups of coffee and a letter from Wade for 47 points
“It was unbelievable,” said Kyle Lowry, adorned with an F-bomb, which would delight Butler, who was seated next to PK’s lookout point, likely to result in a fine, although Lowry immediately apologized. The cheerful butler replied, “I am punished for things like this all the time.”
Was it Wade’s text message that drove Mr. Buckets to work or perhaps Big Face coffee (Butler says he drinks seven to ten cups a day)? Who do you know. In fact, Butler changed after taking only seven of his 32 combined shots in games 4 and 5 due to knee problems. Talented mental calculators know that 22 percent is icy, but Butler actually had seven field goals in Game Six in the first half.
Butler attacked early, and the three pointers fell again. The forward has never scored four distance throws in his playoff career, and has done so 21 times in the regular season. But that was only part of his game, which was basically the full Jimmy Butler experience again. Kluge Cuts, an elite mid-level game with the ability to take free throws at any time.
The six-time All-Star may not be a consistent top-10 player throughout the regular season, but he’s constantly leveling up in the playoffs and can take on any defense (except $21) if the body plays with him. In Game 6, Butler still doesn’t look quite fit, but it doesn’t matter.
Jimmy Butler: Even DPOY Marcus Smart is helpless
The Heat star will pick peers, mostly targeting Derek White, Grant Williams and Al Horford, and then impose his will accordingly. Even Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart was simply shoved under the basket while driving — you’d never see anything like that from Smart.
This happened in the fourth quarter at a point where the match was threatening to tip over again. Miami led by 13 points in the third inning, but White put Boston back in play. Butler’s answer was simple, he kept trying to attack Wyatt and it was successful.
This was also the case in what may have been a crucial play two minutes before the end, when he was coldly punished for a misunderstanding when switching between Smart and White using And-1. The dagger, a jumper that shifted from the third line with the clock running out 44 seconds ahead of time, was the icing on the cake. Butler scored 17 points in the final quarter, three points ahead of Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum combined in the entire second half.
This makes the 47 points all the more impressive, after all, Butler also became defensive, tattooed several plays from the Celtics and in the end he could have earned more than “only” 4 points in the penalty area. It’s as if number 22 in The Heat knows every Celtics play by heart, and there’s even the slightest omission to score two points in the transition.
There are points Miami can put to good use. “I do what my team needs,” Butler said. “Whether it’s scoring, playmaking or defending – I do everything for my team to win.” After 82 and 80 points he was basically scoring, this time the Heat set an acceptable offensive rating of 115.6, although Tyler Hero (tape) was again missing a more dynamic goalkeeper who could create an attack for himself.
Jimmy Butler: Not phrases, but actions
But it wasn’t a complete solo show. Lowry (18, 10 assists) made a good twosome that you wouldn’t have expected of him with all his injuries, Max Strauss sinking three times in the second half having previously lost 14 consecutive throws. Victor Oladipo had good stages in the fourth quarter, making the most important defensive game of the night against Brown at +4 when he made an offensive foul.
Even the bench in the Heat played defense So Markive Morris was constantly playing on the field in the second half The Celtics bowlers are hampered (when is something like that constantly punished?). Lowry also tried to sway from the touchline after his sixth foul. You don’t have to like this, but it also shows that Miami not only made the phrases (“we believe in it”), but also lived them on and off the field.
Miami is once again living the “us against all” mantra, so the inoffensive statements of Draymond Green, who stated after the victory over Dallas that he expected Boston to be an opponent, are gladly accepted as motivation. Whatever is driving this team, they will need it again on Monday night.
Theoretically, the Celtics should have entered the game as favorites over South Beach, but they were already in Game Six. Butler’s sheer will and performance from LeBron Essack saved Miami from the end, now after 2011, another chance in 2012 and 2020 to bury the Celtics’ finals dreams.
Heat vs. Celtics: A Quick Look at the Series
| Game | Date | time | Homepage | far | result |
| 1 | May 18 | 2.30 am | Miami Heat | Boston Celtics | 118: 107 |
| 2 | May 20 | 2.30 am | Miami Heat | Boston Celtics | 102: 127 |
| 3 | May 22 | 2.30 am | Boston Celtics | Miami Heat | 103: 109 |
| 4 | May 24 | 2.30 am | Boston Celtics | Miami Heat | 102: 82 |
| 5 | 26 May | 2.30 am | Miami Heat | Boston Celtics | 80:93 |
| 6 | May 28 | 2.30 am | Boston Celtics | Miami Heat | 103: 111 |
| 7 | May 30 | 2.30 am | Miami Heat | Boston Celtics | – |