ORLANDO – The Milwaukee Bucks have a meeting with Jimmy Butler.
They can solve it in Game 2 opposite the Miami Heat or maybe not, but no matter how it goes in the best-of-seven eastern conference semi-final series, Butler may not succeed in the convention finals.
Veteran All-Star why the Heat made him their precedent on the loose last summer, drawing him to Philadelphia.
Butler scored 40 problems, the top of his career, in the playoffs, 15 in the fourth dominant when the Heat won the first Milwaukee game, 115-104, on Monday.
“It’s a league of stars. That’s why we’ve been so aggressive with him,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.”It adapts to everything you consider us, our fabric, who we are, who is made or not.Everyone feels comfortable, making those decisions. He scored tonight, but he’s a very selfless player.It’s not just about scoring basketball for him.”
Butler hit a great shot after a high shot, scoring 10 straight points in a third-quarter sequence. In the fourth, he took over.
“Obviously, ” said Spoelstra, “he needs those kinds of moments.”
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Butler hit 6 out of 8 shots, however, let’s take a look at when he made the shots unique.The 15 problems came in the last six minutes of a tight game.The bucket at 5:50 put Miami at the forefront forever.At 3:51 he followed a three-pointer at 3:03 that extended Miami’s lead to 104-98, then a curved jump at 2:19 that put Miami ahead of 106-98.
“I said whatever you want, but I told my teammates I wasn’t going to pass the ball,” Butler said, without any trace of humor.”I made some shots and they said, “That’s fine.”
He’s going to shoot.
His next mark, a 16-foot jump, gave Miami a 111-101 lead, some did it 113-104 and when Milwaukee still had room for a miracle, Butler stole the ball and got two moves wrong.He also had two rebounds and one shot blocked in the room.
“It’s not just about scoring,” Butler said. It’s about maintaining.It’s about making the right game. Get a 50-50 ball.It’s all a winning component. I felt like I was going up one point in the last quarter.will take place in each and every game, I have to be able to do it.But we have a lot of guys who can do it for us.”
Butler was the best selection in Miami, where hard work, teamwork and the field create a winning culture, a culture that is rarely very much for everyone, and why the Heat is so planned when creating lists.
Heat President Pat Riley helped bring Butler to Miami.The main workplace has met other vital players.Bam Adebayo moment for the most improved. Goran Dragic, who had 27 problems and scored at least 20 in every playoff game, is the sixth candidate of the year, proving that Luka Doncic is not the only Slovenian star in the NBA.Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn make a rookie contribution, and Duncan Robinson is one of the most productive three-point shooters in the league.Miami acquired Andre Iguodala on the Industry Deadline in February.
“Every day we paint on it is very professional,” Butler said.”We play to win. We don’t take any of this for granted and we’re a very smart team …We paint so hard. We practice as we are meant to practice. We examine the cinema as intended.That’s what we depend on every moment of every game. There’s no nerve in that because we’re so confident.Every day we paint to be great.”
The Heat even received help from former player Dwyane Wade.”It’s wonderful to have D-Wade in my corner, ” said Butler.”I tell you, D-Wade is still on my phone, tells me about the game, what a wonderful look.This is the first user to text me when I return to the locker room.I’m learning. I’ll keep learning. I can’t say enough.”
The Heat’s game plan in this series is simple: Limite Giannis Antetokounmpo.Net let Milwaukee dominate in the painting.Defend, do some triples and basketball percentage.
Antetokounmpo had a near-triple-double silencer with 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.The Bucks were 42-24 out of the paint, Miami made 12 triples and beat Milwaukee 25-14 in the free throw line.That, more Butler, enough.
In a sterile, fan-free environment, Butler discovers the motivation inside.It is simple in the bubble with even more pronounced physical and intellectual demands.
“I love the hoop,” he said Butler.Me love going to war with this kid organization we have.Coach Pat and Spo do a wonderful task by putting dogs on the court that just to compete.
Follow USA TODAY Sports NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt