Jimmy Butler – Photo Credit: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Butler made a questionable shot on Sunday with the Heat’s chances of going to the NBA Finals at stake.
Sadly, he missed and the Miami Heat lost. Instead, the Boston Celtics advanced to play the Golden State Warriors for an NBA championship. For this, Jimmy Butler has no regrets.
Since he joined the Heat in 2019, Butler has carried Miami on his back as they fought their way back into Game 7 before ultimately losing. However, there was no other player Heat fans would want to take the last shot, with good reason.
But was it the right move? With Miami trailing close behind at 98-96 with less than 20 seconds to play, Butler dribbled over halfcourt. Instead of going straight for the basket, he pulled up close behind the 3-point line for a go-ahead attempt over Al Horford’s stretched hand.
If he would have made the shot, Butler would be an all-time playoff hero.
After the game, Butler was asked about the impulsive shot and what went through his mind to shoot it.
“My thought process was go for the win, which I did,” Butler said. “Missed the shot. But I’m taking that shot. My teammates like the shot that I took. So I’m living with it.”
Butler had the support of his coaches and teammates. He oozes Heat culture, alongside Udonis Haslem, and is the heart and soul of the team. Head coach Erik Spoelstra called Butler’s move “the right look.”
“I thought it would have been an incredible storyline for Jimmy to pull up and hit that 3,” Spoelstra said on Sunday. “I love that about Jimmy. That was the right look, and I just thought as it was leaving his hand, I thought for sure that was going down.
“It was a good, clean look, definitely better than anything we could have designed. It was a shame it didn’t end that way.”
Butler led Miami on Sunday with 35 points on 13-of-24 shooting. He averaged a total of 27.4 points, 4.6 assists, 7.4 rebounds, and an NBA-best 2.1 steals per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field in the postseason. He plays with intensity and without fear and consistently makes good decisions on the court.
The decisive shot was his to take.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
