You know what they say about championship banners – they’re like tattoos, you’ll be stuck with them for the rest of your life. Above the Heat’s court, three ginormous banners hang to commemorate title seasons in 2006, 2012 and 2013. On the other end, several giant jerseys hang from the rafters, honoring Heat legends like Alonzo Mourning and Chris Bosh. And although Jimmy Butler doesn’t have the rings just yet, he’s certainly had his share of moments. Now, he may have had the biggest one of all.
Who says sequels are always worse than the original? In a performance that will be remembered for years to come, Butler exploded on Monday night, thrilling a sellout crowd that got louder and more raucous with every basket. Why, you ask? Well, he only notched a franchise playoff record of 56 points as Miami clawed its way back from a fourth-quarter deficit to pull off a stunning 119-114 win over Milwaukee. The win gives the Heat a stunning 3-1 lead in their first-round series against the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The numbers were CRAZY – like, cover your eyes kids, kind of insane. Butler became the sixth player in NBA history to score 56+ points in a playoff game, and the first to pull it off in a non-Bubble playoff game since Charles Barkley in 1994. That’s history right there, folks. He was 19-of-28 from the field, 15-of-18 from the line and also added nine boards, two assists, and a block over 41 magical minutes.
But let’s not stop there – because this win was no walk in the park. Butler pulled off his heroic feat against a Bucks team that had the best record in the NBA this season. He did it with three of the best defensive players in the world – Jrue Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez – watching his every move. He made it happen for a Heat team that barely squeezed into the postseason before losing Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo in the first three games of this series. Talk about the odds being stacked up against you.
It’s a good thing Butler has a way with words, folks, because he’s going to need it when he talked about his newest nickname: “Playoff Jimmy.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Well, Butler recoils at playful nicknames like that that have followed him around in recent years, partially because they make it sound like his playoff explosions are somewhat surprising coming from a player of his caliber. “It’s not a thing,” Butler said of his “Playoff Jimmy” nickname. “I just be hooping.” And don’t get us wrong, when Jimmy’s hooping, he’s the king of the court.
Jimmy Butler is like a fine wine, he only gets better with age. The sign of a truly great player is being able to rise to the occasion in games that matter most, and Butler has done that repeatedly throughout his career. Since coming to Miami, he’s also proven that he can be the No. 1 option that leads a team to greater heights than the talent on the roster suggests they should be capable of. During these past two playoff runs, Butler averaged 24.6 points and now has six games with at least 40 points. #BeastMode
On Monday, the Bucks thought they had Butler right where they wanted him. But this hero was far from defeated. They had a 12-point lead with six minutes left in the fourth when Miami woke up and started playing with a different level of force. They poured in 30 points over the final six minutes of the game, including 19 from Butler. Their first lead only came with 3:17 left after a Bam Adebayo steal turned into a Butler breakaway dunk. Did you hear that crowd? They were ROARING for Jimmy.
Let’s give credit where credit is due. Along with the playoff switch he’s seemingly able to flip on every year, what separates Butler from so many other great scorers is his ability to impact the game just as much on the other end of the floor. He played shutdown defense on every single person on the Bucks roster last night. Spoelstra spoke about the incredible stamina, mental fortitude, and attention to detail required for Butler to perform the way he did this entire series. According to the Heat coach, what makes Butler so great is he’s calm and measured while also being angry and vicious simultaneously. #Goals
And last but certainly not least, if Butler pulls off this historic upset and adds another accomplishment to his resume, who knows what the future holds for him. Will he get to see his championship memories on the walls of Kaseya Center one day? It seems unlikely at this point, but so did knocking the Bucks out of the playoffs two weeks ago. Either way, what Monday’s unforgettable showing should remind us is that there’s no one quite like Jimmy Butler. And that’s a legacy unto itself.
Serious News: nytimes
