After another monster performance from Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler
praises were coming from everywhere on social media. People are
once again marveling at the big game exploits of Big Game Jimmy.
That seems to be the common reaction to Jimmy Butler’s epic 45-point
game performance Tuesday night in a 115-105 Game 2 victory over the
Atlanta Hawks.
This is playoff Jimmy. He is a very good player who takes it up a
notch or two in prime-time playoff basketball.
Butler, who is at least a candidate to make an All-Defensive Team for
a sixth time in nine seasons, is best when the lights are the
brightest. Much like his Miami Heat predecessors Dwayne Wade and
Lebron James when it comes to Heat history.
In Game 2, Butler finished with 45 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a
pair of steals, He subtly patrolled the Heat’s defensive secondary,
manipulating Atlanta’s guards to lob seemingly-out-of-range alley-oops
that were detected and slapped toward a Miami teammate to initiate a
break.
Butler shot 15 of 25 from the field, 4 of 7 from three and 11 of 12 on
three throws. When the team needed a bucket, Butler delivered, solving
the Heat’s late-game issues for the night — a question that made many
hesitant to label Miami as a true contender despite being the No.
1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat are loaded with guys who can suddenly erupt for 30 on any
given night , Miami will probably not need another 45-pointer from
Butler, so long as the team defends to or near its capabilities as the
series shifts to Atlanta for game 3 on Friday.
The Jimmy Butler era is far from over but when it is all said and
done, he will undoubtedly be in that category labeled, the greatest
players in Miami Heat history.
