Butler looking like 2020 Finals version. And how this shapes view of Heat’s big decision
Perhaps in four years, when the Heat is paying Jimmy Butler $52.4 million, some will ask why the franchise acquiesced to his request for a max contract extension last summer.
But do you know how Butler makes that decision a good one, regardless of whether his high-odometer body betrays him in a few years?
By essentially replicating what he did in the NBA’s Orlando bubble, when he very much looked like one of the NBA’s top dozen players, and doing it again next spring and then the following April and May.
The Butler of the early stages of these 2021-22 playoffs - the one who has pushed the Heat to this 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Hawks - very much resembles that immaculate Butler, not the one who averaged 14.5 points and shot 29.7 percent in Miami’s meek four-game drubbing by the Milwaukee Bucks last postseason.
He’s looked like Jimmy Brilliant through two games, following Sunday’s 21 point, six rebound, three steal Game 1 with a masterpiece in Game 2: a playoff-career high 45 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
“Jimmy Freaking Butler,” TNT’s Charles Barkley declared afterward.
He had the signature play of Tuesday’s game, stealing a pass and dunking to push Miami’s lead to nine with just over five minutes left. Then in the final three minutes, he unleashed his own personal 7-0 run, driving for a dunk, nailing a three-pointer and then pushing the lead to 10 with a driving reverse layup.
“He was making shots,” Hawks forward DeAndre Hunter said. “It doesn’t matter what the defense is doing. When you’re in a zone like that, it’s tough.”
Butler - not Trae Young - has been the best player on the court through two games, and it hasn’t been close.
His decision, late in the season, to take more threes seemed dubious, but Butler has made it work because he’s not overdoing it. What’s important is that he’s still driving to the basket far more than launching threes.
Butler - who scored 21 points in the first half on Tuesday - finished at 23.3 percent on threes during the season (a dreadful 27 for 116) but entered Tuesday having hit 9 of his past 21. He made 4 of 7 on Tuesday.
He shot 15 for 25 from the field and 11 of 12 from the line in Game 2.
“I’m in a groove; I’m comfortable,” he said. Heat assistant coach Chris “Quinn told me to be a killer, score as many points as possible.”
The Heat’s decision last summer to extend Butler at $45.2 million in 2023-24, $48.8 million in 2024-25 and that $52.4 million in 2025-26 might feel regrettable if Butler’s body breaks down from wear and tear by the middle of the decade. Butler, earning $36 million this season, sat out 25 games this season, and he will be 36 when this contract ends.
But Miami didn’t want an unhappy Butler, and Butler would have been very unhappy without the extension, according to a source.
Pat Riley loves Butler and the Heat determined early last summer that the upside of a happy, productive Butler over these next few years outweighed any potential pain of paying the exorbitant salaries in his mid 30s.
If Butler plays like this over the next three postseasons, and spearheads deep playoff runs in at least two of them - as he did in 2020 - then there shouldn’t be any buyer’s remorse about this contract even if the body falters or the skills erode in the final two years of this deal.
Butler averaged 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists against the Lakers in those 2020 Finals, and he’s looked every bit as good in this series.
“Part of it is he has shooters around him,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said after the game. “A lot of times the defense is hugging the perimeter and it’s giving him opportunities to play one on one. And tonight, I thought he took advantage of that. He did a good job creating and found a rhythm and stayed aggressive. We didn’t have an answer for guarding him.”
Butler said “I’m different player now than I was” in the Orlando bubble because he’s looking to score more and “I’m not as ball dominant as I was in the bubble. We have a point guard with Kyle [Lowry]. Same thing with Gabe [Vincent]. It’s better this way.”
If Games 1 and 2 Butler is a harbinger of Playoff Jimmy for the next few years, no matter what Butler is at 36, you can chalk up the contract to the price of doing business in today’s NBA.
While Butler thrives, this has been a frustrating start to the series for Bam Adebayo.
There was no concealing Adebayo’ disappointment about not finishing in the top three for Defensive Player of the Year. His reaction was real, raw and justified.
But here’s an idea: How about he takes out his frustration on the Hawks?
Let’s be real here: Adebayo needs to dominate an undersized opponent missing starting center Clint Capela, the NBA’s leading rebounder two years ago. Burdened by foul trouble, Adebayo logged just 23 minutes on Tuesday, closing with nine points, four rebounds and four turnovers. John Collins, playing out of position at center, had 13 points and 10 boards in 29 minutes for Atlanta.
With Capela sidelined at least three first three games with a knee injury and likely beyond, the Hawks started backup Oyeka Okongwu in Game 1 and used power forward Collins at center to open Game 2. Before Sunday, Collins hadn’t played since March 11 because of assorted injuries.
Capela was fourth in the league in rebounds at 11.9 per game this season.
Erik Spoelstra angrily spelled out an expletive when he incorrectly thought an ESPN reporter was questioning Adebayo’s lack of scoring in Game 1, when he closed with six points, six rebounds and four turnovers in 28 minutes.
But this isn’t necessarily about scoring. This is about imposing his will on a short-handed opponent, dominating the boards and playing like the All Star we’ve seen at times.
With the referees calling the game a lot tighter, Adebayo left with his third foul with 2:39 left in the first half.
He opened the second half by allowing Collins to soar for a follow-up dunk, and then picked up his fourth foul when he tried to post up Collins. He then departed with 10:38 left in the third quarter and didn’t return until 8:33 remained in the fourth quarter and the Heat up 14.
He immediately committed a turnover and then badly missed a jumper before dunking.
Adebayo’s contributions can’t be measured in a traditional box score, because of the defensive impact that doesn’t reflect itself statistically. His defense, as usual, has been very good.
The Heat hasn’t needed dominant Bam through two games. Friday would be a good time, in a hostile environment, for that Bam to make an appearance.
This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 10:07 PM.
