Jimmy Butler reaction sums him up after Heat win backs up confident comments

05 June 2023 , 09:43

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Jimmy Butler helped guide the Heat to a Game Two win over the Nuggets (Image: NBA)

Miami star Jimmy Butler backed up his pre-game comments as the Heat won Game Two of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets.

"I don't think too much has to be said," Butler said on Saturday before the game, with the NBA star never being short of confidence. "I really don't. Down 0-3, up 3-0. You got to get to four [wins]. So it's never over. Nobody's ever counted out. You got to get to four. Once you get to four, it's over with. So down 0-1, we know we're going to get to four.

"We're in there laughing, in there smiling, knowing that we could play better. We will play better. We have to be better if we want to win. So not too much is said. It's all about what we're going to do."

Butler and Co then narrowly beat Denver on the road with a 108-111 win, with the 33-year-old scoring 21 points, four rebounds, and nine assists. He was part of a well-oiled Heat team that managed to stop Nikola Jokic from clawing his team to a two-game lead, with the Serbian scoring an astonishing 41 points.

It will now be Miami's turn to play host on Wednesday when Denver travel to the Sunshine State. Butler gave his instant reaction when walking out of the arena - and he says Miami are laser-focused on sticking together as a group, as it's what got the eighth seed this far.

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"We're so focused in on what we do well and who we are as a group that at the end of the day, that's what we fall back on," Butler said after Sunday's win.

"Make or miss shots, we're going to be who we are because we're not worried about anybody else. That's how it's been all year long, and that's not going to change."

Butler later added: "They [Miami team-mates] showed up and showed out. So much respect for my guys to stay with it.”

Jimmy Butler scored 21 points while also putting in a defensive shift (Getty)

A large part of Miami's success came down to a change in defensive strategy for stopping Jokic. The two-time NBA MVP scored his usual impressive numbers, but his playmaking ability for others was limited by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's well-drilled team. However, Spoelstra has dismissed assessments that Miami chose to turn Jokic into a shooter to take away his playmaking.

"That's a ridiculous - that's the untrained eye that says something like that," Spoelstra said. "This guy is an incredible player. You know, twice in two seasons he's been the best player on this planet.

"You can't just say, 'Oh, make him a scorer.' That's not how they play. They have so many different actions that just get you compromised.

Denver star Nikola Jokic scored 41 points but his playmaking was cut out by the Heat (Getty)

"We have to focus on what we do. We try to do things the hard way, and he requires you to do many things the hard way. He has our full respect."

Butler also showered his competitor, Jokic, with compliments. "I mean, he's a hell of a player," Butler said. "He passes the ball so incredibly well. Obviously, he can score the ball like he did tonight.

"But when you get the opportunity to turn the ball over and get out into the open floor, I feel as though we have to do that, and we did a decent job of that today."

Joshua Mbu