We are certainly not completely back in the 90s, with the battles of trenches in rules that were delivered at the time the Knicks and the Heat. But, under the gaze of former local glories such as John Starks and Latrell Sprewell, present at the Garden, the Knicks gave everything to stay alive in the series, like the image of the determined interception of Quentin Grimes on Jimmy Butler in the last quarter, or this other interception from Julius Randle in the last seconds to seal the victory for New York (112-103).
In this bitter Eastern Conference semi-final, the two teams throw all their forces into battle, with Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes who spent the 48 minutes of the match on the floor, the first players of Tim Thibodeau not to have the slightest break for a certain… Jimmy Butler in 2014 in Chicago!
43 minutes of play with a damaged ankle…
Opposite, the Heat also offered a hell of a fight, like Jimmy Butler’s 43 minutes, although diminished as his ankle turned several times.
“I wanted to release it at some point”, breath Erik Spoelstra. “But that last quarter was probably our best quarter ever on both ends of the pitch, and I wanted to see if we could get the lead back and tip the dynamics of the game in our favour. But we never managed to do it…”
Returned to -4 and even -3 in the last quarter, in the ideal scenario of the game of laggards ready to carry out the hold-up on the outside, the Heat certainly won the last quarter (29-28) but they did not actually failed to pass the course, despite the efforts of Jimmy Butler, to 19 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds.
“They kind of stopped our aggression because we made too many mistakes”lamented Jimmy Butler on yahoo. “It’s our fault, it’s not their fault… We just have to do better defensively, we have to stay in front of the ball carrier, not look for interception so much, contest shots, all the little things . This can easily be corrected. We have to fix that if we want to win. »
An epic duel against Quentin Grimes
In clear lack of external address, with a small 13/43 at 3-points, Miami could on the other hand count on a major contribution from its bench (42 to 8), with Duncan Robinson at 17 points or Caleb Martin at 11 units . Like Jimmy Butler held at 5/12 shooting, the holders of the Heat lacked teeth to unbalance the defense of the Knicks.
“He’s probably the best player in these playoffs so far. Just having to defend against him in every game, I know I have to be a little more disciplined.” concedes for his part Quentin Grimes. “Whether I play 48 or 25 minutes, it doesn’t matter in the end. I just have to make sure I’m focused defensively, and do everything I can to slow him down. »
Below his stellar performances in these playoffs (33 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) last night with his first game concluded in his twenties, Jimmy Butler did not however leave the slightest doubt on the favorable outcome of this series for his squad of veterans. Miami undoubtedly missed a great opportunity to close the deal in Gotham yesterday, but the veteran Heat already know what they need to do to make it right.
“We have to keep taking those shots. And we’re going to get them! », concludes a still confident Jimmy Butler. “Nothing surprises me anymore in the playoffs. You have to give your best for 48 minutes and more, if there is extra time. If Spo wants me to play 48 minutes, I would be ready to do so. And we will win [le Game 6] ! »
| Jimmy Butler | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 42 | 9 | 40.5 | 18.2 | 76.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 82 | 26 | 46.7 | 38.1 | 80.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.6 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 67 | 39 | 39.7 | 28.3 | 76.9 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 65 | 39 | 46.2 | 37.8 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 67 | 37 | 45.5 | 31.1 | 83.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHI | 76 | 37 | 45.5 | 36.7 | 86.5 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 23.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 59 | 37 | 47.4 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 65 | 34 | 46.2 | 34.7 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 55 | 33 | 46.1 | 33.8 | 86.8 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 10 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.8 | 78.7 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 21.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 58 | 34 | 45.5 | 24.4 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 24.5 | 86.3 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 57 | 34 | 48.0 | 23.3 | 87.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 21.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 64 | 33 | 53.9 | 35.0 | 85.0 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 22.9 |
| Total | 754 | 33 | 46.8 | 32.2 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 18.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
