Jimmy Butler helped the Miami Heat pull off the improbable by eliminating the #1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the postseason itself. However, following a 35-point Game 1 outing in the Eastern Conference Finals, the 6-foot-7 forward is yet to put up a high-scoring stat line. Even though Butler has been averaging 27.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the 2023 playoffs, the two-way star is yet to replicate his performance against the Bucks. Calling Jimmy’s iconic 56-point display a ‘distant memory’, Skip Bayless expresses his frustrations towards the ECF MVP’s inability to take over games.
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Supporting the underdog, Bayless picked the Florida side to be the Eastern Conference champs. Despite witnessing the Denver Nuggets dominate the West, the Fox Sports analyst went on to choose Erik Spoelstra’s boys as his favorites to win the 2023 championship.
Over the past several contests, the UNDISPUTED host has been longing to see “Playoff Jimmy”. With the Heat trailing the Nuggets in Game 4 of the series, the 71-year-old has expressed those same desires again.
“56-Point Jimmy Butler Is A Distant Memory”: Skip Bayless wants to see Jimmy Butler play as he did in the first round vs the Bucks
All postseason long, despite supporting the Miami Heat, the former Chicago Tribune columnist has been critical of Butler’s game.
Even today, during an action-packed Game 4, the veteran NBA talking head vented out his frustrations on Twitter.
Initially, after Jimmy recorded a 9-point 1st quarter outing on 80% shooting, Skip lauded him for the same.
He would then go on to berate the 6-time All-Star for his inability to take over the game as he did against Giannis Antetokounmpo and co.
To be fair, Butler has been playing his tail off. Having played almost the entirety of the battle, the 33-year-old has been causing problems for Mike Malone’s boys on the defensive end.
Really, while the All-Star duo of Bam Adebayo and Jimmy have been decent, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Gabe Vincent’s awful production have been taking a toll on the Heat’s chances. And it’s something that needs to be rectified before it’s too late.
Jimmy’s productivity has decreased since injuring his ankle
The Marquette alum lodged 37.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the series against the Wisconsin-based franchise.
After recording 25/11/4 in Game 1 of the second round, Butler sustained an ankle injury that would cause him to miss Game 2.
Since the injury, Butler’s productivity has taken a nosedive, as Butler has only recorded 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists from that point on.
Down 1-3 in the NBA finals now, Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat will have to produce one of the most sensational playoff performances in order to upset Nikola Jokic and Co. However, given that only LeBron James and his 2016 Cavaliers team have come back from such a deficit in the NBA Finals, it could finally be curtains for the Heat.
