Playoff Jimmy and the White-Hot Heat up 3-1
There isn’t a single way you could convince me that anyone knew what was in store for us when we tuned in to see Jimmy Butler and the short-staffed Heat take on the Milwaukee Bucks and newly-returned Giannis Antetokounmpo. In what was a game that fully controlled by the Bucks, everything began to fall apart once the contest began to near its conclusion. In what was a marvel of playoff basketball, Jimmy Butler put up the 4th most points in a playoff game ever with 56 (also a career-high), just one point shy of being tied with Donovan Mitchell’s 57-point detonation in the Bubble. Here is an excellent video from the NBA Twitter that shows how explosive he truly was. He joins Hall of Fame players Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Charles Barkley, who also put up 56-point playoff games in their illustrious careers.
While the Heat had many players that were responsible for setting each other up and creating key defensive plays, the spotlight was squarely on Butler, who started the game hot with 22 points in the first quarter(!), and revved his performance back up once we returned from the half. The Bucks found themselves in the driver seat all game, and even had some stellar performances of their own, despite the attention being on Jimmy. Giannis managed to put up a triple-double in the loss, and Brook Lopez put up an immense 36 points as he attacked in the post. Milwaukee’s ability to suffocate an offense is immaculate, and if it weren’t for a career performance, they would have won this game and headed back home tied at 2-2. The whole team played well defensively as the game progressed, particularly Holiday and Lopez ,until the team collapse late in the 4th quarter.
Milwaukee Bucks Stars of the Game
Giannis Antetokounmpo (26 PTS, 13 AST, 10 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK), Brook Lopez (36 PTS, 11 REB, 2 STL, 3 BLK), Jrue Holiday (14 PTS, 4 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK)
This Milwaukee performance, including Giannis’ triple-double and Brook Lopez’s staggering 36 points, will be forgotten or be used to further how impressive it was for Miami and Butler to pull this game from the jaws of defeat. In a dialogue that has not fully been discussed yet, this Miami win is even more impressive considering their loss in the Play-In, and their current status as 3-1 as the underdog in the 1-8 seed matchup. After harassing Milwaukee defensively all game (forcing 3 Milwaukee starters to shoot around 33%, and less than 33% from 3 as a team), they opened up several opportunities to punish the opposing team on the break and in transition. This wear-and-tear defense led to the late-game Bucks collapse, all the while being fueled offensively by Butler, and in the final 6 minutes outscoring Milwaukee 30-13 to put the nail into the coffin.
“We didn’t make enough plays on either end,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “And they did.”
Coach Budenholzer on the final 6 minutes of regulation
Butler and the Heat now pack their bags and leave for Milwaukee with their 3-1 series lead in tow. They will hope to steal at least one more game from the top-seeded Bucks, who themselves will be playing with their backs against the wall. The Bucks will be hard pressed to regain any sort of control over the series, and won’t do so unless they force a Game 7 in Milwaukee. What will make this harder is trying to stop “Playoff Jimmy”, who is coming off of one of the most historic performances in playoff history. 20-straight points to end the 1st quarter? 22 points in a quarter (most since D-Wade in Miami)? 4th most points in a playoff game? Shooting 68% on 19-28? Playoff Jimmy isn’t a joke, and we’ve seen it time and time again. The Ball-Father staff weren’t wrong about the Miami Heat, we were wrong about Jimmy Butler. On a team comprised of mostly undrafted players, Jimmy Butler has been able to shoulder the full load of what is needed to win, and his team is just there to support him. Playing great defense when it matters, staying quick on the break, and shooting great splits are all hallmarks of what has made Miami great in their previous playoff runs. Can they do it again? We don’t know, but with Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, and Jimmy Butler all locked in for the playoffs, we know anyone would be scared to play them.
“We knew what we were capable of, even if nobody outside of this building, outside of this roster and outside of this organization believed in us…that’s fine. We just want to continue to do what we know is possible.”
Butler after the game
For the Heat, there is only 1 player we can really highlight with a breakdown.
Miami Heat Star of the Game & Player of the Game
Jimmy Butler (56 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK, 19-28 FG, 3-8 3PT, 15-18 FT)
LeBron Gives Brooks and Memphis 40 to go 3-1
If there was a list of things not to do in the NBA and in nature, poking the bear is perhaps one of the most dangerous activities you could get up to, and would top the list. Unfortunately for Dillon Brooks and the Memphis Grizzlies, their poke turned on them in the worst way possible. The bear in question, you may ask? Oh, just 4-time Champion, 4-time Finals MVP, 4x MVP, 19x All-Star, 18x All-NBA selection, and ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER LeBron Raymone James Sr. That is the bear in question, and there’s even more accolades that would simply take too long to type and would take up up too much space if I were to add each one.
“I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”
Dillon Brooks on LeBron James after Memphis’ Game 2 Win
With that being said, the game went back-and-forth all night, particularly around the half, as the Grizzlies finished the 1st half on a run that would see them in a 2-point deficit after trailing for more earlier. once we resumed from the break, the lead would would change hands many times, all culminating in a clutch James layup over Jaren Jackson Jr to send the game into overtime (coming just moments after Desmond Bane hit a tiebreaker himself).
The 4th quarter and overtime looked much different than the rest of the game. Key players stepped to the plate, and we had performances such as Desmond Bane’s 14 4th quarter points, Anthony Davis’ block on Morant’s attempted game-winner, LeBron’s shot to send it to OT, and sharpshooting by D’Angelo Russell. Russell and Austin Reaves were both vital in late-game scenarios that required them to score, and along with Dennis Schroder, hit game-saving free throws to keep the Lakers above water. LeBron James also had another clutch and-1 in overtime to help pad the lead and keep things out of reach for the Grizzlies.
“He just took over down the stretch… got us a bucket to get to overtime…. All our guys, it was a good team effort. This team is not going to go away.”
Anthony Davis on LeBron James and the Lakers’ contributions
Defense also played a major part in overtime for Los Angeles. After allowing many Grizzlies runs, they managed to plug the holes in their protections to cause Memphis to begin overtime shooting 2-8 and commit two big turnovers. This same defense is what allowed Los Angeles to stop the high-powered Desmond Bane in overtime, and kept him scoreless as he continued to try and carry the offense.
For Memphis, they head back home being down 3-1 to a veteran Lakers team. After sustaining losses due to injury prior to the playoffs in Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies’ Superstar Ja Morant is also nursing an injury on his dominant hand. Time will tell if Memphis is able take on this challenge and come back from 3-1 against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, but things are dire. They will need a huge game from the whole team to put themselves into a 3-2 position, repeat it on the road, and hope that they can bring the final game back to Memphis to advance. One thing is for sure, after a tumultuous season for the team, Morant, and Dillon Brooks, the Memphis Grizzlies will be left with a lot of questions if their season does end early to the underdog Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies Stars of the Game
Ja Morant (19PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST), Desmond Bane (36 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST), Jaren Jackson Jr. (14 PTS, 14 REB, 1 AST, 5 BLK)
For Los Angeles, they head to Memphis after securing a 3-1 series lead by staying undefeated at home. They do so after winning the play-in and punching above their weight class as the 7 seed, and after LeBron James’ 20 PT – 20 REB performance to give Dillon Brooks his 40, the team’s morale is higher than ever. Los Angeles will 3 opportunities to put Memphis away for good, and to shock analysts who had them losing to the Grizzlies. As they seek to end this series, all eyes should be on Anthony Davis as the Lakers progress. After leaving Game 1 early before returning with a stinger, AD has not been stellar this series, and will need to be at his best if the Lakers move on to play either the Sacramento Kings or the Golden State Warriors in the next round.
“I just try to be as great as I can be offensively, but more importantly on the defensive end,” James said. “That was the mindset tonight. I was able to make a couple of plays. … My teammates told me I had 20 and 20. It’s the first time I’ve done it in my career, so that’s pretty cool, I guess.”
LeBron James on his performance
Los Angeles Lakers Star of the Game & Player of the Game
LeBron James (22 PTS, 20 REB, 7 AST, 2 BLK)
Spencer Wood 