Heat star Jimmy Butler said “Playoff Jimmy” is no different than the player he is the rest of the time. The comments came after he erupted for 56 points in the Heat’s come-from-behind win over the Bucks in Game 4 of their playoff series.
“It’s not a thing,” he said, laughing, via Jamal Collier of ESPN. “It’s not. I just be hooping.”
Miami had to battle its way into the playoffs by way of the play-in tournament. The Heat are the eighth seed, yet lead their series vs. the top-seeded Bucks by a 3-1 count. Teams with 3-1 leads go on to win the series 95 percent of the time.
Butler is the Heat’s best hope to do exactly that.
“I love the competitive aspect of [the playoffs],” Butler said, via Collier. “This is where all the best players, they show up and they show out. I’m not saying I’m one of those best players; I just want to be looked at as such.
“I want to do everything for my team to win, along with everybody on this roster. I think [team president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra] wanted me here for a reason. I feel like this is part of that reason.”
Butler was a remarkable 19-of-28 from the field, and did most of his damage from the mid-range — making just three 3-pointers on the way to his record night.
All of it helped the Heat overcome a 101-89 lead with 6:08 to go in the game.
“For 40 minutes of this game, it was frustrating. … It just shows you that when you have the right grit and perseverance, you can win,” Spoelstra told reporters. “And then it always helps to have a guy like him.”
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