In the last two Game 7s he’s played, Jimmy Butler’s seasons came down to some thrilling shots. In Toronto in 2019, he was on the losing end of Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce three that sent the Raptors to the East finals. On Sunday, Butler took matters into his own hands. With the Heat trailing 98–96 after a ferocious, late-game stampede, Jimmy rebounded a Marcus Smart miss, scooted the ball past halfcourt, saw a dropping Al Horford, and with about 15 seconds to go, pulled up for a right-wing three in transition. He front rimmed it. And Miami couldn’t complete its improbable comeback.
Should Butler have driven to the rim? Could he have drawn a foul on Horford? Could he have created a better shot by trying to draw the defense into the paint? These are all questions Heat fans will wonder during a torturous offseason. Though Jimmy’s shot may not have been the most statistically sound play considering his iffy long-distance jumper, after the playoffs he put together, he had every right to go for the win.
