Despite downplaying his Miami return as just another game, Jimmy Butler`s performance on Tuesday night was far from ideal. Scoring only 11 points in a significant 26-point defeat for Golden State was certainly not his intention.
It`s also noteworthy that the Heat displayed unusual vigor in this game, especially considering their recent slump of 10 losses in the previous 11 games. The tribute video for Butler before the game and the somewhat subdued reaction from the Miami fans might have fueled their performance against their former teammate.
Bam Adebayo wasted no time in making his presence felt, dunking on Butler early in the game.
Without Stephen Curry, who is recovering from a fall, the Warriors have now lost two consecutive games, jeopardizing their playoff seeding. Although technically ahead of the Clippers for the No. 6 seed, they share the same number of losses, and the tiebreaker favors Los Angeles.
The Warriors can find some solace in the upcoming schedule with two days of rest and the anticipated return of Curry for the Friday game against New Orleans, which looks like a likely win. Following that, a game against the Spurs also presents a good opportunity for victory. However, these recent losses are critical as the Warriors navigate a precarious path between securing a guaranteed playoff spot and potentially having to fight their way in through the play-in tournament, which is far from certain.
In a single-elimination play-in scenario, anything is possible. If the season ended today, they would face the Timberwolves in the 7-8 matchup. Minnesota, a conference finalist last season with a top player like Anthony Edwards and consistent performances from Julius Randle, would pose a significant challenge. A loss there would lead to another high-stakes game against either Sacramento or Phoenix. Even winning that would pit them against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
This is a situation Golden State would prefer to avoid. They seemed on track for a comfortable playoff berth after winning 15 of their first 18 games with Butler. However, their performance has faltered recently. They suffered a surprising loss to Denver, even with key Nuggets players like Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Christian Braun absent, and now the Hawks and Heat have outscored them by a combined 35 points.
Butler`s contributions to the Warriors have generally been positive, although his occasional struggles to finish at the rim can be frustrating. He has served as a valuable facilitator and stabilizer, bringing a potentially game-changing free-throw threat to the team. However, his scoring has often been understated. In Tuesday`s game, he only scored two points in the first half. By the time he started playing more assertively, the Warriors were already down by 17 points at halftime, and he didn`t score at all in the fourth quarter before being taken out with over seven minutes remaining.
While Butler`s measured approach to the game is admirable, it can sometimes become passive. Even in advantageous positions, he sometimes over-pumps-fakes and has lacked explosiveness on attempts like the one against Kel`el Ware on Tuesday, which was blocked.
It`s important to remember that Butler was not intended to be the primary scorer for this Warriors team. He has proven his ability to excel as a secondary star alongside Curry. The hope remains that “Playoff Jimmy” will emerge when needed because there will likely be moments in the postseason where Golden State will rely on him to take control.
However, on this particular night in Miami, Butler`s passivity, possibly amplified by Adebayo`s defense, was evident in his single free-throw attempt. Consequently, the Warriors as a whole also fell short.
