Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is taking the playoffs day-by-day. After all, he knows very well that he can't focus too much on what happened in the past and what will happen in the future as they try to return to the NBA Finals.
Butler and the Heat demolished the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday to take Game 1 of their first round playoffs series. The 32-year-old forward put up 21 points to help Miami defeat Atlanta, 115-91, while Duncan Robinson led the way with 27.
It was a great effort all around for Miami, especially as they also shut down the biggest threat on the other end in Trae Young. Ice Trae went ice cold in the contest and finished with just eight points on 1-of-12 shooting from the field.
After the victory, though, Butler highlighted why he doesn't want to get too caught up in the moment. The job is far from over for the Heat, and it's only Game 1 with plenty more matches to be played in the series.
“We don't even think about the past, we just worry about today…and then when midnight hits we forget about this one and then we get ready for the next one and get ready to get better come tomorrow,” Butler said of the playoffs.
That is certainly the right mentality the Heat need right now. While they reached the NBA Finals in 2020, they failed to win it all. However, they really shouldn't be thinking about that right now with a new opportunity presenting itself to them.
After topping the Eastern Conference, they know they have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. As Butler mentioned, nonetheless, they have to do it one game at a time.
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