Despite the Miami Heat losing Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Jimmy Butler admitted that Udonis Haslem's emotional speech during the game helped the team.
To recall, Haslem gave his teammates an earful during a timeout in the third quarter of the contest as the Heat was playing catch up all night long. Miami did respond with a better showing in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 39-35, but their efforts were too little, too late to mount a comeback.
Despite that, Butler clearly appreciated Haslem's fire and desire to motivate the team. In fact, after the contest, he told reporters that Udonis should cuss before games to give the team an early push, per Malika Andrews of ESPN.
Jimmy Butler said he responded to this speech, but noted that it shouldn't take that to light a fire. "We have to do it from the jump."
"Maybe he should just start the game off cussing people out," he joked. https://t.co/KJTAARihLD— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) October 3, 2020
Down 2-0 in the series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, the storyline for the Eastern Conference champions has been the injuries that have plagued them since Game 1. The Heat lost both Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo in Game 1, with the former still doubtful to even return in the series.
Nonetheless, as Jimmy Butler noted after their Finals opener, they are not using the injuries as an excuse and emphasized the Heat should compete every minute they play the Lakers. Butler has averaged 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.5 steal in the first two games of the NBA Finals, but it is evident he needs to produce more than that and be “perfect” for them to stage a comeback against the mighty Purple and Gold.
It remains to be seen if Dragic and Adebayo will be able to play in Game 3 on Sunday, but Miami will certainly need Udonis Haslem's voice as they try to stay alive in the series.
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