Despite entering the 2020 NBA playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat embarked on a remarkable run to the Finals before falling short to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
But there are those who still believe that Miami’s run to the Finals was a fluke, especially with other teams in the conference retooling their roster during the short offseason. But Heat forward Jimmy Butler has apparently heard all their talk, and doesn’t care for it.
Jimmy Butler on theory that Heat were a fluke:
"I don't really pay attention to the outside. They're not in here. They don't have Miami across their chest…. Me of all people, I couldn't care less what the outside thinks."
— Five Reasons Sports (@5ReasonsSports) December 7, 2020
This defiant statement is typical of Butler, who averaged 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 2.2 steals on 55.2% shooting from the field and 30.8% from three-point range in the Finals and played some of his best basketball against LeBron, James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers.
In Game 3 of the Finals, he finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 115-104 Miami win, and head another triple-double in Game 5, as he ended up with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 111-108 win.
But despite the Finals' loss, it’s difficult to dismiss what the Heat was able to accomplish inside the NBA Bubble. After sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the first round, Miami took down the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Semifinals, which was led by MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the Conference Finals, they outlasted the Boston Celtics, which also had a pair of All Stars in Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum.
After the loss to the Lakers, Butler made a bold statement that the Heat will be back in the Finals, and it seems as if the five-time All Star is sticking by that statement and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
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