Celtics vs. Heat: Grant Williams poked the wrong bear, and Jimmy Butler ate him alive in Boston’s Game 2 loss

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There’s a strong argument to be made that Jimmy Butler was going to eat the Celtics alive down the stretch of Game 2 no matter what. The man is borderline possessed right now. 

Still, a couple of things didn’t help Boston’s cause in a 111-105 loss that puts them in an 0-2 deficit with the series headed to Miami on Sunday. First, Joe Mazzulla decided to single cover Butler. Even with the benefit of hindsight, I don’t necessarily disagree with the strategy. 

I watch defenses cut their own throat night after night by over-helping off shooters. Taking the reactionary guesswork out of that equation and just keeping everyone attached to their assignment, forcing Butler to make contested shots time and again, is at least a defensible plan. 

But talking trash to Butler as he’s doing it? That is just, shall we say, unwise. We all get that these guys are competitors and this is the heat of a massive moment. But Butler is on fire right now. Throwing gas on him, as Grant Williams did with 6:25 to play in the fourth quarter, isn’t just asking for trouble. It’s begging for it. 

As it happened, Williams, who has been out of Boston’s rotation (he didn’t play one minute in Game 1), has just hit a 3-pointer. On his way back down the court, he started yapping in Butler’s ear. Check out the look on Butler’s face.

“He hit a big shot. Started talking to me. I like that. I’m all for that. It makes me key in a lot more. It pushes that will to win that I have a lot more. And it makes me smile. It does,” Butler said. “When people talk to me, I’m like, ‘OK, I know I’m a decent player, if you want to talk to me out of everyone that you can talk to?’ But it’s just competition. I do respect [Williams] though. He’s a big part of what they try to do. He switches. He can shoot the ball. I just don’t know if I’m the best person to talk to.”

The man ain’t lying. After Williams poked the bear, Butler bulldozed him for an old-fashioned 3-point play on the ensuing possession and the two wound up forehead to forehead. 

Including that Butler bucket, the…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-vs-heat-grant-williams-poked-the-wrong-bear-and-jimmy-butler-ate-him-alive-in-bostons-game-2-loss/

Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2023-05-20 16:11:10

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