This was before Jimmy Butler started trolling. This was as Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was finishing off his pregame interview Tuesday and the subject turned to whether Butler should take a more aggressive bent considering his remarkable season-long efficiency.
Understand, this also was before Butler did not attempt a single shot in the first quarter Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons, not even an attempt that drew a foul. This also was before Butler attempted only a single shot in the second period, a missed layup with 1:41 left before halftime in what would turn into a scramble of a victory.
But even then, Spoelstra wasn’t biting.
“We’re both abundantly on the same page about his assertiveness and aggressiveness, and the whole team is, as well,” Spoelstra said. “We don’t want him to defer at all. He’s ridiculously efficient and he’s been getting more efficient every single year. I think he has just a better feel for how we want to play and what’s effective for us and with his teammates and all of that.
“So many of his nights look like a misprint in the box score when he’s able to score 30-plus points on less than 15 shot attempts. He’s done that several times this year. I think that should be a case study for young players coming into this league. It’s not about volume. It’s about your impact on winning and you don’t need to take 22 shots to score and really dominate offensively the way he’s able to.”
It was as if Spoelstra knew what was coming.
So he continued his thought.
“I think he reads the game marvelously well and what’s needed, gets guys involved, as well,” Spoelstra said. “He does that spectacularly well.”
So yes, Spoelstra seemingly knew what was coming.
As it continued to go sideways, Butler attempted four shots in the third period for seven points.
By then he had eight assists. But by then, it also became apparent he would be required for more than setting the table.
So in the fourth quarter: 7 of 7 from the field, 4 of 4 from the line, 18 points for Butler in a 38-point Heat quarter and a 118-115 victory that kept the Heat hopes for higher seeding alive for another night.
“If you can’t appreciate how many different things he does to impact winning, you’re just really not paying attention to all the aspects of the game,” Spoelstra said. “He does it as a legit two-way player. He does it on both ends of the court.”
During his postgame media session, before the Heat turned their attention to Thursday night’s nationally televised game against the Philadelphia 76ers on the second stop of this three-game trip that concludes Friday night against the Washington Wizards, Spoelstra then had a little fun of his own.
“He really reminds me of somebody when he gets in that mode down the stretch. I am not going to say who that is. I did mention it to him. I’ll let you guys figure that out,” Spoelstra said.
“I’m not mentioning it. It was a private moment between Jimmy and I. I’ve seen it a few times. But going down the stretch, tonight it just really reminded me of somebody else. But he’s his own guy, that’s for sure. He’s just a really good basketball player and I’m grateful he’s on our side.”
Message received. And acknowledged that the reference was to Heat icon and Butler friend Dwyane Wade.
“It’s like a blessing and a curse,” Butler said of the Wade comparison. “Because he is without a doubt one of the greats, as you see the news of him being in the Hall of Fame. But then it’s like every time you do anything, that’s who you get compared to. And I love him to death. But my goodness, it’s hard to be compared to him every step of the way. But like I said, it is a blessing, as well.”
As for his approach in Detroit, which bordered on passive-aggressive for how it began and how it finished, Butler said, “I like to pass the ball and move the ball, get my guys involved. And then if I need to score, I feel like I can score whenever I need to.”
All with measured efficiency, with Butler exiting Tuesday night’s game at .537 from the field and .851 from the line for the season, with 334 assists to 101 turnovers.
“He’s the epitome of being a chess player of manipulating the game and helping guys be in a great position to play well,” Spoelstra said.
And then, at the end, getting his own when needed.
“I don’t care who scores, I don’t care who’s rebounding the basketball,” said Butler, who led the Heat with eight rebounds against the Pistons. “We just need to win as a unit.”
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