The Miami Heat have lost home court in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics after losing Game 5 in convincing fashion, 93-80. The Heat put on an awful performance offensively, particularly in the second half. However, after the game, Heat superstar Jimmy Butler looked to inspire confidence in his team.
When asked about the upcoming Game 6, Butler had five simple words. “I know we can win,” Butler said.
“We know we can win” – Jimmy Butler on Game 6 pic.twitter.com/ay2g0nw50n
— Greg Sylvander (@GregSylvander) May 26, 2022
If that is going to happen, it will have to happen on the road at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Miami already won there, winning Game 3 in a close ball game. They jumped out to a 21-point lead at the end of the first quarter and held on late, as Boston had cut the deficit to a single point in the fourth quarter.
But not only does the Heat have to win on the road, they are going to need a lot better play from Butler and his supporting cast.
Since Butler injured his knee in Game 3 of this series, he's been dreadful.
Jimmy Butler since his injury in Game 3:
9.5 PPG
7-32 FG (21.9%)
1-7 3P (14.3%) pic.twitter.com/SgXthNfYvO— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 26, 2022
Miami's best player has shot just 7-for-32 (21.9 percent) from the floor, averaging 9.5 points per game. It's hard to know if it's Butler's knee that has caused him to slow down so much, or the Celtics defense.
Boston has looked much bigger and do a great job protecting the paint. If anyone had any question about that, just ask Kevin Durant.
But it wasn't just Butler that was terrible Wednesday. The starting backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Max Strus were a combined 0-for-15. That's the worst “0-for” for a starting backcourt since that stat began being tracked in 1970. That obviously will need to change if the Heat are to have any chance in Game 6.
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