Miami Heat’s star forward Jimmy Butler showed his competitive spirit in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics on Friday night. After Celtics’ forward Grant Williams spoke trash to Butler, he responded with a smile and hit his next shot while getting fouled by Williams for a three-point play. This pivotal moment in the game inspired Butler to score nine of his team-high 27 points and push his team to a 24-9 run to win the game 111-105. Butler admitted that the exchange with Williams got him rolling down the stretch. Butler’s teammates were surprised that Williams pushed their star player to that point but were glad he did. Heat guard Caleb Martin said that he knew it would be good for them because he knew that Butler would get going. Williams defended his response to Butler, stating that he wasn’t going to back down from anybody on the floor. Williams expected this type of performance from Butler whether he gave him extra motivation or not. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra loved Butler’s competitiveness, describing him as a real competitor.
Heat’s Winning Mentality
The Miami Heat have a winning mentality that has defined their run through the postseason. No matter what challenges they face, the group always feels like it will find a way to win. Butler and Spoelstra agree on this mantra that has been evident in practice, off-days, and games. The Heat’s roster is full of players who constantly work on their game, study film, and want to win. If anyone on the roster is asked to do something for winning, they will do it. Nobody on the team is dumb and can tell when they are being asked to do something for winning. Spoelstra believes that the Heat’s existence has been the same throughout the year. Every single game has felt like it was ending on the last-second shot, whether they were shooting it or the other team. The Heat has developed grit from these experiences, which turns into confidence.
Heat Takes a Stunning 2-0 Lead in the Series
The Miami Heat took a stunning 2-0 lead in the series against the Boston Celtics with their Game 2 victory. Butler has been arguably the best player in the postseason and has made clutch plays down the stretch. The Heat closed the game with a 24-9 run, stealing a win from the Celtics. The Heat’s winning mentality has been evident throughout the postseason, and they are determined to win it all. The Celtics will have to come back strong in Game 3 to keep their hopes alive.
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