Following a timeout, the Heat had one final opportunity to come away with the win. But Jimmy Butler missed a contested fadeaway three-pointer as the final buzzer sounded.
I don’t understand Erik Spoelstra, normally so good in coming out with a great opportunity off a timeout. He calls a shot for Butler, who has not been good taking last shots! We only needed a two. Get the ball to Jimmy and let him drive. He’ll make the shot or get fouled or feed Bam or kick to an outside shooter. Jimmy is excellent in the paint. That should have been the play. Instead, it was get the ball to Jimmy and let him free lance. He is not even very good from three, yet that is where he went.
The play was designed for him all the way. Here he is doing a weave, losing one defender as Bam is about to set a pick on another guy for him. Designed to free Jimmy up. Gabe Vincent is going to try to get him the ball at the foul line or at the top of the key.
He gets the ball deep, at the edge of the half-court circle but the "Hawk's" are playing him man-to-man! Perfect for his skill set. Look at the empty acres in the middle. In these screen grabs you can see the "Hawk" in the paint. He is moving away from the middle. The "Hawk" at top center has his head turned to make sure that PJ doesn't get free for another three. The "Hawk" at bottom center has one eye on Butler, the other on Vincent. The middle is open! In other words, all of this is confirming that the "Hawks" are playing man on Jimmy. Drive!
And the judges award him no points.