Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat eliminated the number one seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. One would assume, the Heat’s next opponent won’t give them much trouble.
The Heat are all set to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, a well-known Knicks supporter, believes that Butler will ‘go down’ against his favorite team.
“New York is a different animal, baby,” Smith said. “Jimmy has been to a lot of stages. Hell, he went to the finals, he was in the conference finals last season. But when you come to the Garden, it’s a different beast. We gonna find out. Remember, although he was a different player then, he was coached in Chicago by Tom Thibodeau. He was coached in Minnesota by Tom Thibodeau. The point that I’m trying to make to you is, we understand that this coach is familiar with Jimmy Butler.
“Now, Jimmy Butler might be familiar with him too. All I’m trying to say to you is this – there is a reason to fear Jimmy Butler, but that will only elevate the level of focus and commitment that is necessary to take him down. And he will go down, in this series. The Garden is a different animal. New York gonna handle their business because they fear Jimmy Butler respectfully enough that they will key on him in ways that Milwaukee inexplicably never did.”
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"[Jimmy Butler] will go down in this series. The Garden is a different animal."@stephenasmith is riding with the Knicks vs. the Heat ✍️ pic.twitter.com/oWtjmbtK36
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 27, 2023
Stephen A. Smith is certain that the New York Knicks will defeat Jimmy Butler in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The biggest reason behind Smith’s assessment is the fact that Butler was coached by the Knicks’ current coach, Tom Thibodeau, earlier in his career. It would give an advantage to the Knicks, who have advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Stephen A. Smith Issued A Warning To The Knicks
The biggest mistake that the Milwaukee Bucks made was underestimating Jimmy Butler’s ceiling in the playoffs.
Over the years, Butler has always shifted gears in the postseason. Stephen A. Smith is aware of it. So while he believes that Butler would go down at the Madison Square Garden, he still issued a warning to the Knicks.
“Jimmy Butler is a superstar in the playoffs,” Smith said. “He is something special, and he’s a rough rider. He’s a dog. He’s not one of those people that’s just trying to win. He wants to come to Gotham City, the Mecca, Madison Square Garden, and ruin everything for New Yorkers. That’s what he want to do. That’s the kind of spirit he got. We have to stop this man.”
Butler averaged 37.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, and 0.4 BPG. He achieved these numbers while shooting 59.7% from the field and 44.4% from the three-point line. If the Knicks are not careful, Butler could destroy them.
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