Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon laid out the challenges of guarding Jimmy Butler ahead of their NBA Finals skirmish against the Miami Heat.
Per Nuggets reporter Harrison Wind, “Aaron Gordon says Jimmy Butler is a much different matchup compared to his other playoff assignments.” He also added what Gordon had to say “Jimmy does everything. He does all of the intangible things. He plays the game within the game.”
Aaron Gordon says Jimmy Butler is a much different matchup compared to his other playoff assignments, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Karl-Anthony Towns: “Jimmy does everything. He does all of the intangible things. He plays the game within the game.”
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) May 30, 2023
Gordon’s insight is pretty much accurate, considering that James, Durant, and Towns are dominant scorers. But Butler is a more versatile version that makes him difficult to keep quiet. To lend perspective, Butler is averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on 48.3% shooting in his 17 playoff games thus far this season.
Gordon and the Nuggets will have their hands full when they take the floor against the Heat. Not only does Butler pose a threat offensively, he can play serious defense, and that will be one of the major challenges for the first-time finalists.
Mike Malone Credits The Heat, Says The Nuggets Cannot Afford To Take Them Lightly
The Nuggets may have been clinical in the Western Conference Finals, knocking the Los Angeles Lakers out 4-0, but head coach Mike Malone stressed that they will not be underestimating the Heat.
“As I told our team, forget the #8 seed stuff. They beat Milwaukee 4-1 and they had the most wins in the NBA this year. They beat Boston 4-3 and they were up 3-0, the team with the second most wins this year. When you get to the NBA Finals, it’s not about seeding anymore. And for those that are thinking this is going to be an easy series, I don’t even know what to say to you, people. This is going to be the biggest challenge of our lives. It’s the NBA Finals.”
Miami is coming off a 4-3 win against the Boston Celtics, and the manner in which they asserted a 3-0 lead shows the skill and the grind they are willing to go through. The Nuggets will face a stern challenge come Thursday. Even if it’s at home.
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