-
Nick Friedell, ESPN Workers Author
MIAMI — As Jimmy Butler walked to the rostrum following the Miami Heat‘s 116-99 loss to the Boston Celtics in Sport 4 of the Jap Convention finals Tuesday night time, he was singing.
It was Alicia Keys’ 2007 track “No One.” However the particular verse he closed with was, “All the things’s gonna be alright.”
Whereas Butler and the 8-seed Warmth lamented that they could not shut out the Celtics and earn their second journey to the NBA Finals in 4 seasons, there remained an air of confidence inside the group that it may return to Boston for Thursday night time’s Sport 5 and discover a method to win another.
“If something, it’ll construct momentum for us figuring out that we’ve to play with much more vitality,” Butler mentioned. “We have got to play like our backs are towards the wall. However I feel all yr lengthy, we have been higher once we’ve needed to do issues the exhausting method.”
Butler scored 29 factors whereas grabbing 9 rebounds and doling out 5 assists, however he was nonetheless annoyed by the best way he carried out with a lot at stake for a Warmth squad that got here into Sport 4 hoping to finish the sweep. The Celtics narrowed the sequence deficit to 3-1.
Regardless of the setback, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned he did not get the sensation his staff would possibly undergo a letdown after failing to complete the sequence at house and get rested for a Finals matchup towards the Denver Nuggets.
“I did not sense any of that,” Spoelstra mentioned. “In some unspecified time in the future, that is nice competitors. You already know, typically it could get skewed, as a result of, no matter, the 3-0. However we’ve nice respect for Boston, what they’re able to. They’re a dynamic offensive staff that takes extraordinary efforts and dedication to get the job performed. Our guys really need this …
“Loads of what we have performed this yr has been the exhausting method. We have been ready to determine methods to win, even when groups are enjoying nicely, if we aren’t in an ideal stream. And so they acquired us tonight. It’s important to give them credit score for that.”
Warmth guard Caleb Martin echoed an identical sentiment, acknowledging the bitterness of the loss however remaining constructive about what’s forward for Miami.
“It is positively disappointing,” Martin mentioned. “That will have been an ideal world, excellent scenario. However as we all know and all people else is aware of, we do not usually get issues the straightforward method over right here. So like I mentioned, that is proper up our alley. That is the best way it goes for us and guys like us. Once more, I feel it is solely going to organize us for the long term. This might be good for us.”
That’s what Butler is hoping, as nicely. He mentioned he did not really feel the necessity to point out something to his teammates as they put together for a tough problem on Thursday towards an opponent that lastly seems to have woken up.
“The one factor I will say is we’ll be OK,” Butler mentioned. “Let’s get again to doing what we have at all times performed to get us so far: Frequently have perception in each other, figuring out that we’re going to win, and we are going to. We have simply acquired to play tougher.
“There’s not an excessive amount of to say with this group as a result of we already know. So we have simply acquired to go on the market and execute.”