Jimmy Butler’s passiveness early in the game
If Boston is going to keep Smart on Dragic to start games, another way they could generate offense more effectively is getting a more aggressive Jimmy Butler to start Game 4. Through the first three games of this series, Jimmy has made it a point to let the game come to him and has tried to get his teammates involved early.
Perhaps the one stat that puts Jimmy’s aggressiveness in this series into context: During the first two series in the playoffs, Jimmy averaged 10-plus free throw attempts per game; against the Celtics, he’s averaging just six. If we are going to see a more aggressive Jimmy in Game 4, there’s a good chance that changes.
A more aggressive Jimmy could have a big impact on how the Celtics choose to defend the Heat. He could force the issue and try to get some of Boston’s wings in foul trouble, which could impact the game in a huge way.
If the Miami Heat is going to win Game 4, they’re going to need a strong performance from Jimmy Butler. There’s no question about that.