Heat player Max Struss has hailed his teammate Jimmy Butler as “the best player in the world” after his stunning performance in the Miami Heat’s 119-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
“Best player in the world”
– Max Strus on Jimmy Butler
(Via @HeatNationCom ) pic.twitter.com/yolkrTrCAY
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 25, 2023
Despite Butler’s reluctance to accept the nickname “Playoff Jimmy,” Struss is convinced that the moniker is justified after Butler’s 56-point masterpiece tied the fourth-best scoring performance in an NBA playoff game. The Heat now hold a 3-1 series lead on the back of Butler’s career-high performance.
Speaking to the media after the game, Struss expressed his admiration for Butler’s dedication to his team’s success, saying that “Jimmy’s the kind of guy who just wants to see us win.” Struss also praised Butler’s dominant performance on both ends of the court, noting that Butler’s intensity and tenacity on defense were just as impressive as his scoring prowess.
Butler’s playoff excellence is undeniable, with the star player currently averaging 36.5 points per game in the postseason, making him the NBA’s leading scorer. His clutch performance in Game 4, where he scored or assisted on 22 of the final 30 points, has cemented his status as a key player in the Heat’s bid for a first-round upset over the top-seeded Bucks.
Despite the hype surrounding Butler’s performance, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra remains focused on the team’s ultimate goal of closing out the series and completing the upset. While acknowledging Butler’s brilliance, Spoelstra stressed that there is still work to be done and that the team must remain focused on the task at hand.
For Struss, however, Butler’s performance has already established him as one of the league’s elite players. “I don’t care what anyone else says,” Struss said. “To me, Jimmy’s the best player in the world right now, and he proved it tonight.” With Butler leading the way, the Heat will look to continue their playoff run and defy the odds against the Bucks.
Jimmy Butler welcomes Giannis Antetokounmpo back with explosive slam dunk
In a highly-anticipated matchup between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks, Jimmy Butler wasted no time making his presence known. With Giannis Antetokounmpo back on the court, Butler welcomed him with a thunderous slam dunk that electrified the Kaseya Center. The Heat, trailing by nine points in the first quarter, found a way to close the gap with Butler’s explosive play.
As the Heat’s star player, Butler was determined to keep his team’s momentum alive, and his dunk over “The Greek Freak” sent shockwaves throughout the arena. The play was a perfect demonstration of Butler’s athleticism and skill as he blew past Khris Middleton from the perimeter and rose up to meet Antetokounmpo in the paint.
The entire Kaseya Center erupted in excitement as Butler successfully put Giannis on his poster. With the Heat holding a 2-1 lead over the Bucks, Butler’s powerful play showed that he was not intimidated by the reigning MVP and was ready to lead his team to victory.
