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[troza]

This series is very different with Dragic healthy - earlier series he was easily top 2 or 3 player for the Heat. He was the creator on offense giving Jimmy a break and getting clutch buckets when they were required. As soon as he went down and was out for the series - the Heat were always going to struggle. Those creation duties then went to Herro and he simply isn't ready for that load just yet. If Duncan Robinson and Herro could even just shoot average or get hot at any time in the finals - they could really challenge the Lakers and make it a much closer series.

One extra creator for the Heat when they put AD on Jimmy makes it a very different series.

But those are the breaks.....I would one day love to see how many fully healthy teams LBJ has played against in all of his title runs.

I know that injuries happen - but he seems to have had a great run through most of his playoff runs. Just when you think a team might have enough to at least make a challenge to an LBJ team, one (or 3) of their integral players go down with an injury.

Or, maybe it is just revisionist history on my part because I really dislike him and what he has done to the NBA.

This series could be different but would the end result not be the same? I think it would. This is not the Cavs missing Irving and Love in 15. This is the Heat missing Dragic... a good player but not an all star one.

About fully healthy teams... as far as I remember: spurs 07, thunder 12, spurs 13, spurs 14, warriors 15, 17 and 18. I would include 16 there but there was that suspension.

About his team, I guess that Wade in 14, Irving and Love in 15 were the injuries on his team.

[Ice Man]

This is not the Cavs missing Irving and Love in 15. This is the Heat missing Dragic... a good player but not an all star one.

Bam and Goran missed 2 1/2 games, and they are the Heat's Love and Irving. So the situations were similar. Although I agree, I don't think that changes the outcome. But I do think the series would have gone 6, possibly even 7.

[dougthonus]

Yeah, not having that second credible on-ball creator (Dragic) to take advantage of AD guarding out high on Jimmy and away from the rim really hurts at this point.

It also limits their drive and kick to shooters game.

Damn shame that injuries have had this influence.

I had the Lakers in 5 before injuries, and the one win came without guys. I don't think the outcome would have been different in the series or any games without the injuries.

You can maybe get me to agree that this still goes five with a healthy Dragic and Bam, there's no way I believe this isn't significantly closer given that Miami have been right there in G3 and G4.

Well we'll never know obviously. It sucks that the last two finals were marred with injury, this year more than last since I think we all collectively had Warriors fatigue and didn't feel bad for a team losing out after winning 3 of 4 whereas we would have loved to see this heat team get a real chance.

[sco]

I think the split/shortened season will end up creating a lot of fools gold around players over 30. Many of these guys have a history of wearing down toward the end of recent seasons and in the playoffs, but given this year's opportunity to rest and heal-up mid-season, they stayed healthier and looked way better than they otherwise would have. It will be interesting to see what happens in the offseason, but I hope we don't get duped to pay-up for one of these guys in FA or via trade.

[kodo]

The Heat are only missing Dragic, but Dragic was their leading playoff scorer and 2nd leading assist man when he went down. Playoff Dragic was a large part of why the Heat outplayed their projections in the playoffs.

It felt like a hot streak and I was interested to see how long before Dragic fell to earth, but he could have kept going vs LA. Or he could have come back down against the LA defense like Herro. Who knows.

The Boston series was primarily won by Bam, Dragic, and Herro. Jimmy was OK on the average, 19 ppg 5 apg but on 43% / 16% shooting on 39 mpg. His biggest contribution was intangibles.

I didn't think that trio would be able to keep up that performance vs a veteran LA team with AD & Lebron, which is why I felt it was going to be a short series even if healthy.

[MrFortune3]

If the Heat lose the finals. Imagine how many guys are going to want to flock to the team.
They see Jimmy being an unselfish franchise guy and where they could still get their shots up.

I am highly curious to see what kind of magic Riley ends up working this off-season or next.

[Ice Man]

The Heat are only missing Dragic, but Dragic was their leading playoff scorer and 2nd leading assist man when he went down. Playoff Dragic was a large part of why the Heat outplayed their projections in the playoffs.

It felt like a hot streak and I was interested to see how long before Dragic fell to earth, but he could have kept going vs LA. Or he could have come back down against the LA defense like Herro. Who knows.

The Boston series was primarily won by Bam, Dragic, and Herro. Jimmy was OK on the average, 19 ppg 5 apg but on 43% / 16% shooting on 39 mpg. His biggest contribution was intangibles.

I didn't think that trio would be able to keep up that performance vs a veteran LA team with AD & Lebron, which is why I felt it was going to be a short series even if healthy.

Excellent analysis. I agree. By the way, Dragic quietly fell back to earth in the final four games against Boston. He really wasn't good in them, but fortunately for Miami Bam played great, plus the Heat only had to win two of those four games.

[The Chosen one]

Jimmy Butler is in my top 10 favorite bulls players of all time. But he needs to be alittle smarter on offense. He passes up good shots for harder shots sometimes. I know he had that big scoring game but he’s not a natural number 1 option. He’s unselfish which is great but hes not an alpha type scorer. Not knocking Butler as he is an amazing player and worked his tail off to become the player he is.

[MrFortune3]

Jimmy Butler is in my top 10 favorite bulls players of all time. But he needs to be alittle smarter on offense. He passes up good shots for harder shots sometimes. I know he had that big scoring game but he’s not a natural number 1 option. He’s unselfish which is great but hes not an alpha type scorer. Not knocking Butler as he is an amazing player and worked his tail off to become the player he is.

He's got that Kevin Garnett syndrome. Trying to let everyone eat when sometimes he just needs to dominate.

[BookerBulls]

This series is very different with Dragic healthy - earlier series he was easily top 2 or 3 player for the Heat. He was the creator on offense giving Jimmy a break and getting clutch buckets when they were required. As soon as he went down and was out for the series - the Heat were always going to struggle. Those creation duties then went to Herro and he simply isn't ready for that load just yet. If Duncan Robinson and Herro could even just shoot average or get hot at any time in the finals - they could really challenge the Lakers and make it a much closer series.

One extra creator for the Heat when they put AD on Jimmy makes it a very different series.

But those are the breaks.....I would one day love to see how many fully healthy teams LBJ has played against in all of his title runs.

I know that injuries happen - but he seems to have had a great run through most of his playoff runs. Just when you think a team might have enough to at least make a challenge to an LBJ team, one (or 3) of their integral players go down with an injury.

Or, maybe it is just revisionist history on my part because I really dislike him and what he has done to the NBA.

This series could be different but would the end result not be the same? I think it would. This is not the Cavs missing Irving and Love in 15. This is the Heat missing Dragic... a good player but not an all star one.

About fully healthy teams... as far as I remember: spurs 07, thunder 12, spurs 13, spurs 14, warriors 15, 17 and 18. I would include 16 there but there was that suspension.

About his team, I guess that Wade in 14, Irving and Love in 15 were the injuries on his team.

Sorry I should have been more clear - I meant more so the injured teams he has faced in the Eastern Conference Playoffs over the years. I could go and do the research - but I can't be bothered and I might not find the results I want.

I don't think you can suggest Dragic wasn't a big loss because he isn't an all-star. He was a massive component of their Bubble Run. Not sure if he could have done the same in the finals and if it would have meant a win for the Heat - but it would have given them another creator. Plus it also then makes Herro option number 3/4 rather than 2/3.

They still don't have anyone that can stop AD - but the Lakers don't really have anyone that could stop Dragic as a PG defender.

Would have loved to see it - but just another What If.

[Southpaw]

Agree on Jimmy, he gives up open 3s and sometime even layups for the extra pass. Also, when did Jimmy become this bad on the 3 ball. I remember he was decent when he was here but I may be wrong. Now he just ignores the 3 completely, which made it easier for LAL to defend them in Game 4.

[Southpaw]

Jimmy Butler is in my top 10 favorite bulls players of all time. But he needs to be alittle smarter on offense. He passes up good shots for harder shots sometimes. I know he had that big scoring game but he’s not a natural number 1 option. He’s unselfish which is great but hes not an alpha type scorer. Not knocking Butler as he is an amazing player and worked his tail off to become the player he is.

He's got that Kevin Garnett syndrome. Trying to let everyone eat when sometimes he just needs to dominate.

Man I used to hate that about KG. He'sone of my favorite players and it always annoyed me when he gives the ball up only for Trenton Hassel or Darrick Martin to shoot when his jumper is money.

[kodo]

Jimmy Butler is in my top 10 favorite bulls players of all time. But he needs to be alittle smarter on offense. He passes up good shots for harder shots sometimes. I know he had that big scoring game but he’s not a natural number 1 option. He’s unselfish which is great but hes not an alpha type scorer. Not knocking Butler as he is an amazing player and worked his tail off to become the player he is.

When he was here Jimmy said he was a PG, not a wing. Even when we still had Rose.

“First off, I think I am a point guard. So I’ve done a heck of a lot of ball screen work, ball handling, getting into the paint and still handling, floaters, all that stuff point guards do. If I get a chance, high pick and roll more.

I want some triple doubles. I’ve got to get my handle right so I can pass and get it to guys where they can make shots. I told Fred. You ask what position I play, I say point guard.”

I think this is just natural instinct for Jimmy. Some players have a natural instinct/tendency for scoring, some want to pass. Jimmy is the latter even though he's been a wing in his career.

You do need an alpha scorer to win a title. But I'm not sure if Jimmy is that person. That's probably someone playing with Jimmy.

[otwok]

Prior to the series beginning I had the lakers in 5, after the injuries I had the lakers sweeping in 4 blowouts. The fact that the Heat took a game is an accomplishment for them. Jimmy's done well. Happy for him. If the Heat even want to make this close, Jimmy needs to go for 40 again. He just needs to be uber aggressive. And that's just to keep it close.

[Leslie Forman]

I don't think you can suggest Dragic wasn't a big loss because he isn't an all-star. He was a massive component of their Bubble Run. Not sure if he could have done the same in the finals and if it would have meant a win for the Heat - but it would have given them another creator. Plus it also then makes Herro option number 3/4 rather than 2/3.

Yeah I don't understand this minimization of Dragic. The guy is absolutely massive for them and his ballhandling and experience would be absolutely key on a team relying on two flaky rookies right now at the 1/2. Even if he's not putting up some 30 point performances he'd be making a huge difference, easily one that would have closed the gap IMO.

Dragic and Adebayo available for every game this series and I really think it's a possible Miami win. I don't think the Lakers are anywhere near the juggernaut people think. It's just that this is a relatively weak, transitional year for the league where a lot of the other favorites got weakened, injured, or Doc Riversed.

[Chi town]

I don't think you can suggest Dragic wasn't a big loss because he isn't an all-star. He was a massive component of their Bubble Run. Not sure if he could have done the same in the finals and if it would have meant a win for the Heat - but it would have given them another creator. Plus it also then makes Herro option number 3/4 rather than 2/3.

Yeah I don't understand this minimization of Dragic. The guy is absolutely massive for them and his ballhandling and experience would be absolutely key on a team relying on two flaky rookies right now at the 1/2. Even if he's not putting up some 30 point performances he'd be making a huge difference, easily one that would have closed the gap IMO.

Dragic and Adebayo available for every game this series and I really think it's a possible Miami win. I don't think the Lakers are anywhere near the juggernaut people think. It's just that this is a relatively weak, transitional year for the league where a lot of the other favorites got weakened, injured, or Doc Riversed.

I agree. Fully healthy MIA wins in 6 or 7 JMO

[Ice Man]

You do need an alpha scorer to win a title. But I'm not sure if Jimmy is that person. That's probably someone playing with Jimmy.

DeRozan is an FA and quietly had the best year of his career. Volume scoring was down a bit from his peak, but for once he was highly efficient (60% TS%), and he's rebounding and assisting better than ever. The Heat can afford him. I would think that DD + another rugged big to help support Bam would put Miami in great shape. They would have to let Goran and Iggy go, I believe, but DD can take Goran's slot and Iggy is on fumes.

[Andi Obst]

DeRozan is an FA and quietly had the best year of his career. Volume scoring was down a bit from his peak, but for once he was highly efficient (60% TS%), and he's rebounding and assisting better than ever. The Heat can afford him. I would think that DD + another rugged big to help support Bam would put Miami in great shape. They would have to let Goran and Iggy go, I believe, but DD can take Goran's slot and Iggy is on fumes.

Dragic >>>>>> DeRozan for me, especially if I'm Miami. DeRozan and Butler are a bad fit together IMO, they're just too similar (on offense!) at this point. Both can't provide spacing, which would have a huge negative impact on the playmaking of both players when they share the court. And Bam doesn't shoot either, that makes it even tougher. The offense just becomes more predictable overall. DeRozan also definitely isn't more of an "alpha scorer" than Jimmy to me.

DeRozan isn't going to opt out unless someone offers him a longterm deal. Miami isn't doing that with 2021 in mind.

[StunnerKO]

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[Southpaw]

Jimmy again going toe to toe with Lebron, AD's defense notwithstanding.