Did butler make the right play going for the lead instead of the tie?

[damedash09]

Watch on YouTube

[celticfan42487]

Yes, he was on fire all game and had been putting everything on the line.

Traditional theory is you go for the tie at home, but who knows if Jimmy's legs had it in him to continue in an OT after playing the entire game. He had only scored twice in the fourth and the last time was with 5 minutes to go so there's a good chance he was gassed after carrying the Heat most of game 6, and again playing every minute tonight.

I think 9 times out of 10 you'll take an open 3 by your best player in transition to if not win, put you one defensive stop away from the Finals.

[California Gold]

I would have went for the tie knowing that I had a lane to the basket. Perhaps maybe get an And 1?

The three if he had made it would for sure be demoralizing for the C's but the game wouldn't be over. In a game 7 and when you're at home the better shot in that circumstance (given that he had an easy lane to drive it all the way) would've been to take it in for 2 and potentially 3.

[RRR3]

If he was even a mediocre 3PT shooter I would be fine with the shot. However, he is a horrible 3PT shooter (quite possibly the worst in the league of people who take them with any frequency), so I would call it a bad shot. If he still had the 3PT shot he had a few years ago it would have been ok but he doesn't

[RRR3]

That said I won't blame him for the loss as he played an incredible game and gave it his all for 48 minutes

[dk1115]

I actually like it. He looked dead tired anyway.

[Ill News]

I felt it was a good shot even though he's been a mediocre three-point shooter. Horford was backing up and had the paint locked up, and Jimmy probably had no more legs to go to OT.

But like Jaylen said, I was like "What the hell" when he took that shot. Celtics absolutely dodged a bullet there.

[TinmanZBoy]

He got a good look… i absolutely like his chance to make it than not… he is a big time player, I actually trust him making the three than Steph… he just missed it, by the way the Heat almost got the rebound

[Kobe187]

His range is a foot inside the 3 point line, however when he’s jumping towards the hoop with momentum he has a good 3 pointer and hit a similar one earlier in the game, fatigue may have been a factor as the shot was half an inch short.

[kcktiny]

My lord the second guessers are coming out of the woodwork.

How can anyone possibly question Jimmy Butler's actions after the playoffs he's had? He was playing a great game - like the outstanding game he had two nights before - and had he hit that three to cap off that incredible comeback that place would have gone absolute bananas, and likely would have demoralized the Celtics.

Plus he was 1/3 on 3s at that point in the game and had shot 4/8 on 3s just the game before.

Going for a 3 at that point in the game is exactly the move you would expect from a player with a killer attitude, a dagger to cap off an unlikely run right at the end of a game that looked to be out of reach just minutes before (they were down 13 with 3 and 1/2 minutes to go).

If there was one player I wouldn't question it's Butler. The guy played the whole game and was having a great game to boot.

You want to blame someone for that loss? Outside of Butler and Adebayo the entire rest of the team shot just 28% for the game.

[CIN-C-STAR]

With his FtR he should have attacked the basket imo, but that said, definitely not blaming him for the loss at all.

[-Sammy-]

It wasn't the correct play, but it was maybe the right one. I'm sure most of y'all get me.

[KingDavid]

What he did the previous game is irrelevant. In his 48th minute, that was the wrong shot to take with a backpedaling Al Horford in front of him and a timeout under his belt. That's the shot the CELTICS want him to take. Could have done what he does best and drive inside instead. Still an awesome playoffs and put our team on his back. He needs help.

[metalinguss]

He makes that shot and he's a legend. You can't be a legend if you're not willing to take risks. No problems with him taking a 3. It just doesn't go your way sometimes.

[KingDavid]

He makes that shot and he's a legend. You can't be a legend if you're not willing to take risks. No problems with him taking a 3. It just doesn't go your way sometimes.

When has Wade done this? Another prolific guard who did not shoot from 3?

[Sedale Threatt]

Hard to fault him given how amazing he was in the past two games -- he wouldn't have even been in that position without his amazing Game 6 -- but he's a poor 3-point shooter in general and I'll bet even worse on pull-ups. Just not a good shot for him, especially with Horford defending him in transition. Attack the bucket, get fouled, maybe score, maybe both. Instead we got a great NBA what if?

[benultimate]

Not sure you can say whether he should have gone for the tie or the win. I think the only thing you can say is that he shouldn't have taken that particular shot. Time on the clock, un-set def. He had better options whether it be a 2 point attempt or 3 point attempt.

[timO]

The point here is the celtics almost **** Up a Big lead in last 2 minutes

[Pennebaker]

Butler is not a good three point shooter so that was one of the least advisable shots for him to take.

[Spicy P]

He played the entire game without subbing out. I don't think he had enough gas left in the tank for OT. That was his only chance to win it, so he took it.