Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid’s relationship has remained strong since they split as teammates, even as Heath continues to advance from the Sixers.
• Heat-76ers: Full coverage of the series
PHILADELPHIA – Maybe the release of bubbles is not a coincidence.
The Miami Heat return to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will face either defending Milwaukee Bucks (leading 3-2) or the Boston Celtics. On Thursday, Heath eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinals, turning the one-point game into a comfortable victory after a 19-4 series early in the third quarter.
Here are some notes, numbers and movies from the 99-90 victory that put Heat in the conference finals for the ninth time in the franchise’s 34 seasons:
1. Jimmy’s big game
Jimmy Butler’s offensive play has what can be a fatal flaw for some. Among 217 players with at least 200 regular off-field experience in the regular season, only Jalen Suggs (32.9%) and Anthony Davis (34.5%) had a lower percentage of effective field on those shots than the Heat star ( 36.9%)).
But Butler’s jumper wasn’t that bad in the postseason, and he didn’t have to do much outside to reach an average of 27.5 points in the series. After shooting 5 against 16 in Game 1, he averaged 30 points in 54% shooting in the last five games, finishing this cycle with 32 points in 13 against 29 in Game 6.
Butler noted in a number of ways, including pick-and-roll:
It was a performance (in a well-known gym) in which his current and former teammates praised Butler’s ability to be very successful in the big games.
“I didn’t know how good Jimmy was until I came here,” said PJ Tucker. “I thought he was a good player. I didn’t think he was that good. I thought, “It’s good.”
“He shows me more than I would ever think… His heart, how he is never afraid of the moment. And that’s a talent in itself, because I’ve played with guys who are really good, but when they get into these big moments, they get scared and don’t really want it. And he wants every part of every moment. He is not afraid at all. And he puts that [fearlessness] in many different guys from our team. He really gives them confidence, in a strange way, but he does. “
“I still don’t know how we released him,” Joel Embiid told Butler. “I wish I could still fight him.
2. Minimum contracts, maximum installments
One person does not win a series. And while Heath brought in Kyle Lowry last summer to help Butler in the back zone, the Veteran Pointguard played just 56 (mostly ineffective) minutes in Miami’s two losses, dealing with a hamstring injury that could continue to limit him. the future. (The good news in this regard? As Dallas is forcing Game 7 with Phoenix, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will not be until Tuesday.)
Bam Adebayo was great on defense, especially in keeping Embiid out. Tucker was also critical of his defense and timely attack. But going back to the beginning of this season, these two (and Butler) were obviously expected to make a key contribution.
Max Strus is a surprise for Miami, leading the 2022 NBA playoffs to plus or minus.
Max Strus and Gabe Vincent? Not so much.
Both had two-way contracts last season. Both are on minimal deals this season and neither has guaranteed money for next year. But each of them started in the four Heat victories in this series.
Strus, a starter since late March, has scored 39 points and 21 rebounds in his last two games, registering the first two double-doubles of his career.
You can attract expensive free agents (like Butler) to guide you, but the ability to develop guys like Strus and Vincent really is what sets the best franchises in the league apart from everyone else.
“They’re all about the Miami Heat organization,” Butler told Strus and Vincent. “They play hard. They are not selfish in the least. And most of all, they just want to win. ”
3. Hardly hardens
For the third time in this series, Heath kept the Sixers under control. Embiid was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field.
The Sixers have another star, but James Harden failed to strengthen, scoring just 11 points in a 4-on-9 shot on Thursday. Philly was just one point behind at half-time, and in the second half Harden were out of action, shooting 0-for-2 and adding four assists and three turnovers.
After the Sixers fell into a double-digit hole, Shake Milton continued a short run at the end of the third quarter. And at that moment, Harden seemed happy to indulge in the man who was barely playing at the beginning of this series.
“We carried out our attack,” Harden said. “The ball just didn’t come back to me.”
The Sixers season ends in disappointment, questions after another early departure.
The Heat shrank the floor against Harden for most of the series, showing him the crowd as he isolated or came off the screen. And in some cases he played the right game. But in Game 6, he was probably too passive for a $ 44 million man.
So another postseason is coming to an end, with Harden yet to prove that, like Butler, he can climb the big games. And it’s kind of wild that with his team’s season, Harden was overtaken by the man – PJ Tucker – who was standing in the corner watching him dribble with the Rockets.
4. The new PJ Tucker
Tucker, who finished last in the league in terms of use for three consecutive seasons (2018-19 to 20-21), does not regret his offensive role in Houston.
“It was really simple,” he said, “and no one could keep him, and that was one of the best violations ever.” So that was pretty cool. “
But in his first season in Miami, he showed he could do more offensively. He not only doubled his average last season, but also peaked his career in assists, recording assists for 10.7% of his teammates’ goals while on the floor.
That wasn’t necessarily part of the plan when Tucker arrived. But when Heat needed him to expand his role, they found something.
“What we’re trying to do more than anything is just be open to players and opportunities and not put a ceiling on that,” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said before game 6. “And honestly, we’ve had so many injuries.” especially in December and January, we needed his game.
“He really managed to keep us afloat and we were able to come up with some concerted action that really helped our shooters and our game of cutting and all that makes sense. If you are a defensive player with a really high IQ, you can usually add more to your plate offensively. ”
“I have the freedom to just play,” Tucker added. “I like to open boys. I like shooting Max early, drive him. And part of my role on this team is to be able to do that. ”
Tucker had only one assist on Thursday, but as noted, he surpassed Harden 12-11 as one of the most non-Houston-Tucker buckets, coming out after a show and role with Strus:
Now Tucker can face the team with which he won the championship less than 10 months ago.
“Fate, isn’t it?” Tucker spoke of this possibility. “Is that what they call it?” It’s like destiny. “
5. Sixers went fishing
This series could be different if Embiid didn’t miss the first two games or was 100% healthy for the other four. And it’s not a shame (at least not as much as social media would think) to be one of the top four teams in your conference.
But when you have the man who finished second in the MVP vote and then swapped to be the second highest paid player in the league, you’re all-in in the championship. The Sixers failed to achieve that goal and have yet to reach the conference finals in five trips to the playoffs with Embiid.
“I came to the conclusion at the end of this game,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, “that we just weren’t good enough to beat Miami.”
It was supposed to be two years with Harden and Embiid, but the former did not exercise his choice of player when he was replaced by Brooklyn. He can still practice it before June 30, but if he doesn’t, things get interesting because he certainly didn’t look like a player who needs to get another maximum contract.
Asked about the contract option, Harden said, “I’ll be here,” without specifying the method by which he would return to Philly.
Stay on the line.
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John Schumann is a senior statistical analyst for NBA.com. You can email him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.
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