NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HEAT VS. CELTICS

May 25, 2023

Jimmy Butler

Miami Heat

Game 5: Postgame

Boston Celtics 110, Miami Heat 97

Q. Jimmy, your guys are still leading 3-2. You have a home game to close it out. What's the sense of being up 3-0 and losing two in a row by a combined 30 points in the locker room from you? What's the mindset now with where the series stands?

JIMMY BUTLER: We've just got to play better. Start the game off better, on the starters, make it more difficult for them. They are in a rhythm since the beginning of the game. But we are always going to stay positive, knowing that we can and we will win this series. We'll just have to close it out at home.

Q. To follow up on that, why is it that your confidence and the group's confidence remains so high given the way the last two games unfolded?

JIMMY BUTLER: Because the last two games are not who we are. It just happened to be that way. We stopped playing defense halfway because we didn't make shots that we want to make. But that's easily correctable. You just have to come out and play harder from the jump. Like I always say, it's going to be all smiles and we are going to keep it very, very, very consistent, knowing that we are going to win next game.

Q. We have talked in here about how they have made it harder on Bam. What does it look like to you that the Celtics have changed defensively?

JIMMY BUTLER: I think they pack the paint really well, switching really well and just contesting shots without fouling. I think that's the game as a whole. But it's on us to get him in better positions to score the ball, get it to him in transition and stuff like that. When you look at the film and look at how we can be better and getting him into his spots with the ball, with the position and with the time on the clock to score, we'll be better at that.

Q. Obviously you miss Gabe and he's important and now there's no Gabe, there's no Tyler, there's no Vic. Other guys did step up and given contributions: Haywood, Duncan. Is there a comfort in knowing that there are other guys there and that they were able to step for you and there's other numbers and guys to call upon if needed?

JIMMY BUTLER: Yeah, without a doubt. Guys are so confident because they have been in this position all year long with guys in and out of the lineup. They are constantly working on their game. So they don't switch up anything just because it's Game 5 of the playoffs or Game 5 of the season. They are going to do what they are comfortable with. They are going to do whatever you ask them to do. They are going to play well. I feel like they did in the possessions and the time that they got out there.