Butler’s LeBronesque Performance

Mukhang matutupad ang prediction natin na matatapos ang ongoing NBA Finals sa pagitan ng Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat in five games.

Kahit na depleted ang line-up ng Heat dahil sa shoulder injury ni Bam Adebayo at foot injury ni Goran Dragic, nagawa nilang talunin ang Lakers sa Game 3. Jimmy Butler went nuclear with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

Ang ginawa ni Butler ay nagpaalala sa atin sa Herculean effort a few years ago ng isa ring player na naglalaro sa Finals ngayon – LeBron James.

LeBron was the last player to notch a 40-point triple-double sa Finals, doing it against the powerhouse Golden State Warriors. The only other player to do it before LeBron and Butler was Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Max Kellerman of ESPN called Butler’s performance Jordanesque. But with all due respect to Jordan, he never had to carry the Bulls against heavily-favored opponents. LeBron did most of the heavy lifting for the Cleveland Cavaliers sa apat na sunod nilang pagsagupa sa Warriors in the Finals.

Katunayan, LeBron was the only player in NBA history to lead both finalists (Cavaliers and Warriors) in points, rebounds, assists, blocks at steals for the whole series.

So it is more fitting to call Butler’s effort LeBronesque.

Pero kahit na impresibo ang panalo ng Heat, kumpiyansa tayo na kayang tapusin ng Lakers ang serye with victories in Games 4 and 5.

The Lakers are simply bigger, stronger and faster. Kailangan lang nina LeBron at Anthony Davis na ibigay ang usual productions nila and they will be alright.

Bukod kasi sa pagputok ni Butler sa Game 3 ay matumal din ang produksiyon ng dalawang superstars ng Lakers.

LeBron had 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists pero meron din siyang eight turnovers. Davis was much worse with only 15 points and five rebounds na sinamahan pa ng four turnovers at early foul trouble.