The one that got away is still haunting the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers had him, but then they let him go and now he is leading the Miami Heat deep into the playoffs.
That guy would be Jimmy Butler who left the Sixers for the Heat after just half a season and it is continuing to haunt Philadelphia right now. The Sixers made additions that they thought would help them get to the NBA Finals and even hold the Larry O’Brien trophy as a result, but instead, they were swept in Round 1 by the Boston Celtics.
Butler, meanwhile, had 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists to lift the Heat to a 117-114 overtime win over those same Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He drilled a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter to give Miami the lead and he then converted an And-1 to win it for the Heat late. He is a big closer and the Sixers clearly miss his presence and made a mistake letting him go.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 16, 2020
The Heat have been shocking everybody all season and it is mostly due to Butler and the work he has put in as a leader. Philadelphia has badly missed guys who will “kick a chair” and get into each other and demand more all season long and that has been a big issue for them. It was clear all season and made even more clear on Tuesday night. [lawrence-related id=37673,37670,37664]