Former Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler can take the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals if they upset the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.
The Miami Heat took down the Chicago Bulls Central Division foe Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, in the fashion of a dominant sweep. Former Bulls star shooting guard/small forward Jimmy Butler helped push the Heat past the Pacers in the first round.
In four games played in the first round against the Pacers, Butler averaged 19.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, a career best (in the playoffs) 2.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks. He shot 40.8 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Those 2.5 steals per game in the first round for Butler is leading the playoffs thus far. He’s also one of the NBA’s leaders in three-point shooting percentage (with players taking more than 1.5 attempts per game from beyond the arc). He’s shooting more than double the percentage he did from beyond the arc during the regular season (24.1).
Now, the five-seed Heat will get a shot to take down the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and reigning NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks took care of business in the first round of the playoffs against the eight-seed Orlando Magic. Former Bulls point guard DJ Augustin, standout center Nikola Vucevic, and the Magic lost to the Bucks in five games.
Both of the second round playoff matchups in the Eastern Conference are set now. On Aug. 30, the two-seed Toronto Raptors take on the third seeded Boston Celtics to tip off the second round of the playoffs in the East. The Pacers were the only team seeded in the top four in the East not to make it through to the second round.
However, out in the Western Conference, the seven-seed Dallas Mavericks are still battling with the two-seed Los Angeles Clippers. And the three-seed Denver Nuggets are trying to come back against the six-seed Utah Jazz.
The only team to make it through in the West thus far are the one-seed Los Angeles Lakers getting through the Portland Trail Blazers. The four-seed Houston Rockets are also still trying to stave off the upset from the stingy five-seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
Definitely one of the second round playoff matchups to watch will come down to the deep and skilled Heat taking on the talented Bucks. Butler might be tasked with defending Giannis at times, which will be difficult for him by all means.
Butler and the Heat get to take on Giannis and the Bucks in Game 1 of the second round playoff series on Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m. CT. This is the second year in a row that Butler made it through to the second round of the playoffs in the East.