Jimmy Butler, Coach Spo, Bam x Duncan Robinson React To Heat Game 5 vs Celtics | 2023 ECF

So you spoke last game about how they're able to speed you guys up. Did it feel similar to that tonight in the way they're able to kind of force turnovers and generate some threes and transition? Yeah, their activity level has gone up the last two games and that's what you have to expect in a competitive playoff series. And then we were playing in a crowd quite a bit. You know, which there can be some good things, you know from that. If we read the game, read the coverages and make the appropriate plays, but you have to give them credit for their activity. And, you know, they jammed us up, you know, several times in the paint. You know, with quick hands, you know, strip downs, you know, things of that nature. We have to shore that up. You know, that's two games in a row of that. We do have to be aggressive and then make the appropriate plays with appropriate spacing. With two chances still to close out the series, but with two losses by 30 total points. Mentally, are you concerned about where this team is? Can you just tell us sort of in the locker room, where is this team? Who cares about mood? Like, we have a gnarly group. So I think so much of that is overrated. It's a competitive series. You always expect, you know, things to be challenging in a conference finals. And, you know, one game doesn't lead to the next game. Based on all the experience that we've had, it doesn't matter in the playoffs. It doesn't matter if you lose by whatever. You know, we beat them by whatever in game three. It just doesn't matter. It's about, you know, collectively preparing and putting together, you know, a great game. We'll play much better on Saturday. And that's all we just have to focus on right now. Spill, we're so used to seeing Jimmy play at such a high level in the postseason. From what you saw tonight, why do you think he struggled to find his rhythm? Our offense was disjointed a little bit. We weren't able to initiate our offense, get the ball where it needed to go in spots where you could operate. If we can get Jimmy in his comfort zones and strength zones more consistently, he'll be just fine. And we'll work on that in the next 48 hours. You know, but collectively, we do have to play with more intention and force and poise offensively, which we're fully capable of doing. With the way they're jamming you up, you said offensively, does that require quicker decisions? Yeah, I think, you know, in the second half, we had some more decisiveness. You know, with our on the catch, on the dribble, things like that. And, you know, when teams step up their pressure, that's what you have to be. You have to make quicker decisions and be decisive with your actions. Now that this is the expectation of how they're playing, with that type of activity, it's our turn now to respond to that. And a lot of times, that decisiveness and spacing and making the right play, you know, can lead to open shots. I know Vincent's key to your three-point volume, but are you happy with the number of threes you've got up today? I didn't even see. I assume it's a low number. You know, if they're... Yeah, and they shot whatever they shot. Look, as long as we're getting intentional with our offense and we're playing how we want to play, we've proven that we can win, you know, with whatever number of three-point attempts. I don't think we got to our strength zones enough tonight. So sometimes that'll lead to pain attacks, rim attacks, free throws. Sometimes it'll lead to threes, but it's more the intention of how we're executing our offense. Eric, you obviously went to Highsmith in the second half, mixed up a couple things. With the way the Celtics have played the last two, do you have to consider a more permanent lineup change for this series? Yeah, we'll see. I mean, we'll see who's available, see if Gabe's available. Like, I can't answer that right now. You know, but it's always good, you know, when a guy comes in and plays some productive minutes and sees some good things happen. But we'll see. How has the way they cover Bam, defend Bam, evolved over the series? And how has that maybe changed the way he has to get his shots? Yeah, that's born out of respect, right? You know, he was aggressive and able to get to the rim and able to get to his spots. And so they've now made him operate in a crowd. That's a good thing. You know, that's what great players usually command, is, you know, a second defender. But I thought his decisiveness on a couple plays in the second half were key, and he just needs to get into, you know, the rhythm of how they're defending him. And we'll see if we can get him in places where he can feel more comfortable to be able to get to his spots. And we all have to, you know, make sure that, you know, our two main guys are playing in their strength zones. And that's on all of us. That's on me, and that's on everybody executing with intention. This last one. Yeah, Coach, just following up sort of what John was talking about. With Gabe out, I know Jimmy missed the second game against New York, but you guys had such a rhythm and the toughness that he gives you. Is that something? I know you're the last one to make excuses, but is that something that? No, there's no excuses. No, not at all. But the Celtics outplayed us tonight. That would be a disservice to how they took control of this game. Okay, thank you. Duncan, obviously, it's not optimal to go without Gabe after all he's done. Being without Tyler, being without Vic, a bunch of other guys, you stepped up today, Haywood stepped up today. How important is for you other guys to sort of, you know, here we are, we're gonna be able to, willing to give what we can to do a little more, and more collectively with three main guards out? Yeah, you know, we knew that no one person was gonna replace, you know, what Gabe, Tyler, Vic bring. So it's kind of got to be by committee, dot H for somebody who hasn't played yet in this series to come in and step up like that. It was a really encouraging sign. I mean, he's earned that opportunity and does a lot behind the scenes to be prepared for a moment like that. So, you know, we're not here for more victories, obviously. So that's why we're, you know, shifting our focus to Saturday. Duncan, what adjustments has Boston made just in the last two games to really make things tough for Bam and Jimmy kind of in the paint? Yeah, they're playing faster, for sure. Shooting more threes, you know, it's a little bit more their identity that they've kind of had throughout the season. So, you know, we're not surprised by that. Kind of knew that that's what it was gonna be. And, you know, just got to make it difficult, continue to make it hard. Obviously, they're a good team, talented players, but we got some guys as well. So just continue to make it difficult. Duncan, what was Spoh's main message after this one? Just to really, you know, not forget this, you know, shift our focus to Saturday. But, you know, let this sting, let this carry with us, and do what it takes to just maintain that edge, you know, that we play our best with. Anybody else? Mars, Mars. Just a little on the coach just talked about the energy the Celtics brought early fans, but their defensive energy they brought, that grabbing, the closing in on guys. And definitely it's been a change from the first three games. Can you talk about the Celtics defense tonight? Yeah, you know, playing in front of a whole crowd like that, you know, they were flying around making plays. And, you know, we expected that. They're a good team. They can do it on both ends. They've done it on both ends all year. But, you know, we're a good team. I don't want to say, you know, we were surprised by it, but they raised their level. And, you know, we got to adjust. We got to raise ours as well. Jimmy, your guys are still leading 3-2. You have a home game to close it out. What's the sense after being up 3-0, then losing two in a row by a combined 30 points in the locker room from you, what's the mindset now where the series stands? We just got to play better, start the games off better on the starters, make it more difficult for them. They're in a rhythm since the beginning of the game. But we're always going to stay positive knowing that we can and we will win this series. And we'll just have to close it out at home. Jimmy, 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 unfold? Because the last two games are not who we are. It just happened to be that way. And we stopped playing defense halfway because we didn't make shots that we want to make. But that's easy to correct. We just got to come out and play harder from jump. So, like I always say, it's going to be all smiles. We're going to keep it very, very, very consistent knowing that we are going to win the next game. Jimmy, we've been talking a little bit in here about how they've made it harder on Bam. What does it look like to you that the Celtics have changed defensively? I mean, I think they pack the paint really well, switching really well and just contesting shots without fouling at that. 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, stuff like that. When you look at the film and you look at how in and to his spots with the ball, in a position and with the time on the clock to score will be better. 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 give contributions. Heywood, Duncan. Is there a comfort in knowing that there are other guys there and that they were able to step for you? There's other numbers and guys to call upon if needed? Yeah, without a doubt. Guys are so confident because they've been in this position all year long with guys in and out of the lineup. They're constantly working on their game. They don't switch up anything just because it's game five of the playoffs or game five of the season. They're going to do what they're comfortable with. They're going to do whatever you ask of them to do. They're going to play well. I feel like they did in the possessions and the time that they got out there. Bam, from our vantage point, it looks like the Celtics are crowding the lane when they're on defense a lot more. I have a lot bigger crowd around you. What are you seeing from the Celtics defense that maybe you hadn't seen in the first two games? Definitely more of a pack paint for me, man. You just got to pick up that sense of urgency and watch film and get back to the basics. Bam, Jimmy was just up here a few minutes ago saying that, you know, expressing confidence, saying that you guys are going to take game six. Does that confidence just kind of permeate throughout the locker room even after these last two games? Yeah, why would we lose confidence? When we started this journey, nobody believed in us. Everybody thought we was going to be out the first round. Everybody thought we was going to be out the second round. And now we're here one game away. So for us, man, we've always had confidence and that's not going to go away. You said that you had to pick up the urgency back to the offense and what Boston's doing. What do you have to do when you see this or even your teammates? Whether it's getting you the ball quicker, do you need to go quicker or catch it in different spots? What do you have to change? No, I feel like we all just, you know, the offense just got to get a little bit more movement. And, you know, open shots, we take them. Everybody got to be aggressive. Thank you. Like a lot of other people.