KEY POINTS

  • Jimmy Butler is disappointed with the team but vows to play better in Game 4
  • The Heat have been blown out for two consecutive games
  • Only three teams in NBA playoffs history have come back from a 0-3 hole to force a Game 7

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat has been known to be pretty vocal when it comes to firing up his teammates.

However, he is also not shy about expressing his opinion when the team is underperforming.

Butler was unsurprisingly mobbed by media and did not shy away from questions following their Game 3 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Heat was routed by the Bucks, 113-84, putting last year’s NBA runner-ups in a precarious situation.

Another loss would send them on vacation, and the 31-year-old appears to be aware of that reality.

“I’m not surprised,” Butler said to reporters after the trashing. “It’s basketball. It’s part of it. Keep our heads up, keep working, try to get this one on Saturday.”

After a close Game 1 between the Bucks and the Heat, Miami also suffered a 132-98 shellacking at the hands of Milwaukee.

Some flaws seen for the Heat include rebounding and turnover issues.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is aware of their shortcomings and knows he has to find answers for his team.

With their back against the wall, the 50-year-old needs to figure out what major adjustments to make for his players as they try to stave off elimination in their next duel.

"They've taken away a lot of those easy relief points that we're accustomed to getting," Spoelstra said to Miami Heat reporter Anthony Chiang. "I feel that I have to do a better job too of freeing guys up, getting guys more comfortable, and get them more in their strength zones."

There have only been three teams ever to come back from a 0-3 hole to force a Game 7. They are the Dallas Mavericks (2003), Utah Jazz (1994) and the now-defunct Rochester Royals (1951).

For now, all Jimmy Butler cares about is taking it one game at a time although he admitted that odds are now stacked against the Heat.

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dribbles up the court defended by Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dribbles up the court defended by Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks Getty Images | Michael Reaves

"We’re not too worried what history says and all that stuff, but we’ve got our work cut out for us," Butler stated.

Miami tries to prevent a Bucks’ sweep on Saturday when both teams collide at 1:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Arena.