Denver Nuggets Coach Mike Malone Puts Jimmy Butler On Par With LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker
The Denver Nuggets faced some of the NBA's top players on their road to the Finals.
In the first round, it was Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards. Then it was Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in the conference semifinals. And finally LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the finals.
Nuggets coach Mike Malone said he expects a similar challenge from Jimmy Butler should they face the Miami Heat in NBA Finals.
"It will be a hell of a challenge," Malone said. "If you look at Jimmy Butler's body work and he's been doing since that first round against Milwaukee, upsetting the No. 1 seed 4-1. Milwaukee's got some really good defensive players. I think I heard Jrue Holiday say the other day it didn't matter who was guarding Jimmy in that series. He was just in a zone and he was unstoppable."
Butler is averaging 29.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.6 in 14 games this postseason. He probably needs one more big game against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals to lift the Heat to the next round.
Game 6 is tonight in Miami.
"You don't stop a guy like Jimmy Butler with one player. It's not gonna be just on Aaron [Gordon]. It won't be just on Michael Porter or whoever is guarding him ... You have to give him different looks and you have to keep him off balanced and you have to five guys locked into that task."
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