Jimmy Butler critical of Heat's low energy in Game 3 loss -- 'Just can't happen' - ESPN
ESPN MIAMI -- Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler vowed to set a better tone for his team in the wake of Wednesday's 109-94 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, acknowledging that the Heat, playing in their first Finals game in front of a home crowd in nine years, needed to come out with more energy and effort, especially after getting out-rebounded by the Nuggets, 58-33.
The Heat now trail the series, 2-1.
"I don't know," Butler said, when asked why the energy is lacking. "I can't answer that. Maybe we're at home; we think we did something. I don't know. It just can't happen. It won't happen again. It starts with myself. I have to lock in on the defensive end. I have to go up and get loose balls. I think if I start playing and doing that, then everybody else has to follow suit."
Aside from the fact that Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic (32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists) and Jamal Murray (34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) became the first pair of teammates in NBA history to record 30-point triple-doubles in the same regular or postseason game, according to ESPN Stats and Information research, what irritated Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was the fact that his team didn't play with the same kind of edge that has defined their unlikely run as a No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
