Shams: Jimmy Butler Has MCL Injury, Could Be Out A While

[Phantom255x]

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1780793382346121413?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is feared to have an MCL injury in his knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The injury could sideline Butler for an indefinite period. MRI to come.

That could really impact things. Either we are more likely to play Chicago or Atlanta, or we face the Heat with no Butler

[ozgod]

I'm ok with playing whoever we have to play, we have to beat the best to be the best, and the expectations around the team are such that only a championship will do - if we lose in the 1st round, or the 2nd round, or the ECF, or the Finals, it's all going to be the same - the team will have failed, Jaylen and Jrue will be traded, and Joe will be sacked (they will be preparing the site of his crucifixion on Beacon Hill) 

BUT if it lessens the pain a bit to get as far as we can, clearly playing a Heat team without Buckets gives us the best chance to progress to the next round. But that's pretty rotten news for the Heat...I want our team to be battle tested as we go along, instead of beating up on injured also-rans and running into a buzzsaw later in the playoffs 

[Moranis]

All the more reason to not have the play-in when there are terrible teams in it.

[celticsclay]

All the more reason to not have the play-in when there are terrible teams in it.

With Mo on this. Hawks and bulls should not have qualified to play in this

[tazzmaniac]

All the more reason to not have the play-in when there are terrible teams in it.

With Mo on this. Hawks and bulls should not have qualified to play in this

I always find it a bit wrong when an under .500 team makes the playoffs for any sport.  If you can't win at least half your regular season games, why do you deserve to make the playoffs? 

[scaryjerry]

Not sure the heat will beat the bulls if this is the case.

In that case the Celtics should make quick work of the bulls no doubt but does anyone else remember the “disrespect” issue earlier in the season when we were messing around with the bulls to run up the score on them so we could make the in season tournament? Surely this will be on the bulls bulletin board  lol

[celticinorlando]

It’s pretty obvious that butler is not going to play tomorrow in the bulls game. And highly unlikely he’s ready for Sunday if they get past them. I don’t think we see butler in the playoffs to be honest.

Celtics in great shape. Just need to handle their own business.

[SHAQATTACK]

He at that age those knee issues start to pop up , especially guys that are this hard on their bodies. You pound the floor for years no matter what job this will be the result.

That series might go more games without Butler .  hero will average 40 a game shooting at machine gun rate . 

[BitterJim]

He at that age those knee issues start to pop up , especially guys that are this hard on their bodies. You pound the floor for years no matter what job this will be the result.

That series might go more games without Butler .  hero will average 40 a game shooting at machine gun rate .

And like a machine gun, most of those shots will miss

There's probably some analogy to be made about cover fire and offensive rebounds, but the Heat are way at the bottom for most ORB metrics so thats not a huge concern.

[jbpats]

I'd still prefer seeing Chicago round 1 vs a Miami team w/out Butler

[Redz]

He at that age those knee issues start to pop up , especially guys that are this hard on their bodies. You pound the floor for years no matter what job this will be the result.

That series might go more games without Butler .  hero will average 40 a game shooting at machine gun rate .

And like a machine gun, most of those shots will miss

There's probably some analogy to be made about cover fire and offensive rebounds, but the Heat are way at the bottom for most ORB metrics so thats not a huge concern.

We have the Hau-itzer on our side!  Fear not. 

[jbpats]

Also worth calling out Caruso got hurt yesterday as well. Doesn't seem like either team is at 100% - obviously Butler being the bigger injury but Chicago losing Caruso is also a big deal

[celticinorlando]

Shams:

The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury.

[Phantom255x]

Shams:

The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury.

Butler's a bulldog. No doubt about it.

[celticinorlando]

So a Miami team that couldn’t score enough with butler now without him or a bulls team without curuso.

Win win