Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams was so right about Jimmy Butler.

Back in November before facing the Miami Heat, Williams spoke fondly of the five-time All-Star he coached when the two were in Philadelphia together last season.

“There’s nothing Jimmy can’t do,” Williams said. “He can post it. He can shoot it. He can play off the dribble. He’s unselfish. He draws fouls. He’s got better vision than people realize. Guys like Jimmy, you have to be disciplined and try to limit the silly stuff cause he’s smart. He’s a big, strong dude.”

Months later, Butler displayed all those skills to the 25th power in leading Miami to a 115-104 stunner Sunday over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in the Orlando Bubble.

Without Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo, Butler carried the Heat with 40-point triple double (40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds).

He drew fouls (12-of-14 from the line), played smart (didn’t pick up a single foul) and was clutch down the stretch (10 points, five assists and no turnovers in the fourth).

Only Jerry West and LeBron James have posted a 40-point triple-double performance in the finals. Unlike those two, Butler’s effort resulted in a win.

This is after Butler twisted his ankle in Game 1 and saw his team look completely outmanned in going down 0-2 to James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers.

With Sunday’s win, the Heat are back in the series as Game 4 is Tuesday. 

All this escalated buzz about Butler makes it seem as if he hasn’t proven himself to be one of the league’s best players.

Butler can play. No question. He has established himself in this league and been a key cog on playoff teams, but Butler took his game to an even greater level Sunday.

Miami will need more performances like that from him in order to make this a series, though, especially if Dragic (torn plantar fascia) and Adebayo (shoulder, neck) can’t go after suffering injuries in Game 1.

Adebayo is more likely to return than Dragic, but the Lakers are still favored to win the finals series. The Heat need Butler to come up huge again and again like Dwyane Wade did in 2006 in leading Miami to its first NBA title to have a chance.

Regardless of how the series concludes, the Heat has found a perfect player to lead them.

Not only can Butler play, he’s confident, plays with a chip on his shoulder, but is also a team guy. That fits right into the Heat culture created by team president Pat Riley and coached by Erik Spoelstra.

Butler showed Sunday night there’s nothing he can’t do.

Williams has known that.  

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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