Jimmy Butler believes Bam Adebayo will win Miami Heat the NBA Championship

Adebayo put in a dominant physical display in Game 2 vs the Denver Nuggets

Jimmy Butler has long been the talisman for the Miami Heat, leading them to an NBA Finals during lockdown, yet he believes that in the 2023 edition of the Finals, it will be Bam Adebayo that wins the series for the Heat.

Adebayo was at his sparkling best in a vintage victory over Denver in Game 2 of the series on Sunday, and he now reigns as Miami's leading scorer and rebounder in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Butler's time will come, the eighth-seed Miami Heat can't win a seven-game series without him playing near his best.

He will catch up to Adebayo at some point during the series, but for now it is the time for Bam to shine.

"He's gonna be the reason we win the championship," Butler explained in his pre-match press conference.

"He's doing everything for us."

Whilst Adebayo's form has been welcome, the Heat continue to live under the constraints of an injury crisis.

Tyler Herro has a chunk of the campaign with an issue in his right hand and is still a doubt for Game 3, whilst Butler himself is battling against a niggling ailment.

An ankle injury suffered in the second round against the New York Knicks has plagued him for much of the post-season, and it still looks to be limiting his play on the court.

Butler has averaged 17 points on 39.4 percent shooting in the opening two NBA Finals matchups.

His inability to move as explosively due to this injury may have forced him into more of a playmaking role, but that isn't sustainable for the Heat against a superhuman Nikola Jokic.

The Serbian scored 41 points in Game 2 and was unlucky to be on the losing side.

Adebayo will need to continue to match the Serbian's physical presence, but Butler must step up and be the dynamic point scorer we know he is at heart if the Miami Heat are going to take the title back to Vice City.