On paper, things aren’t looking good for the Miami Heat. The team trails the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1 in the NBA Finals. Luckily for Jimmy Butler and the Heat, the game isn’t played on paper. Despite being one game away from elimination, Butler isn’t pressing any panic button.

The extra day of rest benefits the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers last played Tuesday. The series had gone every other day since it began Wednesday, Sept. 30. the teams had both Wednesday and Thursday off this week. With injuries to key Heat starters Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo, the extra time off will be beneficial to Miami.

According to Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, Dragic is still a longshot to play in Game 5. He hasn’t played the entire series. The veteran point guard has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. Dragic tried to warm up and give it a shot before Game 4 but was unable to go. He is officially listed as doubtful to play Friday night.

Adebayo missed two games in the series and was not at full strength in Game 4 after suffering a neck strain. “Bam is going to be just fine (Friday),” Spoelstra. “I’m not getting into percentiles. His full competitive spirit will be ready to go.”

Miami going one game at a time

They know their backs are against the wall, trailing LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1 in the series. The Miami Heat, however, aren’t looking at it as a numbers game. They are going with the proverbial one game at a time theory.

“Everybody is doubting us,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “But as long as the people in the locker room and all our coaching staff have belief in us, that’s all that matters.” Adebayo and the Heat believe they can win three straight.

“Whatever the storylines that are out there, we don’t care,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Our guys are the ones who are out there in the arena marred by dust, blood, sweat and tears.”

Jimmy Butler remains full of confidence

Veteran Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler said the Miami Heat remain a confident team despite the unenviable position they are in being down 3-1. He said the team remains confident. Butler said it’s his job to make sure it remains high because that’s what it’s going to take for them to get back in the series with the Lakers.

“We’re so comfortable with who we are and how we play that that’s what we’re going to go out there and do,” Butler said, according to CBS Sports. “And we’re going to live with the end result. Obviously, we want it to be a win, but we just got to lock in on us knowing that we can control a lot of these things, but our confidence ain’t going nowhere.

” It’s going to stay high. I’m going to make sure that it stays high because it’s going to have to be at an all-time high to get this next win.”