For a very long time, the Miami Heat have been among the NBA’s top teams.
The Heat’s culture has permeated every aspect of the organisation since Pat Riley and his high standards of performance first came into play. Nobody is above criticism, and the collective objective is more important than the skills or aspirations of any one person.
For this reason, when Jimmy Butler was signed and traded in the summer of 2019, he fit right in with the squad.
Jimmy is the primary reason Miami has advanced to two of the last five NBA Finals series because to his unwavering work ethic, leadership qualities, and capacity to improve his play in the postseason.
However, despite Butler’s guidance, the Heat have eventually failed to overcome their obstacles and realise their dream of becoming champions.
You may attribute that to a number of things. For example, Bam Adebayo’s injury in 2020 caused him to miss one-third of the Finals. Jimmy obviously played below his usual level for the majority of the second half of the 2023 playoffs because of an ankle ailment.
This past season was largely the same in terms of injuries. Due to a range of ailments, including repeated knee and ankle issues, Butler missed 22 games. He was unable to participate in the playoffs at all, missing all five of Miami’s games against Boston in the opening round.
Jimmy Butler’s advanced age will be a concern.
Naturally, Jimmy was pleased to declare in public after the series that if he had been playing, the Knicks and Celtics would have been at home. Butler has every right to think this as a rival, but Pat Riley obviously objected to it being stated in public.
The fact that he was off the court when it mattered most is still a greater problem.
Yes, Boston has been really successful this season, and even with Jimmy on the floor, there’s probably little chance Miami can beat them.
It would have been good to have the Heat’s best player on the court so we could have known for sure, but in an otherwise open conference and considering their history of playing head-to-head with the Celtics, it would have been nice.
This ultimately symbolises Miami’s Jimmy Butler issue. The simple fact is that he will be 35 years old at the beginning of the following season, and it is unlikely that he will grow any less prone to injuries.
Jimmy is as emotionally and physically tough as they come, so it naturally helps to have him in full strength on your roster during the playoffs.
However, the Heat do not wish to resemble the Clippers in the end. “Well, if only Kawhi Leonard had been healthy in the playoffs, things would have been different” has been the Los Angeles narrative for many years.
Given that Butler is two years older than Leonard, this comparison can be frightening. When all the chips are on the table, Miami should be extremely cautious about continuing to rely on the health of an ageing player who might or might not be available.
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