Tag Archive for: Jimmy Butler

A Familiar Starting Lineup Likely Against OKC

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Miami has played five games to this point, and each of those games have had a different starting lineup.

Until now. Well, I think.

The Miami Heat will be facing off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they match-up pretty well with them since Andre Iguodala is the placeholder 4 right now.

Oklahoma City basically starts three guards: George Hill, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Lu Dort. That most likely means Jimmy Butler will take the match-up of Shai, while Tyler Herro most likely guards Hill and Duncan guards Dort.

The Thunder also start an undersized four, Darius Bazely, and he’s coming off an impressive performance against the Orlando Magic. Andre Iguodala clearly matches up well with the 6’8 Bazely, and although there’s questions about what the future holds for Miami’s power forward position, they can win plenty of regular season games with him there.

And of course Bam Adebayo will match-up with Al Horford. There definitely isn’t much to dive into with that match-up since you feel comfortable with Bam on defense no matter who he is matched up with.

Now, the bench is where Miami really can pull away early. First off, having Goran Dragic head in with the bench unit is a positive in itself, but it’s even better when a rookie, Theo Maledon, will be matched up with him for some time.

Goran’s craftiness allows him to break down a lot of young guys without experience, which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if Theo gets in early foul trouble.

Another guy that will be utilized for some time tonight is Kelly Olynyk. The Thunder play a bunch of bigs off the bench, including Mike Muscala and rookie Aleksej Pokusevski.

When Muscala gets thrown in off the bench, I’d expect Spo to do the same with Olynyk. Precious Achiuwa can also see time on him, but there are plenty of athletic 4’s and bigs on the roster that make more sense for Achiuwa from a match-up perspective.

This is game that Miami should win, especially coming off of a terrible shooting night against the Dallas Mavericks.

Limiting turnovers will be a huge priority for Miami as well, since they average the most turnovers a game in the NBA.

It’ll also be necessary to see Jimmy Butler play like Jimmy Butler. Not Finals Jimmy, but the high energy Butler many are used to.

We will see what happens tonight, as Miami looks to go to 3-3 on the season.

What is the Actual Issue with Miami’s Shooting?

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The Miami Heat had one of their poorest shooting nights in a very long time on Friday, going 0 for 14 from three in the first half.

Now, the issue with Miami is not the three point shooting specifically, since this won’t happen much. There will not be many times that Duncan Robinson shoots up 8 threes in a game and only makes one.

The actual issue is when you begin to dive into the numbers of their offense inside the three point line. Miami was one of the best three point shooting teams this past season, so it’s clear they must stick to their roots, especially when Duncan Robinson is on the floor.

But, three point shots are generated by the activity around the basket and mid-range area.

The Heat are currently 28th in the NBA in 2 point field goal attempts per game, and that can be problematic.

Now, you can point to the fact that Jimmy Butler has been out and he is the heart and soul of their offensive attack, but just because he’s not out there should not result in a lack of penetration.

You may also point to the turnover issues this team has endured, since that ultimately means they have less possessions offensively. That’s a reason Coach Spo alluded to getting “shots on goal” before their match-up with the Mavericks, but getting “shots in goal” may have been more effective.

Although these statements can be used as counters for being third to last in the NBA on two point attempts, it doesn’t make it any better. One of the main reasons the Golden State Warriors were effective from three is that they generated a lot of stuff from the mid-range and paint early on.

Now, to add on to that, Miami ranks 27th in shot attempts per game less than 5 feet from the basket. And that stat right there is the true tell.

Once again, Jimmy Butler is a big proponent of utilizing a floater in that area, but it still falls onto others. Bam Adebayo has been expanding his range little by little each game, which definitely is a positive, but at times he will be needed to attack. The reason his jumper has been discussed is to broaden his game a bit, so it will open up his ability to drive to the basket. We saw him do it a bit in the win over Milwaukee, and it’ll be needed going forward.

Bam shouldn’t be the only one to blame. Guys like Andre Iguodala settling for threes early in the game is not ideal, but if he would put the ball on the deck and get to the basket, opportunities will begin to form.

The point is that Miami’s three point shooting can be their biggest strength, but also their biggest downfall.

It just comes down to realizing what the defense is giving them. And since Duncan has made his way to the top of the scouting reports for other teams, getting inside the paint will maximize the play of both Duncan and everybody on the floor.

A lot of the top teams seem to be struggling to start the season, but the good thing about Miami’s struggles is that they’re visible.

Turnovers are the primary issue, followed by getting to the basket which leads to getting to the free throw line. And by the way, the Heat are in the middle of the pack in free throw attempts, which should take a leap once Jimmy gets his rhythm.

Either way, the Miami Heat have some things to clean up, but I don’t think they’re as dramatic as some people think they may be. It all comes down to their leader and star, Jimmy Butler, since he can take control of a game and a team when he needs to, and I feel like that is coming soon.

Who Benefits Most from a Jimmy Butler Return?

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Jimmy Butler is probable for tonight’s match-up against the Dallas Mavericks, and although they came out with a win without him on Wednesday, he will clearly be needed today.

One thing that is always discussed when talking about Jimmy Butler is his impact when on the floor. That was obvious after Miami got obliterated by Milwaukee on the first night of the back to back, since most of the guys just don’t seem comfortable when he’s not on the floor with them.

Every single player benefits when Jimmy shares the floor with them. It allows Goran Dragic to take less of a load from the last game and it gives Bam Adebayo added security on the defensive end.

But who profits the most from his return?

Well, that would most likely be Duncan Robinson. When people discuss the player that helps Duncan out the most, the name Bam Adebayo usually comes up, and rightfully so since the dribble hand-offs they run are un-matched.

But Jimmy Butler being on the court opens up the floor for Duncan tremendously. The word gravity is always tied with Duncan, but it should be tied with Butler as well, since the worry he puts on a defense when putting his head down to attack should not be understated.

Not many on this team attack the basket at the level of Jimmy Butler, except for maybe Goran Dragic, but he’s usually not looking to create for others on the perimeter when he drives in.

In the first game without Jimmy, Duncan was 1-4 from three, and followed that up the next day going 2-4 from three.

Only attempting four threes is something that must change for Duncan going forward, since he is their key to a successful offense. But just watch how many shot attempts Robinson gets up tonight when Jimmy returns.

Jimmy Butler will probably have to guard one of the leagues brightest young stars, Luke Doncic, tonight at times, so it’s clear somebody will need to step up on the offensive end to take the load off of him.

And I would expect that guy to be Duncan Robinson.

Heat trade

5 Most Important Trade Days in Heat History

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The Miami Heat have never been shy about pulling the trigger on a big trade. Throughout franchise history, the Heat have targeted and secured some of the most important and talented players in the league. These days, trade rumors link the Heat to James Harden, an eight-time All-Star, three-time scoring champ and one-time league MVP.

Although recent reports indicate talks between the Heat and Houston may have stalled, Miami may pounce at any time. The Heat have a long history of trading for disgruntled stars in their prime. For Miami, it’s a matter of leverage, and rarely have the Heat lost this type of trade.

Blockbuster deals litter Miami’s history and each has seen the franchise vault into championship contention. Here’s a look at the five most important trade days in Heat history.

Heat Trade History: November 7, 1994

Arguably the most consequential trade in Miami Heat history came on November 7, 1994. On this date, the Heat dealt a young, future All-Star, Steve Smith, and a franchise cornerstone, Grant Long, with a 1996 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for All-Star forward Kevin Willis and a 1996 first-round pick.

The Heat were coming off their first winning season and second playoff berth. They sported a talented young core and seemed to be on the rise in the Eastern Conference. But things soured with managing partners Lewis Schaffel and Billy Cunningham as the two embarked on a sudden roster retooling.

They traded Rony Seikaly to Golden State for Sasha Danilović and Billy Owens on November 2nd, then followed that with the Willis deal.

“I think there’s not one person in this world that has had any relationship with Lewis Schaffel that has continued to stay friends with Lewis,” Seikaly said after the trade.

Smith, then 25, was coming off a 17.3 points-, 5.1 assists- and 4.5 rebounds-per-game season and a summer appearance with “Dream Team II.” Smith criticized the Seikaly trade, only to find himself shipped off two games into the season.

This would be the last trade Schaffel and Cunningham would make for Miami.

The ’94-95 Heat flopped and the two would sell their club interest to franchise patriarch Ted Arison’s son, Micky, before the season even ended.

As the new managing partner, Arison hired Dave Wohl as GM. Wohl fired head coach Kevin Loughery and replaced him with Alvin Gentry on an interim basis to try to shake up the 17–30 Heat.

Heat fans may barely remember Willis’ tenure with the club. He averaged 14.2 points and 10 rebounds-per-game over parts of two seasons before being dealt away.

But this is one of the most important trades in Heat history because not only did it lead to Micky Arison acquiring controlling interest in the club, it also directly led to two other integral moves.

Enter Pat Riley

Following a disappointing ’94-95 season, new Heat management sought to reshape the franchise and looked to bring in Pat Riley. The former New York Knicks head coach had suddenly resigned after the ’94-95 season, reportedly rejecting a five-year, $15 million contract extension to stay in the Big Apple. Riley had one year left on his deal, but sought more control of the roster in New York, something team president Dave Checketts and GM Ernie Grunfeld weren’t willing to cede.

Riley reportedly negotiated a $40 million deal that included a 10 percent ownership stake with Micky Arison secretly. As a result, tampering charges were filed and the Heat were forced to surrender $1 million and a first-round pick to the Knicks.

The pick they sent? The one they’d landed in the Willis deal, Atlanta’s 1996 first round pick.

The “trade” officially posted on September 1, 1995, then Riley came on board in Miami. The city celebrated his arrival with a parade and shortly thereafter, Riley remolded the roster in his own image.

The Knicks, meanwhile, selected Walter McCarty with the No. 19 overall pick in 1996. McCarty played one season in New York, 35 games, averaging 1.8 points-per-game. He was traded to Boston ahead of the ’97-98 season. He played 10 seasons in the NBA, mostly as a reserve, and averaged 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds-per-game for his career.

Heat Trade History: November 3, 1995

Pat Riley entered his Heat tenure aiming to make Miami a contender. So he did, for the first time, what would become his pattern: Riley targeted a disgruntled All-Star in his prime.

Alonzo Mourning had rejected a seven-year, $70 million contract extension in Charlotte earlier that offseason and things seemed destined for a breakup with the Hornets. Mourning reportedly wanted $13 million-per-year, but Charlotte couldn’t afford that after signing forward Larry Johnson to a 12-year, $84 million contract extension in 1993. (That deal made Johnson the richest athlete in the history of team sports at that point in time, and Zo wanted more.)

Riley identified Mourning as the centerpiece for his rebuild, a player in the mold of Patrick Ewing, his center in New York. Mourning came to Miami as a two-time All-Star and a someone who’d averaged over 21 points, 10 rebound and three blocks-per-game. So he flipped the final piece of Miami’s initial young core for the future Hall-of-Famer.

On November 3, 1995, the Heat sent Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, Khalid Reeves and a 1996 first-round pick to Charlotte for Mourning, Pete Myers and LeRon Ellis. Mourning immediately agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract extension and the rest is history.

Rice, meanwhile, left Miami as the franchise leader in points and games played. He’d won Miami’s first 3-Point Shootout crown the year prior and remained on an upward trajectory. Rice would go on to be a three-time All-Star for the Hornets and a two-time All-NBA performer. Rice would win a championship before Mourning, getting his lone title as part of the 2000 LA Lakers squad.

Deadline Day, 1996

Zo needed a running mate and Riley found him one later in that first season with Miami. On deadline day in 1996, Riley and the Heat made three separate trades to bolster the roster. The biggest deal landed Miami Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling from Golden State for Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis.

The Heat had started that season well, going 11-3 through the first 14 games. But they languished after that, heading into the deadline at 24-29. Riley then reached for another disgruntled star Hardaway. He also landed veterans Gatling, as well as Tyrone Corbin, Tony Smith and Walt Williams in separate deals.

With a depleted roster after the deadline, the Heat faced Michael Jordan and the (eventual) 72-10 Chicago Bulls with just nine active players. The Heat upset Chicago 113-104 in what marked most memorable victory in franchise history at that time. Rex Chapman led the Heat that night, going for 39 points including 9-of-10 shooting from three.

Hardaway arrived soon thereafter and promised Mourning a playoff berth. He and Zo turned the season around and helped Miami make its third playoff appearance. The two would develop into one of the most potent tandems in the league and helped get the Heat to the top of the Eastern Conference over the next several seasons.

Heat Trade History: July 14, 2004

The course of Miami Heat history would change trajectory again in July of 2004 when Riley set his sights on yet another disgruntled star. Shaquille O’Neal’s falling out with the Lakers led to Riley pouncing on the future Hall-of-Famer. O’Neal and Bryant’s relationship soured, and the Lakers elected to appease their bright young star instead of the aging big man in the wake of the 2004 NBA Finals loss to Detroit.

The Heat featured an intriguing young core led by Dwyane Wade and were coming off a Conference Semifinal appearance. Miami flipped much of that young core to get their hands on Shaq. The Heat sent Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Lamar Odom (three starters), plus a 2006 first-round pick and a 2007 second-round pick to LA for O’Neal.

This seemed like a steep price for a player many felt was on the back end of his prime. But this trade led directly to Miami’s first NBA Championship. O’Neal should have been the league MVP in 2004-05 and had Wade not injured his ribs, this group may have hoisted two titles.

Interestingly, the Heat reacquired Steve Smith and Alonzo Mourning that season as well. Smith would retire after the ’04-05 season, but Mourning stayed around to help the Heat win the title in ’06. That ’06 title team took shape after Riley engaged in the largest trade in NBA history, a five-team trade that saw Miami land James Posey, Antoine Walker and Jason Williams.

Heat Trade History: July 10, 2010

The Heat shocked the sports world in 2010 with the arrival of the Big 3. While most tab these moves free agent signings, the acquisitions of LeBron James and Chris Bosh were technically sign-and-trade deals.

For James, the Heat shipped out a 2013 first-round pick, a 2016 first-round pick, and second rounders in 2011 and 2012, as well as the rights to a pick-swap in 2012. Of those four draft picks, Milan Mačvan, Jae Crowder, Nemanja Nedović and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, only Crowder played for Cleveland, but that wasn’t until 2017, several years into his NBA career. Luwawu-Cabarrot pick, though, helped facilitate the Cavaliers trade for Kevin Love in 2014.

The Bosh deal featured a pair of 2011 first-round picks going to Toronto, one which the Heat eventually reacquired and one which originally belonged to the Raptors.

The pick that eventually became Jonas Valančiūnas, the 2011 fifth overall selection, landed in Miami as part of a deadline deal 2009. That trade saw the Heat ship Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks and cash to Toronto for Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, a 2011 first- and a 2010 second-round pick.

The pick that eventually became Norris Cole made its way through three other franchises before returning to Miami. The Heat sent to Toronto in the Bosh sign-and-trade, then the Raptors sent it to Chicago for future Heat player James Johnson in February of 2011. The Bulls picked Cole in 2011, then traded him to Minnesota with Malcolm Lee for Nikola Mirotić.

The Heat acquired Cole from Minnesota on draft night in 2011. Miami picked Bojan Bogdanović with the No. 31 overall pick (second round) and used that to land Cole. Interestingly, the Heat had the choice of Cole or Jimmy Butler at that point in 2011.

The Big 3 Era Pays Off

The Heat floundered in the wake of their 2006 championship. O’Neal’s relationship in Miami deteriorated and saw the big man moved to Phoenix in a trade. Riley retooled the roster around Wade and O’Neal but never found the right combination before trading Shaq away in 2008.

The pieces he landed in that deal were Marion and Banks. Those two were integral in later trades for Jermaine O’Neal and the 2011 first-rounder which helped facilitate the Bosh sign-and-trade.

The Heat won two NBA titles and made four straight Finals appearances before seeing James walk in free agency. It took some time, but the lean years post-Big 3 era led to another interesting young core. Riley then used it as trade assets yet again.

Heat Trade History: July 6, 2019

The Miami Heat’s long history of targeting disgruntled stars led to the trade acquisition of another such All-Star in July of 2019. After engaging the Minnesota Timberwolves in trade talks for Jimmy Butler in 2018, the Heat got their man nearly a year later in a four-team deal with Philadelphia, Portland and the LA Clippers.

The Heat shipped off their own malcontent in Hassan Whiteside to the Blazers and Josh Richardson to the 76ers. They also sent a 2023 first-round pick to the Clippers to help facilitate the deal. In return, Miami landed Butler and Meyers Leonard. Also involved in that deal was current Heat forward Maurice Harkless, who almost came to Miami then but went from Portland to the Clippers instead.

On that same day, the Heat sent three future second-round picks (2022, 2025 and 2026) to Indiana as part of a three-team trade. The Pacers landed TJ Warren from Phoenix, while Miami received KZ Okpala from the Suns.

This trade helped solidify the young core in Miami and the Heat went on to a surprise NBA Finals run in 2020. Led by Butler, the Heat won the Eastern Conference Championship and took the LA Lakers to six games in the Finals.

There’s no telling when the next big trade will happen. But if there’s a disgruntled star out there, rest assured that Pat Riley will be engaged in trade talks. And if the Godfather is involved, the outcome always comes out in Miami’s favor.

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler: The Perfect Match

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When discussing Bam Adebayo, it’s never about will he take that next leap, but instead when will he take that next leap.

In the two preseason games to start the season, the improvements in his offensive package involving the mid-range jumper have been clear. But if you think he’s getting major opportunities now on offense, just wait til Jimmy Butler lines up next to him.

Something I’ve mentioned lately is that although many speak about the offensive gravity that Duncan Robinson holds when on the floor, Jimmy Butler does as well.

Sometimes he doesn’t look to score early in the game, but once he starts attacking, it just truly opens everything up for the entire team. And after losing in the NBA Finals this past year, I can guarantee Jimmy won’t be taking any regular season game lightly.

The reason Bam Adebayo will benefit majorly from Jimmy’s offensive aggressiveness and flow is because he will have many open shots from about 12 to 15 feet. And if he doesn’t shoot those open jumpers, he will be hearing it from Jimmy.

Whenever Jimmy would drive and kick to him last season, he usually took one dribble into a floater, which obviously is great to use as well, especially for a center. But making a defense worry about that 15 footer just opens that up even more.

Another thing to note is that Jimmy Butler will be directing traffic a lot this season with the ball in his hands, and he will look to work the ball into their offensive staple. The offense runs through Bam just through his ability to pass, set screens, and hand-off, but adding that element creates the leap that many have been waiting for.

There’s a reason that this organization gave Bam the nickname “no ceiling,” and that’s because even after he perfects his jumper this season, there are still tons of areas that still have room for improving.

Many always rave about Jimmy Butler’s perfect fit for the Miami Heat culture and organization, but what about the fit with Bam Adebayo?

I know Bam fits perfectly with anybody in the NBA, since he does everything on the court, but their games align just as much as their mentality and eagerness to win.

As much as people want to constantly discuss possible trade scenarios and things of that nature, just feel comfortable either way having two stars that are basically the same person.

Jimmy Butler: “I Don’t Give A Damn”

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Jimmy Butler spoke with media this afternoon, which was headlined by the usual “I’m just here to win.”

He began speaking about Bam Adebayo’s improved mid-range jumper in yesterday’s game, saying “He can shoot the three too.”

That statement clearly gets many Heat fans going, but a lot of the time it’s a confidence thing with Jimmy Butler. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t mean it, since he does, but instilling confidence in your young centerpiece is always good to do. He followed that up saying he wants Bam to “shoot 50 of them.”

He also got into the overall improvements that Bam is looking to make, saying, “I know that he’s better than he was last year…Bam is just gonna be Bam.” That always seems to be his opinion when speaking about him, since he knows what Bam is capable of.

Jimmy was then asked about the continued doubt that this team endured, saying, “I would like to think we have some decent players on this team…I don’t give a damn, Bam is learning he better not give a damn either.”

Finally, he got asked if he was surprised about the extension of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He replied, “Nope.”

He got into the fact that he’s excited to battle with him in the future, saying, “You can’t go around him. You can’t go around LeBron either. You have to go right through them.”

He began mentioning all of the teams in the East, such as the 76ers, Raptors, and Celtics, saying they have to go right through them as well.

Jimmy isn’t avoiding any type of match-up. Instead he’s just going to go out there and win basketball games.

 

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo Top 15 ESPN Rankings

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ESPN has released their top 100 players recently, which 11-50 came out on Wednesday morning.

For the Miami Heat, Duncan Robinson landed at 75, Tyler Herro landed at 59, and Goran Dragic landed at 58.

Those can be debated either way, but the main rankings that people were looking for were where Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would land.

Well, Jimmy Butler ended up at 12, while Bam Adebayo followed right behind at 13.

Jayson Tatum was at 11 right above each of them, which is questionable after Miami dominated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Joel Embiid came in at 14, which means that Bam Adebayo will be ranked as the 2nd best Center, only behind Nikola Jokic.

It’s hard to truly break down a list like this, since it is just plainly all over the place, which is expected since it isn’t easy to make these type of lists.

But seeing a guy like Zion Williamson be ranked at number 19 over players like Paul George, Bradley Beal, and many others just doesn’t feel right.

But back to the Miami Heat, it’s great to see Bam Adebayo getting the credit that he deserves. But seeing him at 13 and Zion at 19 makes me think they’re projecting forward, which makes sense.

Jimmy Butler being behind Jayson Tatum can be debated, but other than that it’s a decent ranking for Miami.

After seeing 11-50, that means 1-10 will consist of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, Damian Lillard, and Luka Doncic.

And by the way, if you asked Jimmy about the rankings, his answer would probably be that Bam Adebayo should be way higher than him. And that right there is why this team had so much success.

If Bam is the Engine, Jimmy is the Steering Wheel

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When Jimmy Butler spoke about Bam Adebayo in his media session, he said, “He’s the engine.”

This has been a statement that Jimmy Butler has been saying since he arrived in Miami, and it clearly is the truth. He’s the heart and soul of this Heat team, which is why he’s the centerpiece of the franchise.

But if Bam is the engine, Jimmy is the steering wheel.

Bam may be the one who “makes this team go,” but he also needs his leader to push him in the right direction. If Jimmy sees something on the floor or even in film, the team rallies behind him since they value his decisions.

Then of course you’ve got the tires, which sometimes could be new, but also could be used. Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, and others represent that, since even though they’re going to milk the use out of the used tire, a new tire will ultimately replace it in the long run.

The point is that every part of the car is needed for the thing to run, and that is what the Miami Heat represent. They hold each other accountable for a reason, and it’s because every piece of the team is necessary for the team to win games.

The media sessions with players is a circle effect. The leaders of the team praise the role guys, while the role guys praise the leaders. And that is exactly how it should be, especially since Coach Erik Spoelstra mentions chemistry in the locker room is one of the most essential elements.

And of course you have Pat Riley, who is the mechanic. If there is an issue with the roster going forward, a change will be made for the better, just as the mechanic improves the well being of the car.

And the well being of the car begins with the main elements. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo seem as ready as ever to start this season, since that run to the Finals was not just a “fluke.” It was a product of hard work, which was just a glimpse of what the future holds.

Jimmy Butler: “I’m Here To Win”

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Jimmy Butler got to speak with media this afternoon for the first time in quite a while.

He started off by looking back at his performance in the bubble, saying “We play this game to win and we didn’t do that. That’s all that matters…We get another crack at it now.”

He then got asked a follow up question, which was if losing in the Finals made him want it even more. He responded, “I didn’t have to make it to the Finals and lose it to realize how bad I wanted to win it.”

It’s pretty clear that this media session was Jimmy Butler at his finest, which was every answer having to do with winning, since that truly is all he cares about.

When asked about how he feels after the short off-season, he said “Nobody really cares. I have a job to do…Still go out there and compete, still go out there and win.”

He then began talking about specific players, starting with Bam Adebayo. He said, “That guy is what makes us go.” This is a statement he has said since his arrival and he’s sticking to it, especially since it’s even more viable this season.

He also spoke about Precious Achiuwa, mainly about giving him any advice. He said, “I try to give my knowledge to everyone I can, but I also like to ask others questions because I don’t know everything.

Then he finally got into this team as a whole. When asked about the past season being called a “fluke,” he responded, “I don’t pay attention to the outside, they don’t wear the word Heat across their chest…Me of all people, I couldn’t care less about what the outside thinks.”

He closes the session saying, “I hope we all learned that we belong, because we’re one of the best teams in the league.”

And when he says that, he truly means it. He’s as confident as ever with this Heat roster, no matter the uniqueness of this NBA season.

Bundled-Up NBA Games Favor the Miami Heat

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It’s pretty clear that this upcoming NBA season will be one like no other, and that includes bundling up games.

The NBA decided to do this to limit travel as much as possible, which ultimately means that teams will play an opponent twice over a short stretch.

When Meyers Leonard was talking about it, he said it’s just about “locking in,” and there are not many teams better at staying focused or locked in.

The reason I believe this favors Miami is mostly to do with Heat star, Jimmy Butler. One of his biggest strengths is that he is very dangerous when he can lock in on one team in a playoff series, by overloading on film and breaking them down.

And well, although it will only be a regular season game, nothing is stopping him from doing it once again.

Obviously there will be bundled up games that are on back-to-back days, like the Milwaukee Bucks match-up in the third and fourth game. But there will also be times when they play the same team over the course of a few days.

Another person that will have a field day with this concept is Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. It was clear that he is very good at making adjustments on the fly after he put it on display in the bubble. And now he gets to adjust yet again, but this time to his advantage, since similar to Jimmy, he can focus on one team over a short period of time.

Another thing that Meyers Leonard mentioned when speaking about it was “Less travel is beneficial for player recovery.” This one benefits Miami since they have a lot of key veterans on this team, including Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic, who could use any advantage given to keep their bodies rested.

But with all of the back-to-backs, the young guys will be needed heavily, and Miami has plenty of them.

It will be interesting to see Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra use this unique circumstance to their advantage, which will result in altered game-plans from one day to the next.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re beginning to get prepped today, since it is the first day of team training camp.