With the Miami Heat coming off back to back losses and looking towards the Pacers, Jimmy Butler has informed the world that he will play. Marvelous.
The Miami Heat had a rough week. That’s the setup.
After dropping a close one to the Toronto Raptors on Monday, they then mustered up enough to beat the Celtics in a wire to wire win without Jimmy Butler.
Losing Goran Dragic at the end of that game with an ankle tweak, they then faced the Bucks on Thursday in what turned out to be a dumpster fire of a result. Note that we said “result” there, as the Miami Heat led for at least half the game, getting out to by as many as 23 points at one point.
So, without Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler already for their game against the Bucks in which they relinquished a 23 point lead to lose the game, they then had to face off against the red hot Phoenix Suns on Saturday. The kicker here though is not only would they be without Butler and Dragic, but also Kendrick Nunn as well, as he was absent due to what was listed as “personal reasons”.
In case we aren’t all keeping up, that is two starters and their main guy off the pine, three of their top six guys based on the science. To be specific, they were missing 51.6 points per game off their roster, that should hit home.
Have no fear though, Tyler Herro was here! Well, at least he played admirably, showing a skill set that he hasn’t shown that much of across entire games this season.
In fact, he was the Miami Heat’s pseudo-point guard and he performed better than you could have expected for his first full game as that guy. He was the story of Saturday night’s game.
He isn’t the story anymore though. This is.
Jimmy Butler tells @NYTSports after Miami's loss to Phoenix that he is on course to play Monday against Indiana after missing the Heat's last three games with a foot injury
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 9, 2020
The Miami Heat will have their leader, Jimmy Butler, as they prepare to face off against T.J. Warren and the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
Jimmy Butler has said that he will suit up this Monday as the Miami Heat get set to take on the Indiana Pacers. We are sure you all know why that’s important.
You know, that little dustup between Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren in their last matchup prior to the suspension? That’s the reason.
You also take into account the fact that Indiana Pacers, Warren’s team, has been on a tear since entering the restart and to a tune of 4-1, beating teams like the Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
What makes it just that much more interesting and imperative heading into Monday’s Heat/Pacers matchup is that T.J. Warren has arguably been one of, if not the most impressive, player in the bubble. Over his 5 games, he’s averaging 34.8 points on 60.5 percent shooting from the field and 55.5 percent from deep.
Of his 36 attempts from deep in the bubble, he’s made 20 of them. That’s some good shooting.
Take that, throw it in the cauldron with the fact that the Miami Heat need a win for their morality and seeding purposes right now, Jimmy’s disdain for Warren, and also that he hasn’t played in almost a week now, things have a pretty good chance to get volatile.
I tend to theorize that while he may have needed to rest that ankle, he was really ensuring he was supercharged for this matchup. So what, sew me.
I believe it. Maybe you don’t, but either way it goes, Jimmy Butler does indeed plan to give us fireworks in August. Better late than never.