The Miami Heat are coming off amazing things over the course of the NBA offseason. With so many improvements, developments, and new wrinkles in tow, the wait of the regular season is sure to be as exciting as ever.
With those thoughts in mind though, it begs of a slew of questions surrounding the team. What will the rotations look like?
What roles will each guy fill? How will the team mesh, especially with so many new faces?
Will guys that have received a ton of new money be able to continue to thrive under the pressure that new contracts can place on a guy, namely Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo? Speaking of Robinson and Bam though, that leads to two more timely questions.
Can Bam finally step up more, in terms of looking for his own offense and being aggressive, something that will go a long way for the Heat? Will Coach Spoelstra and company add new ways to get Duncan going, as the dribble-handoff is becoming too predictable at times, it seems.
There are a ton of questions to be answered, though they have the requisite talent to answer them. Even among all of the curiosity though surrounding the team, there is certainly something that can’t be questioned.
That’s the steadying presence that Jimmy Butler is, provides, and will continue to be for the Miami Heat this season.
Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler Might Be In For Best Year Yet – Defending
Jimmy Butler has, arguably, played his best professional ball, ever, with the Miami Heat. Here’s the case.
He has maintained his statistical output in most areas, while increasing his statistical output from a playmaker’s perspective in Miami. Lastly, he’s done all of this statistically, while also greatly contributing towards winning at the highest level that he’s done it at.
Taking his team to the brink of a title certainly qualifies there. Going toe to toe with LeBron James to do it, minimally, the second greatest player ever and in example of the following fact… he’s had to do it all in Miami during his tenure.
That’s just where the focus is here today though. Here are three reasons why Jimmy Butler is, likely, in for his best season yet.
Defense
Jimmy Butler has been one of the best two-way players in the league since about his second or third year in the league. He’s a load on the defensive side for any guy in the NBA, from point guards to centers.
Outside of Bam Adebayo, evenly disbursed across most nights when Jimmy isn’t just worn out from doing everything else, he’s the Heat’s best defender. Well and outside of Bam again, he won’t have to be for the Miami Heat this season.
When you are talking P.J. Tucker, Kyle Lowry, and Markieff Morris, to name a few, those guys can help to take a ton of the defensive load off of him there. He might still be the best defender on the floor on a ton of occasions, but the key thing is that he won’t have to be.
That’s important.
Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler Might Be In For Best Year Yet – Playmaking & Scoring
The Miami Heat have counted on Jimmy Butler for a ton during his time with the team. That changes a bit this season and he’ll be all the better for it.
Playmaking
With Kyle Lowry in tow, the bulk of the out-front playmaking responsibility won’t fall on the shoulders of Jimmy Butler. That’s important, as he has again, had to do a lot of everything during his tenure.
With a bonafide point guard in tow, Jimmy can focus more on doing everything else that the team might need on a given night to win. While being a star of the league, he excels at the dirty work too but at a supreme level of making it happen.
He’ll be free to do more of that stuff, in one example.
Scoring
When it comes to scoring the ball, you hope the same is the case. On top of being a bonafide lead guy at the point guard spot, Kyle Lowry is capable of getting it done from anywhere on the floor on offense.
That should help the Heat a ton. Shooting nearly 40 percent from deep last season and on over seven attempts, his offense, alone, will greatly help Miami.
The Miami Heat should be expecting great development from Adebayo in the scoring department as well though, along with the increased confidence of guys like Max Strus. Either way, Jimmy won’t have to do it all there and that’s massive.
The sheer fact that he will be more free to do everything else that the team needs, outside of being their lead guy every night in each and every one of the three main categories mentioned above, that gives Jimmy a great chance to be his best. Playing in the best situation of his career and with the above all being true, this is why he has the chance to have his best year yet.