Jimmy Butler’s Sharp-Pointed Message To His Miami Heat Brethren
To summarize it all, take this quote from their best player, Jimmy Butler. It’s the one from a piece by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that’s making the rounds.
"“At the end of the day, we’ve got to be honest with ourselves and everybody has to be better, one through however many people we’ve got on this roster, and figure out a way to win these games, whether it be home, away, no matter what the opposing team’s record is, no matter who we’re playing.”"
Speaking to the Miami Heat’s penchant, especially early in this season so far, to play down or play below their own standards of play against inferior opponents, here is another part of what Butler said that really stands out.
"“I would just say we think we’re that good that we’ll figure it out at the end,” he said, “and not do right the entire game, the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter. Like, I think U.D. said it best: We ain’t that good. We can’t afford to play a 45-minute game, or a 47-minute game. We need all 48. And, hell, if we go into overtime we need to play well in overtime, too. And do everything the right way."
And he’s right. There is no grand messaging needed, as it’s really simple.
The Miami Heat have to always play their brand of basketball in every single game they play. That’s how they win—in the regular season, in the postseason, in the preseason, in NBA Summer League—that’s how they win.