The Miami Heat remain driven to win a championship after reaching the NBA Finals twice since 2020. These successful postseason runs were led by veteran star Jimmy Butler, whose health appears to be deteriorating. At 34, Butler has been instrumental in both the playoffs and securing a strong regular-season position for the Heat.
Bleacher Report forecasts the Heat will end this season with a 45-37 record, falling just short of last year’s No. 8 seed. According to B/R’s Andy Bailey, “It’s fairly certain that Jimmy Butler will miss a portion of the season, making it challenging to confidently project an easy over-under. However, there are enough positives to expect Miami to reach the mid-40s in wins.”
While Butler is expected to play a significant number of games in his contract year, team president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra are known for their competitive approach rather than tanking. Every game is viewed as an opportunity for victory, though the Eastern Conference’s strong offseason moves make a high record more challenging.
Bailey notes, “When Butler plays, the Heat consistently excel during his minutes. Alongside Bam Adebayo, he provides one of the league’s top defensive foundations. Miami also benefits from versatile playmaking from Jaime Jaquez, Tyler Herro, and Terry Rozier.”
Butler’s health will undoubtedly influence the regular season, but his primary focus remains a successful playoff run.
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https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-heat-bracing-for-minor-record-dip-with-jimmy-butler-s-health-concerns-01j5m8xxw13k
