A strained calf and toe sprain have sidelined Jimmy Butler for eight games and counting, but the Miami Heat star remains optimistic about the immediate future and is encouraged he’s feeling less pain now than has been the case across two issues in a month. Just don’t ask him about his unavailability through injury deeming him ineligible to win end-of-season awards, mind.
Butler: I’m smiling because I’ll be back soon
- On alleviating his injury severity fears: “I (initially) thought it was way worse than it really was, scared for a much larger reason because of a bruise or the bone. So glad it wasn’t [that], it’s getting better, I’m moving a little bit better… it was bad, not nearly as bad now. I can put my shoe on and tie it without too much pain,” Butler told Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson
- The six-time All-Star guard/forward has averaged 21 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 37.7 3P% in 24 games to date but should he miss five more games between now and April’s regular season finale, he will be ineligible for end-of-season awards – something the 34-year-old dismissed
- Miami (21-15) host Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando and Charlotte to finish this week and just announced an eight-year contract extension worth more than $100m for highly-esteemed head coach Erik Spoelstra
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton and most recently Ja Morant.
There are multiple examples but the latter recently returned from a 25-game suspension and less than a full month later, finds himself on the sidelines again – this time set to undergo season-ending surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Injuries are an eventuality, but in the first season new rules state players must feature in 65 regular season games to be eligible for end-of-season awards, the impact of those absences hit harder and will change the landscape of our new normal in a league often hesitant to adapt. Alas, not-so-subtle load management is no more.
“What you think? You think I’m worried about some reward? The only reward I give a damn about, is those [championship] banners over there.”
- Butler on becoming ineligible for All-NBA award contention, if he misses five more games
Of those who’ve played more than half their 36 games so far this term, two-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo (26 games, 34.3 MPG) leads the Heat in scoring (22.0), rebounds (10.3), steals (1.2) and blocks (0.9) as they target a defence of their tag as Eastern Conference champions once more come May.
Tyler Herro (22.7 PPG) has featured in 18 contests, while there’s been a lot of love afforded to rookie small forward Jaime Jaquez Jr (13.7 PPG on 50.7 FG%, 3.8 REB, 2.7 AST, 1.1 STL) as he’s assimilated quickly to flourish with more responsibility already.
While Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love are valuable NBA champions in their own right, injuries and age have caught up with them in ways that make neither a surefire contributor on a nightly basis, so the onus remains centred around the Adebayo-Butler combination firing on all cylinders when playing together.
Availability and consistency is key so it’s no wonder they’re linked with trade market moves over the next month, especially after sharpshooting role player duo Max Strus (Cavaliers) and Gabe Vincent (Lakers) departed for pastures new last summer.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 