Embarrassed by his knee since almost the start of the current fiscal year, Jimmy Butler has already missed fourteen games since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Heat star has also recently revealed not to be the best. To what extent can this impact the rest of the Florida franchise season?
Not having a 100% franchise player is not the most practical thing when you have big ambitions. The Miami Heat, any collective model, is no exception to the rule. Even if Tyler Herro or Bam Adebayo are able to step up in Butler’s absence, there is little doubt that the franchise led by Pat Riley would be much better off with its six-time All-Star able to chain the matches in great shape.
The latest statements from Jimmy Buckets, whose reputation as a tough player is known, were no doubt reassuring regarding his knee problems. Not said, however, that they have the desired effect with Heat fans.
“It’s going in the right direction, because I can play. I can’t say that I’m totally fit. But there are many people who are not. Every time I’m not playing, I’ll do something to make it better” – Jimmy Butler
It is recalled that the MIP 2015 has already faced some unfortunate antecedents with this part of his body. During the 2017-18 season, which he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Butler had meniscus surgery shortly following the All-Star breakand returned to the courts a little hastily as the Playoffs approached.
More generally, we are talking regarding a player whose last season with more than 70 games played in the regular season (excluding the particular case of the Orlando bubble) dates back to a time when Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell or even Ben Simmons had not made their league debut. While the native of Houston celebrated his 33rd birthday last September, and is currently playing his twelfth season in the NBA (not the King who wants to), the question of a real load management might soon become a real subject on the South Beach side.
With a record of 20 wins for 18 losses and a seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the time is not for panic on the side of Miami. However, the Jimmy Butler case cannot be overlooked if the neighbors of Rick Ross want to appear in the postseason.
Sources : South Florida Sun-Sentinel via HoopsHype
