Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing the NBA season 53-29, just outlasting the teams that were chasing them. The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers all finished the season with 51 victories as the seeding was figured out via tiebreakers.
Miami does not yet know their opponent for the first round of the NBA Playoffs, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will be hosting the Atlanta Hawks in the final Play-In Game. But, it sounds as if there will be some pressure on the team.
As the No. 1 seed, you are expected to perform well in the postseason. The Heat overcame obstacle after obstacle during the regular season, as the lineups constantly changed yet the team kept plugging away.
Having a head coach the caliber of Erik Spoelstra certainly helps, as he helped the team stay the course. But, there were a few times that things looked dangerously close to boiling over. The most public was a March 23rd game against the Golden State Warriors when heated words were exchanged in the huddle between Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler, which Udonis Haslem intervening.
LATEST NBA NEWS: 5 Bold Predictions Ahead Of 2022 NBA Playoffs
Not even that could knock Miami off course, as they went on a six-game winning streak near the end of the season to cement their place atop the standings. Now, it is time to make that same statement in the postseason, otherwise, there could be some changes on the horizon.
According to The Athletic, a paid subscription website, there is speculation that Butler could be moved this offseason should the Heat suffer an early exit in the postseason. While that seems very unlikely, as Butler just signed a three-year extension worth $146 million last offseason, rival players have thought the same.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Many NBA Scouts & Execs Don’t View Russell Westbrook As Useful
Those players believe that Heat ‘culture’ is beginning to take its toll on Butler and he could seek a trade himself this offseason if they do not win. Butler is seemingly the embodiment of the culture that the Heat preach and have instilled, but sometimes two entities that are so similar will eventually butt heads and need a change.
Should Miami fall short of its goal to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it sounds as if a change could be on the table. Adding Butler in the NBA rumors mill would add to what is expected to be a busy offseason.
