Original title: Butler’s single-core team has reached the upper limit, and many people in the Heat face the choice of leaving or staying this summer
On May 30, Beijing time, the 2021-22 NBA playoffs will continue. The Miami Heat are at home in the Eastern Conference Finals tiebreaker with the Boston Celtics. After the whole game, the Green Army defeated the Heat 100-96, and eliminated the opponent with a total score of 4-3. After 12 years, they reached the finals again. In the finals, they will meet the Warriors on a narrow road.
Frankly speaking, the Heat’s ability to fight the Celtics in the tiebreaker has exceeded most people’s expectations, and in the end, they also dragged the suspense of the game to the last minute.
Although the Heat did not create miracles, the team’s achievements this season have earned them enough respect.
In fact, the Heat encountered a lot of trouble this season. At the beginning of the season, due to the injuries of Adebayo, Lowry, Butler and other main players, the team once encountered a shortage of personnel. At the end of the season, a public quarrel between Butler and coach Spoelstra also appeared on social media.
However, the veterans of the Heat have enough overall situation and team awareness. They chose to put aside the controversy and achieved a winning streak in the sprint stage of the regular season, locking in the first place in the Eastern Conference.
In addition, coach Spoelstra also developed deep combat power on the bench during the most difficult period for the Heat. Struth, Vincent, Yurt Seven, Caleb Martin, and even Ola, who returned at the end of the season Dibo, under the coaching of Si Shuai, had a high-profile moment.
The addition of two veterans, Lowry and Tucker, cannot be ignored. This season, they have further enriched the Heat’s offensive and defensive level, and Tyler Herro has also recovered this season. At least in the regular season, he has become the Heat’s most trustworthy. One of the top scorers in the league and the sixth man in the league.
Of course, as the most powerful team in the league, the Heat’s ethos is still shaped by Butler as the cornerstone.
Although, in the regular season, Butler’s output has declined, averaging only 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and because of frequent physical soreness, his attendance rate is not high. But entering the playoffs, Butler completely took over the Heat’s offense, and used magical performances time and time again to save the Heat from the brink of elimination.
Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals became the epitome of Butler’s magical performance throughout the playoffs. That night, in Boston, he gave an epic and great performance. He scored 47 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 With a gorgeous statistic of stealing 1 block, he made his name stand alongside the sages of the NBA. Almost alone, he destroyed the Green Army defense line and tied the series to a 3-3 tie.
But in the end, in the competition of talent, Butler and his Heat team were one move behind, even if JB gave everything he could, he still couldn’t change the fate of the team’s exit.
Entering the offseason, Butler, Adebayo and Lowry still have long-term contracts in place, but Tucker has player options in hand, and it is doubtful whether he will return. In addition, according to the labor-management agreement, Hero is also eligible to renew his contract in advance. As for Struth, Vincent, Caleb Martin, Oladipo and others, they may also face the choice of staying or staying this summer.
At present, the most important thing the Heat want to clear is Duncan Robinson’s big contract. In the past few seasons, Dunro has been the main point of attack for the Heat on the outside. But in the latter part of the season, especially in the playoffs, Deng Luo was basically abandoned. However, he still has a four-year contract with an average annual salary of 18 million US dollars. If the Heat can send Deng Luo through proper operation Go, maybe, they will have some room for reinforcement in the future.
Facts have proved that one finals, one Eastern Conference tiebreaker, this is already the upper limit of Butler’s single-core leadership. Next, if the Heat still want to compete for the championship, then they must continue to upgrade the lineup and must find a weighty offensive helper for Butler.
In the past period of time, Embiid has repeatedly praised Butler in the media and expressed his desire to continue working with Butler. In the market, in the offseason, outstanding scorers such as LaVine and Beal will also become free agents. Will these people become the target of the Heat’s reinforcement? Obviously, this requires the thinking and decision of the boss Pat Riley. (Poirot)Return to Sohu, see more
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