While most of the media is focusing on other teams through the early stages of this season, Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are quietly off to the best start in franchise history. The only question is: are they for real?
For Butler, the answer is yes.
“We can't keep surprising people,” Butler said after Wednesday night's victory over the Cavs, via Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “We're for real. I don't think anybody wants to play against us and that's the way we want to keep it.”
Jimmy Butler believes no one wants to face the @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/NhlrEz8gVm
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) November 21, 2019
For everyone else, the answer is still yes.
The Heat aren't just off to a good start. They're off to a franchise-best 10-3 start, tying the best 13-game start in team history (the 1995-96, 1999-2000, 2012-13 and 2013-14 Heat were also 10-3). And furthermore, Miami is unbeaten at home thus far (6-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign).
Miami is beating teams soundly, too. In fact, Butler and the Heat have won four straight games, including Wednesday night's 124-100 victory over the Cavs. Three of Miami's last four games have been won by an average of 16.7 points.
Need more statistical information on the Heat? That's fine…
Miami is currently leading the NBA in team field goal percentage at 48.2 percent. How about the long ball, you ask? The Heat are second in that department at 39.6 percent.
Oh, but what about on the defensive end?
The Heat are leading the league in steals at 9.8 per game (Thanks Jimmy). Blocks, on the other hand, have been harder to come by, as they're ranked 14th. Points allowed in the paint have also been a bit of an issue, as they're currently giving up 46.0 per game (12th in the NBA). Overall, though, Miami's defensive rating comes in at 101.0, which is good for 3rd place.
Butler has been the driving force behind Miami's success. He's playing great on both ends of the floor, averaging 18.7 points on 42.0 percent shooting from the field (27.6 percent from beyond the arc), a career-high 7.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, a league-leading and career-high 2.7 steals and a block in 34.3 minutes per outing.
Butler, who joined the Heat this summer by way of a four-team trade, has become a leader on the team. The former 30th overall pick says he's happy to be in a place where he can be himself:
“The way that we go about stuff here… it fits me,” Butler said, via Will Manso of WPLG. “I'm allowed to be me. That's why I'm constantly smiling. Me may be wrong to a lot of people, but here, me is good enough
“We just care about competing, being the best version of ourselves,” Butler added. “We've got some dogs that have chips on their shoulders. They come in every day and feel like they have something to prove.”
13 games is a bit of a small sample, but the Heat appear to be for real indeed. Let's see if they can keep their momentum rolling.
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