The Miami Heat had the biggest fall from grace in the Eastern Conference last season. They went from NBA Finalist to a team that was wiped out in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks, the team they had dispatched from the previous season.

Jimmy Butler and the Heat aren't sitting around moping about it, though. The outspoken All-Star was vocal as always in a recent interview with Jeremy Tache of Bally Sports Florida:

“We’re not running from anybody. We never will. We never have, and there’s no way around it. You gotta go through each and every one of these teams,” proclaimed the Heat star. “Bucks being one. The Nets being one. Philly being one. All the way down the line, we know that, and we’re ready to compete.”

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Knowing Jimmy Butler, his words aren't empty. The Heat may not be the most talented team in the Eastern Conference, nor the team with the brightest star on their roster, but they're not backing down from anybody.

The Heat struggled to put up wins during the regular season, just the same way their Finals opponent the Los Angeles Lakers did. With a lengthy offseason to recharge and a new face in Kyle Lowry joining the roster, look for Miami to contend for the crown they wore two seasons ago.