Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has never felt his team is an underdog.

The Heat had 60-1 odds in the preseason to reach the NBA Finals and are the clear underdog against the Los Angeles Lakers now.

However, Butler couldn't care less whether people pick them to win, even saying the team embraces being counted out. Butler also stressed playing the “Miami Heat way” has worked for the team all year:

Miami swept past the Indiana Pacers in the first round and easily dispatched the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

While the Boston Celtics gave the Heat a fight, Miami made all the plays late in games and defeated the Celtics in six games. Now, the Heat prepare to take on a Lakers team many pinned as a Finals favorite even before the start of the season.

Los Angeles lost the first game in both of its first two series against the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, respectively. However, the Lakers stormed back to win four straight games on both occasions.

The Lakers were tested by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, but still needed just five games to beat Denver.

While the Heat are the heavy underdog in the Finals, Butler and Co. are simply focused on playing basketball. The Heat also know the Lakers will have to contend with a well-balanced scoring offense, given the emergence of Tyler Herro in the bubble.

In any case, Butler and the Heat are confident they can win the NBA title, regardless of public perception.