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The Miami Heat have taken the Eastern Conference by surprise and surfaced as one of the teams that fans should keep an eye on through the early stretch of the season.
Jimmy Butler missed the team's first three games of the season after the birth of his child, but the Heat have steamrolled since his return, beating the Atlanta Hawks in back-to-back affairs and handing the Houston Rockets a 29-point butt-kicking on Sunday.
Just like that, the Heat (5-1) find themselves in second place in the East, trailing only the undefeated Philadelphia 76ers (5-0). Yet perhaps the most intriguing thing is how a team that was thought to be in the fight for one of the last playoff spots has surfaced as a real contender for the Eastern Conference crown.
Even before Butler returned, the Heat had shown to be one of the most well-rounded teams. Butler's season debut in the first game against the Hawks didn't deter this upward trail, but only enhanced it. Matter of fact, Butler doesn't lead the Heat in scoring, as most expected him to — rather being only the sixth-best performer in terms of scoring average (14.7 points per game).
Now that may be due to how well-balanced Miami is in terms of the firepower. A quick look at this chart will show that Butler is one of eight players averaging double figures, and two others coming mighty close to doing so in Meyers Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr:
No other team comes close to the steady barrage of capable scorers, and perhaps no other player is as cognizant of his team's strengths than Butler, who has quickly molded to become the team's primary playmaker and defensive stalwart.
In three games since returning from his absence, Butler has racked up only 44 points, but has his share of rebounds (21) and dimes (22) all while racking up 13 steals and four blocks.
This Heat team brings memories of a post-Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets team that made its mark as one of the best teams in the league with sound role players and capable scorers.
The addition of Kendrick Nunn has been key, as he has been everything the Heat had hoped for him to be and much, much more. Nunn is attacking with reckless abandon and cashing in on his chances from beyond the arc, averaging 19.5 points per game on 48.4% from the floor and 44.4% from deep after winning a starting spot out of training camp.
The Heat have even more firepower where that came from and a proven closer in Butler, who made his share of game-winners and buzzer-beaters last season with the Sixers. So far, Miami leads the league in point differential with a striking plus-11.6 points per game.
By the looks of it, Miami is no joke and should have no issues contending for a playoff spot with its depth and newfound spirit after quite the busy offseason.
