Jimmy Butler has called the Miami Heat “soft” because he said the reigning champions of the Eastern Conference need a wake-up call and All-Star center Bam Adebayo needs to play bully ball again.
Miami suffered its third straight loss with a 119-111 loss to Minnesota, which entered Friday’s game with the worst record in the NBA. It was the Heat’s 10th loss in the past 16 games, dropping to 28-28 with 16 games remaining as they fight to avoid the play-in round that opens the postseason.
“It’s not frustrating because we do it so often,” said Butler. “It’s almost like we’re waiting for them to say it in a bad way. We just think we’re a good team, and then reality hits us, we feel humiliated. And I’m happy because that’s what this game does. Home, away. “It doesn’t matter what opponent you play against, you just go into the game thinking you are good. This is what is happening. “
“I’m glad it happened to us,” Butler said of the loss to the Timberwolves. “And if we don’t fix it, I hope it keeps happening to us.”
Butler declined to speak to reporters after several recent games, but didn’t hold back on Friday.
“I can’t tell you which way we’re going,” Butler said. “I don’t know which team will show up on any particular night.
The win allowed the Timberwolves to pass Houston and escape the competition basement for the first time since January 5. Minnesota recovered Miami 45-33 and surpassed the Heat 23-5 in odds for a second chance.
‘We’re just soft. That’s it, ”said Butler. “Not faced with melee, afraid of any contact. Soft in general.”
Miami hosts the Brooklyn Nets on Sundays (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Heat went into the weekend in seventh place in the East, 1½ games behind sixth place New York Knicks.
It’s been an eight-track season for Miami. Major players, including Butler, lost time early due to virus-related issues, leading to a 7-14 start. The Heat then went 15-4, which looks like the team that went to the NBA Finals last season.
And now comes this bad streak. Miami is hoping to become a playoff contender again, especially after making a trade for former All-Star Victor Oladipo last month. But he appeared in just four games with Miami and is now sidelined with a recurrence of knee problems. The team did not specify the last issue whether or not Oladipo will play again this season.
Miami is 4-20 if it allows 109 points or more, 24-8 if it keeps teams on 108 or less.
“We have to stop the teams on the defensive side,” Adebayo said. “The offense will resolve itself.”
Butler also said he wants more from Adebayo, the 2020 All-Star who signed a $ 163 million five-year extension starting next season.
“I want Bam to attack the rim because no one can stay ahead of him,” Butler said. “No one can stay for him. Go. They’re going to make fun of you or nail someone. That’s great. I love that he does long range jumps too, but he lets people off the hook. Play bully ball. Me like bully ball. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.