Jimmy Butler has described the Miami Heat as “soft,” saying current Eastern Conference champions need a touch of attention and that All-Star pivot Bam Adebayo is once again playing “bully ball.”
Miami suffered its third straight loss with a 119-111 loss to Minnesota, who entered Friday’s game with the worst NBA record. It was the Heat’s tenth loss in 16 games, falling to 28-28 with 16 games remaining as they struggle to avoid the play-in round that will open the postseason.
“It’s not frustrating because we do it so often,” Butler said. “It’s almost like we’re waiting for them, to put it bluntly. We just think we’re a good team, and then reality hits us, we feel humiliated. And I’m glad, because that’s what this game does. At home, away, no matter what opponent you’re playing against, you just get into the game thinking you’re good. That’s what happens. “
“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 did not hold back Friday.
“I can’t tell them which path we’re going to take,” Butler said. “I don’t know which team will perform on a given night.”
The win allowed the Timberwolves to move to Houston and escape the league’s basement for the first time since Jan. 5. Minnesota bounced back in Miami 45-33 and beat the Heat 23-5 on second-half chances.
“We’re just being soft. That’s all,” Butler said. “Not facing melee, afraid of any contact. Soft in general.”
Miami hosts the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday (3:30 pm ET, ESPN). The Heat enter the weekend in seventh place in the East, 1½ games behind sixth place, the New York Knicks.
It’s been a roller coaster season for Miami. Key players, including Butler, lost time early due to virus-related issues, which led to a 7-14 start. The Heat then went 15-4, resembling the team that went to last season’s NBA Finals.
And now comes that bad streak. Miami has held out hope of being a playoff contender again, especially after making a change last month for former All-Star Victor Oladipo. But he has appeared in just four games with Miami and is now sidelined by a recurrence of knee problems. The team has not specified the last problem or whether Oladipo will play again this season.
Miami is 4-20 when it allows 109 points or more, 24-8 when it keeps teams at 108 or less.
“We have to stop the teams on the defensive side,” Adebayo said. “The offensive will resolve itself.”
Butler also said he wants more from Adebayo, the 2020 All-Star who signed a five-year extension for $ 163 million starting next season.
“I want Bam to attack the hoop so no one can stand in front of him,” Butler said. “No one can stand in front of him. Voice. You’re going to make a foul or you’re going to nail it to someone. That’s great. I love that he also makes mid-range jump shots, but he lets people get out. “I play bully ball. I like bully ball.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.