Jimmy Butler Has No Interest In Miami Heat-New York Knicks Rivalry Of The Past

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler only focused on the present

The fact the Miami Heat are playing the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals brings up memories of the past. 

There's Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning, John Starks and Tim Hardaway and Jeff Van Gundy and Pat Riley. 

Well, Heat Jimmy Butler has one thing to say about the nostalgia: He doesn't care about it. His only focus is his team is up against the current Knicks.  

"Honestly, you're asking the wrong person," Butler said when asked about the rivalry and playing in Madison Square Garden. "I don't care where we play. We just got to beat them four times. I understand you're trying to hype it up ... Whether we play in Miami or whether we play in the Garden or we play at Rucker Park, we need to win four games."

The Knicks won the season series 3-1 and that's in the past, too. Butler once played for New York coach Tom Thibodeau when he played for the Chicago Bulls. Yep, that's in the past as well. 

"Ain't nobody worried about Thibs," Butler said.  

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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