Jimmy Butler Says Key To Recent Success Was Refusing To Get Down During Skid
This Miami Heat team has never been about folding.
If that were the case, it wouldn't have made it to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed last season. So dealing with adversity is nothing new.
A week ago, the Heat were in the middle of a seven-game losing streak. They refused to get down and turned it into four victories in the last five games. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday behind Jimmy Butler's 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
The reason for the sudden turnaround? Just having fun again.
"I think we're really back to having fun again," Butler said. We're smiling, we're joking around. Whenever you're having fun, good things happen."
The Heat even played well during their lone loss of this stretch, Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. They had every chance to win before faltering late.
"I actually think even though we lost to the Clippers, we were having fun," Butler said. "We were still hopping, playing the right way. We weren't down. I think we understand who we are. I think we may have gotten lost for a little bit in trying to be a squad, trying to be individuals instead of being a group. I think we've gotten back to that and it's looking really good."
The Heat return to action Sunday at home against the Boston Celtics.
Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.
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