Miami Heat Have Gone From Jimmy Butler's "It's Time" Post To Fighting For Playoff Lives

After once being on pace for the No. 4 seed, the Miami Heat are now just hoping to avoid the play-in tournament

It was only a few weeks ago the Miami Heat appeared to show they were ready for the stretch run to the playoffs. 

Now, they have positioned themselves for another possible fight just to avoid the play-in tournament. On Feb. 23, forward Jimmy Butler penned an Instagram post that read: "It's Time." 

It came after he was ejected in the fourth quarter of a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. Many thought it was a sign of getting ready for the postseason, but the Heat have gone just 4-5 since.

"I wouldn't say frustrating," Adebayo said. "We just have to look at film how to figure it out." 

The Heat were in position to make a run at the No. 4 seed but four straight losses have them clinging to the No. 8 spot. Included in the losing skid was a bad defeat to the Washington Wizards. 

"I think a lot of it boils down to 50-50 plays, just execution and just getting stops down the stretch," forward Caleb Martin said. "Things that we are more than capable of getting done." 

The Heat have 17 games to figure it out or else they will have to once again deal with the play-in tournament like last year. 

Is Jimmy Butler Already A First Ballot Hall Of Famer?

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

For any Heat or NBA questions, please email shandelrich@gmail.com