Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler Says Team Not Giving Enough Effort During Losing Streak

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler gives his assessment of why the team has lost seven straight games

The Miami Heat has always been a franchise that prides itself on effort. 

A lack of that lately is what Heat forward Jimmy Butler blames for the recent seven-game losing streak. The latest loss came Monday against the Phoenix Suns. 

"I just think not enough effort," Butler said. "Getting beat off the dribble, consistently giving up offensive rebounds, not getting back. I think those are majority of the time effort plays. We just got to be able to do that a little better." 

Butler has done his part the last two games, averaging 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists in losses to the Suns and New York Knicks. Butler also refused to pin the struggles on lineup changes. The Heat acquired guard Terry Rozier last week and have used multiple starting fives throughout the season. 

"It don't matter what lineup you put out there," Butler said. "If we're not guarding, we're not doing what we're supposed to do, I feel like the same outcome is going to happen. No matter what five is out there, we still got a job to do. We still got to play the right way on both sides of the floor. No amount of trades, no amount of lineup changes is going to change that." 

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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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