After the 2022/23 season, the Miami Heat lost 2/5 main players in the finals and had to use rookies and reserve players to replace them. But contrary to everyone’s predictions, Heat’s performance not only did not regress but also showed signs of improvement. Because of having to deal with many injuries, the Heat used  31 starting lineups, more than the Celtics and Bucks combined. During that tumultuous period, the Heat posted a 35-29 record, better than their 33-31 mark during the same period last season.

Over the years, the Heat have proven that playoff seeding doesn’t matter to them. Although always in a low position, Heat always knows how to go deep. Last season, they became the first No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals since 1999.

“8th place, 7th place, 6th place, or 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, I don’t care. We don’t care,”  Butler told  Five Reasons Sports’ Brady Hawk earlier this month.

Heat is currently ranked 8th in the East and has a chance to climb to 4th place at the end of the season. With an 11-6 record from February 1 combined with an easy schedule for the rest, the Heat is completely capable of escaping the playing group.

Notably, Heat’s No. 1 star Jimmy Butler has started to “get into shape” and is ready for the explosive playoffs. At age 34, Butler is in his prime and is considered one of the number-one stars in the NBA today.

Jimmy Butler is still attacking effectively

3-point shooting has never been Butler’s strong point. As a freshman at Marquette, he attempted (and missed) four three-pointers all year. Butler only shot 26.6% on 3-pointers with the Heat entering this season.

That weakness is the reason why the 42.5% performance from the 3rd line this season surprised many people. Butler gave reporters an explanation for the suԀԀen improvement: “If I wаnted to, I could shoot a 3. But I just like to break into the paint and collide with my opponent, seeing who will fall first.”

At the age of 34, Butler still maintains that physicality and fiery style of play. He has 8.1 free throws per game, ranking  13th in the league. Perhaps no player in the same position is better than Butler at the ability to break through and аttаck close to the basket. A lot of Butler’s clutch shots came in that style, including a step back  against the Bulls at the last second.

Jimmy Butler and the Heat continue to improve defensively

The Heat have always been a tough defensive team, but showed signs of decline early this season. After being scored 118 points by the Suns at the end of January, Butler  admitted to reporters  that “we were subjective.” Heat ranked 13th  in the rankings in terms of defense at that time.

It was a turning point for the Heat and Butler personally. Since that admission, the Heat have become the 3rd best defense in the NBA, despite no major changes in scheme or personnel. Every area of ​​the heat plays more solidly, the players try to move more and coach Erik Spoelstra always makes reasonable adjustments and changes.

Butler has made the defensive team of the year five times. This season, Butler can hardly be named in the tournament’s defensive lineup, but his timely return couldn’t be better for the Heat. In reality, Butler is still a defender with extremely good defensive skills.

Jimmy Butler is getting more support than ever

This is not the most talented squad Butler has played with, but it is the most balanced.

Butler’s 24.7% usage rate is the lowest since joining the Heat. He is still the team’s main driving force, but Bam Adebayo is playing better defense, Jaime Jaquez is creating more space in the paint and the ball is circulating around the pitchers more.

Heat has 8 players averaging at least 8 shots per game. By comparison, Boston and Denver only have five players reach that mark.

It took a long time for Miami to find a way to operate like it does now. And now they have found the most effective way, and that is the weapon that the Heat will use in the Playoffs round.

“Now is not the time to show your opponents everything you’ve got,” Butler told Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes earlier this year. You have to keep them wondering.”

Don’t let the Heat’s position on the rankings fool you. This is a deep team with a league-leading coaching staff, an All-NBA-caliber player in Butler, and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Adebayo. The Heat have proven time and time again that it would be a mistake to knock them out of the championship race, and this year is no different.