“We’re going to win the f***ing championship!” - Jimmy Butler pushes back against doubters after Miami Heat’s 2-5 start, dares people to ‘count us out’
After a disappointing 2-5 start, the Miami Heat’s championship credentials are being questioned by many fans and analysts. The Heat won 53 games and finished first in the Eastern Conference last season. They were a game away from the NBA Finals, losing in Game 7 of the Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics.
However, Miami's slow start to this season hasn’t affected All-Star forward Jimmy Butler’s confidence in his team.
In a recent interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Butler not only wasn’t worried about the Heat’s 2-5 record, but also made a bold claim that the team will overcome their recent form to win the championship this year:
“We’re still going to win the championship, and I don’t care what nobody says.
"Count us out. We’re going to win the f***ing championship. I’m telling you. I don’t give a damn that we started 2-5."
“We’re still going to win the championship, and I don’t care what nobody says. Count us out. We’re going to win the f*cking championship. I’m telling you. I don’t give a damn that we started 2-5.”
- Jimmy Butler
(Via @sam_amick theathletic.com/3749734/2022/1…) https://t.co/qfF5sGQIvQ
So far, the Miami Heat’s two wins have come against the 4-3 Toronto Raptors and the 5-1 Portland Trail Blazers. They also lost four of their five games by single digits. Given the talent in Miami, it is likely they will end up turning things around.
The Heat’s next game is on Tuesday at home against defending champions Golden State Warriors. The Heat will be seeking revenge following their 123-110 road loss to the Warriors this past Thursday.
Erik Spoelstra on the Miami Heat’s slow start
Jimmy Butler isn’t the only member of the Miami Heat who has shown confidence after the team’s slow start. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra also recently spoke about how the team is still close to .500:
“We are closer than we are further away from it, but when you add losses to it, it can feel like you’re further away."
Spoelstra added that there are also a few other top teams experiencing struggles, so it’s still too early for the Heat to panic.
“There are a couple of teams still trying to figure it out. It is way too soon for any team to panic."
Other prominent Eastern Conference teams currently off to slow starts include the Brooklyn Nets (2-5) and the Philadelphia 76ers (4-4).
Despite their slow start, the Miami Heat are also just two games back from being a top-four seed. It’s unlikely Miami will finish as the first seed again given how strong the Milwaukee Bucks (6-0) and Cleveland Cavaliers (5-1) have looked so far.
Given that the Heat have kept the majority of players from last season, they are expected to be a playoff team this season. It is only a matter of time before Butler and Spoelstra figure it out and go on a winning streak.
In seven games this season, Butler has averaged 21.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.