ASK IRA: Has Jimmy Butler failed Pat Riley, or vice versa?
Q. Did Pat Riley fail Jimmy Butler? On the other hand, has Jimmy failed Pat Riley from the perspective of availability? Pat Riley has to start factoring in Jimmy Butler’ s knack for getting small injuries and wondering if building a team around Jimmy is worth it at this point.– Toney..
Q. Did Pat Riley fail Jimmy Butler? – Tee.
A: This is a double-edged question. On one hand, the Heat have not exactly attacked free agency in a way that best maximizes Jimmy Butler’s skill set; but they did bring in the player Jimmy designated as his preferred free-agency target, in Kyle Lowry. On the other hand, has Jimmy failed Pat Riley from the perspective of availability? Have Jimmy in the lineup more often this season and the Heat likely are not in their current predicament. So, basically, might as well move beyond the blame game and instead focus on the increasingly challenging task at hand.
Q: I just rewatched Friday night’s game and my feelings are about the same. Pat Riley has to start factoring in Jimmy Butler’s knack for getting small injuries and wondering if building a team around Jimmy is worth it at this point. – Toney.
A: But let’s also not take this too far. Jimmy Butler helped get the Heat to the NBA Finals three seasons ago and then within one win of last season’s NBA Finals. That, already, is a quality payoff. Even one more season of such productivity and the Heat would be well ahead of most signing curves when it comes to Jimmy. As it is, let’s not prematurely write off this season in December.
Q: Ira, are other teams in the NBA as inconsistent as our Heat seem to be? I don’t think I have ever seen the Heat be so inconsistent? What is the cause of this other than no consistency with personnel? – Brent, Wellington.
A: Actually, you answered your own question. The Heat have yet to establish a consistent degree of continuity. Until that arrives, you simply don’t know. When the Heat were whole last season, they were good enough to finish with the conference’s best record. Most of that roster remains.
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