The Miami Heat have repeatedly been on the verge of true NBA greatness over the last few seasons.
Back in 2020, they went all the way to the NBA Finals before being taken down by LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and their Lakers squad in the Orlando Bubble.
They struggled a bit after that but rebounded last season when they grabbed the top spot in the East but failed to go all the way because of the Boston Celtics.
The 2022-23 season hasn’t started wonderfully, with the team sitting at a 2-5 record currently.
“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 https://t.co/ZD16SY1goK) pic.twitter.com/qfF5sGQIvQ
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) November 1, 2022
But that doesn’t mean anything to the team’s leader, Jimmy Butler.
Butler recently brushed off the ho-hum start for his team and vowed greatness in the months ahead:
“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.”
Can Butler make good on this promise or is the East just too crowded and too competitive for the Heat to break through?
Heat Need To Get Hot
There are a few very talented stars on the Heat roster.
Obviously, Butler is leading the way with 21.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists a game.
Bam Adebayo is fighting to win Defensive Player of the Year with his 17.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry is looking better again, Tyler Herro is earning his contract extension, and other guys like Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Gabe Vincent are putting in good work.
Still, that won’t be enough.
You have to remember just how competitive the East is right now, with the Milwaukee Bucks on a tear, the Celtics remaining strong, the Cavaliers rising, and a few other dark horses making life hard on opponents.
The Heat have impressed and overperformed before but this is perhaps the hardest time to do that again.
NEXT: 3 Reasons To Watch The Miami Heat This Season