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You could argue the Miami Heat have failed to live up to the expectations that were bestowed upon the team heading into the current season.
Sportsbooks predicted the franchise would win around 49 games when everything was said and done.
However, the Heat need to pull off a minor miracle to hit that mark; the team is currently sitting at 38-33 and would have to win every single one of its remaining games to reach that number.
Miami can take some solace in knowing they’d also need to fall victim to a pretty brutal collapse to find themselves on the outside looking in when the playoffs roll around, as it seems like they’re on track to punch their ticket to the postseason despite their somewhat disappointing play.
Jimmy Butler has undoubtedly played an instrumental role in that push with the 22.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists the Miami guard has averaged over the course of the current campaign.
The NBA veteran is also a leader in the locker room—and it sure seems like he’s given his teammates some serious incentive to win based on what he reportedly subjected them to in the wake of a loss.
Earlier this week, ESPN published an article detailing what went down after the Heat lost to the Magic in overtime in a game where Miami was unable to take advantage of the 38 points Butler contributed to the cause.
I have no proof this is the case, but I like to think the Heat were motivated the win the two games they’ve played since then after Butler subjected his teammates to “the sounds of Nickelback coming from the portable speaker inside the Miami Heat locker room” while he “sang every word to each song.”
It’s only crazy if it doesn’t work.