Following Friday night's heated on-court altercation with the Pelicans, Butler and teammates Nikola Jovic and Thomas Bryant received suspensions for taking part in the scuffle. Butler will also lose roughly $260,000 in salary as a result of his enforced time off.
If we were Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, we'd be reimbursing Jimmy and putting it on our tax report as a business expense. Because having the Pelicans officially spark what many call "Playoff Jimmy Season" is worth its weight in gold bullion.
Consider February 23, 2024, the beginning of the Miami Heat's playoff run. Hold onto your butts, Heat fans. It's about to get white-hot in here.
That time of year https://t.co/hXuqLxUzy1 pic.twitter.com/bW8ZzpiaH4
— Ashish T (@ash_jester) February 22, 2024
The Friday-Night Melee
In case you missed it, Butler and the Pelicans' Naji Marshall were literally at each other's throats after Kevin Love wrapped up a Pelicans player in the paint with about 11 minutes remaining in Friday's game and the Heat up by four. Marshall stormed in to push Love, prompting Butler to confront Marshall, who then put his hand around Butler's neck before bench-clearing mayhem broke out. Butler earned himself a one-game suspension for instigating and engaging in the fight and will be out of commission for tonight's tilt against the Sacramento Kings. Cited for leaving the bench and fighting, Bryant and Jovic got three- and one-game suspensions, respectively. Marshall and the Pelicans' Jose Alvarado were suspended as well.
The Heat wound up winning the game 106-95 despite Butler's ejection.
"It just goes to show, we've been winning with or without guys all year long. This is no different," Butler said after the game.
Butler notched a few giggles from fans on social media when he poked fun at the suspension by posting the tune "Locked Up" by Akon and a photoshopped pic of himself and Jovic on the poster for the movie Bad Boys.
The Bigger Picture
It's no secret that the NBA's 82-game schedule is a drag, outdated, and likely, soon to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Much like the 162-game Major League Baseball season, it's become clear that there's too much going on in life and media to care about — much less pay attention to — so many games. There are simply too many entertainment options to lock in and dedicate oneself to watching basketball four times a week. If you look at it through that lens, the Miami Heat are ahead of their time. Miami has made it their mission to prove the NBA regular season doesn't matter until March. Trendsetters!
Whether limping into the NBA's bubble in 2020 and turning it into an NBA Finals appearance or last season's incredible run as an eight-seed to the Finals against the Nuggets, the Heat have proven that the playoffs indeed reset everyone's record to 0-0.
Rest assured, when the playoffs commence in May, no team will want to face the Miami Heat. Opponents know it, and the Heat know it. Everyone knows it. The Pelicans brawl only highlighted the fact that we've just about reached the Heat's favorite time of the year, and they are bringing the fury.
That said, just like in your day-to-day affairs, there comes a time to close all those tabs where you managed your fantasy football team and tweeting, in order to get the job done. Consider the Heat's browser tidied. Now it's back to work.
Currently positioned as the eight seed, the Heat are in a more comfortable position than their 31-25 record might lead one to believe.
With the Heat's roster in flux all season owing to injuries, trades, starting-lineup tweaks, and a general lack of cohesiveness, Friday night's kerfuffle with the Pelicans might be just what Coach Spoelstra ordered to get his team fired up and ready to take down the beasts of the East once again.Just gonna leave this here. #WINNING pic.twitter.com/dj6yOc3jmo
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 24, 2024
The Heat have won four of their last five games after a rough January marred by a seven-game losing streak. Butler Bedlam should provide the kind of motivation the Heat need to light their playoff fire.
The team will have 20-plus games and a few months to remember what it's like to play playoff basketball before the rest of the NBA decides to.
Welcome to 2024, Miami Heat. We've been waiting for you.
Thanks, New Orleans!
