3 reasons to be excited about the Miami Heat for the 2022-23 season

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 06: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks to pass during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 06, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

1. The dogged determination of Jimmy Butler

There are absolutely more aesthetically pleasing stars in the NBA than Butler. There may not be alpha dogs who play harder on a nightly basis than the versatile veteran wing.

Butler is one of those guys who simply refuses to give opponents a night off. His competitive streak is arguably his greatest skill. In many ways, he’s the ideal embodiment of the culture Riley and Spoelstra have worked so hard to instill in Miami.

It should be noted that Butler’s poor three-point shooting makes it impossible for him to drive efficient offense over the course of a full season. Last season’s effective field goal percentage of just 49.6% illustrates that accurately. Butler does possess the unique ability to take over games in clutch moments with his off-the-dribble game even in the absence of a quality perimeter shot.

Like a lot of players on this roster, Butler’s rugged defending is a skill that contributes to winning on a nightly basis. He still possesses reasonable quickness even heading into his age-33 season. His strength and defensive IQ permit him to stifle quicker point guards and bigger shooting guards depending on the night’s matchup.

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Butler is one of the most competitive guys in the NBA and that deserves to be celebrated. It’s a quality Heat fans can appreciate every time he takes the floor this season.

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