The Pelicans let their play do the talking in a blowout 111-88 victory over the Heat on Friday night. After, Jimmy Butler had difficulty accepting defeat.
“I’m going to stand by what I said, we’re still the better team,” Butler said.
His comments came four weeks after the Heat and Pelicans faced off in New Orleans. After that game, a 106-95 victory at Miami, Butler said emphatically, “We’ll beat them next time, too. We’re just a better team.”
Butler is many things to the Heat, but a prophet is not one of them.
The Pels’ excellent defense shut down Butler and the entire Heat offense. Forward Herb Jones, expected to be a member of the 2023-24 first-team All-Defense team, locked down Butler, leaving the six-time All-Star with no room to breathe.
At worst, Butler’s comment following Miami’s ugly loss highlights an arrogance that could sink the Heat in the playoffs. In the most generous reading, he maintains his faith in a team that plays its best in the playoffs.
However, it’s hard not to make fun of him after his team failed to show up in a game where New Orleans’ two best players combined for four points. Forward Brandon Ingram (hyperextended knee) is out for at least two weeks, while power forward Zion Williamson scored just four points in 25 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back.
That’s even more concerning, considering the Heat should have circled this game after Butler promised a win.
With this victory, New Orleans (43-27, fifth in the Western Conference) is 1.5 games behind the Clippers for a place in the top four.
Miami (38-32, seventh in the Eastern Conference) fell 1.5 games behind the Pacers for sixth place in the East and is 4-6 in its last 10 games.
The Heat have a manageable late-season schedule with five of their final 12 games coming against the Trail Blazers, Wizards, Hawks and Raptors, teams outside the top 10 of their respective conferences.
But instead of Friday night seeing the Heat build momentum toward another deep playoff run, it raises serious questions. If Butler is right, why is Miami getting blown out at home by a team that is better than?
