Warriors’ Jimmy Butler Drops Six Strong Words, Sparking Heat Fans Criticism. Jimmy Butler had a brief stop with the Philadelphia 76ers before eventually joining the Golden State Warriors. Though his time in Philly was short, it remains a hot topic among Sixers fans. In 2019, the 76ers chose to give Tobias Harris a five-year, $180 million contract—a decision that hasn’t aged well. Meanwhile, Butler signed with the Miami Heat in free agency before a sign-and-trade deal was completed. He played just 55 games for Philadelphia during the 2018-19 season before moving on. Many argue the Sixers would have been better off keeping Butler instead of Harris. Now, Butler is speaking out about his time in Philadelphia, and his remarks aren’t exactly positive.
After joining Philadelphia, Butler found a culture that he felt lacked accountability, with quiet film sessions and an inability to accept criticism or correct mistakes, as detailed by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater on March 24. “His direct approach didn’t resonate. His time with the Sixers was short-lived.”
Butler pointed to communication issues within the franchise as a major problem. “You have to be able to communicate with everyone,” Butler told Slater. “As long as it’s directed toward winning, the way it’s delivered shouldn’t matter. There’s no malicious intent behind it.” He mentioned tensions between players and coaches, as well as among players themselves, saying it felt like “you couldn’t talk to anyone.”
Tyler Herro is unlocking the Heat’s offense with his key skill
The Miami Heat dominated the Washington Wizards, winning 120-94 on Monday night at Capital One Arena. Here are three key takeaways:
- Tyler Herro’s Impact Herro has been one of the league’s top 3-point shooters this season, ranking among the leaders in made 3s, a performance that earned him his first All-Star selection. Opponents have started to pay more attention to him.
Since the All-Star break, teams have been assigning their best perimeter defenders to guard Herro, trying to limit his 3-point shooting. In response, Herro has started attacking the rim more. Coach Erik Spoelstra has commended his off-ball movement. Herro’s ability to leverage his newfound offensive gravity is significantly benefiting his teammates.
One example of this comes when Herro’s presence beyond the 3-point line forces Washington to make quick decisions. Pelle Larsson sets a screen, and Herro moves to the top of the arc. Both Wizards defenders aggressively focus on Herro, allowing Larsson to make a sharp cut to the basket and score an easy dunk, all thanks to Herro’s off-the-ball movement.
- Pelle Larsson’s Cutting Skills Larsson made all seven of his shots inside the restricted area, showcasing his ability to make easy scoring opportunities. His timing and ability to read the game have made him an exceptional cutter, making himself available for passes and quick scores.
- Bam and Tyler’s Two-Man Game As the Heat move forward into a new era, the chemistry between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro will become even more crucial. While they’ve built solid chemistry, it can sometimes feel a bit mechanical. However, they showed some impressive improvisation in a recent play.
Herro notices his defender trying to cheat over the screen and quickly drives to the basket. Adebayo anticipates the move and delivers a perfect pass to Herro for an easy layup. This moment exemplifies the “Take what the defense gives you” philosophy—reacting and adapting to the defense. Herro’s development has made these plays more frequent.
