The return of Jimmy Butler to the 305
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat(March 25, 7:30 p.m. ET)
When Butler met with the media for the first time after his trade from the Heat, he made it abundantly clear how he felt to be on the Warriors and out of Miami. He repeatedly talked about how happy he was to be with a team that wanted him, about having joy again on the court and about being able to play his game. It's a good bet that when Butler returns to Miami, he will want to remind the Heat of what he looks like when he's motivated and happy. For the Warriors, Butler has been "a franchise changer," as Draymond Green put it. In just four games with his new team, he's averaging 21.3 points and 5.3 assists. -- Ohm Youngmisuk
I have written repeatedly about how essential I believe playing with joy is to athletic success. The 2016/17 "Heat" was Team Joy. From 11-30 to 30-11. But to the Culture of the Dark Grandgodfather there is the perpetual struggle and hard work that he experienced as a player, the only joy coming in lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. All else is failure. Team Joy was only 41-41 and never even made the playoffs. But the Dark One chased Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, three players who did lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy, off. Even when you win it all for him, there is more. Everything is never quite enough. And it is not as if the last ten and one-half seasons have been much better than 2016/17. A yearly average of 45 wins and 37 L's.
Jimmy Butler was the heart of his Miami teams, and their soul, their "animating principle." He willed them to two Finals. He wanted to stay but the Grandgodfather wanted more from him, more availability--and I agree!--and insulted him, told him to "keep his mouth shut" that if he had been available, if he had not been injured, last season's playoffs would have gone better, and he refused to extend Jimmy--and I agree!--but also refused to sureound him with more help. Jimmy is now on the team that was Team Joy--and that won! He has brought the joy and the heart--"of a lion", new coach Steve Kerr says--and the drive back to the team by the Bay.
