Spoelstra to Heat after Butler's 2nd suspension: 'Get over it'
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra doesn't think his team should have a hard time playing without Jimmy Butler again.
"The point that I made to our team is you get used to it," Spoelstra said, according to the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. "Get over it. This is the NBA life. This is the life we chose. If you think that it's just going to be predictable, you're really mistaken."
The Heat suspended Butler for two games on Wednesday due to a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team." Miami handed Butler a seven-game suspension Jan. 3 for similar reasons, and he returned for just three games before being penalized again.
"We've had this happen all season long," Spoelstra said. "So we know the exercise and what we need to do to make those adjustments."
Heat guard Tyler Herro acknowledged Butler's absences have affected the team's continuity.
"I mean, what do you think? It's probably not the easiest to work with someone who's in and out, you know, in any job," he said. "So, we love Jimmy. We love for him to be here. And I love Jimmy."
Butler has reportedly asked team president Pat Riley to move him on several occasions. The Heat have said they'd listen to trade offers for the 35-year-old.
The five-time All-NBA team member averaged 13 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in the three games between his suspensions. He's averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across the entire campaign.
Butler will miss Thursday's tilt against the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday's clash with the Brooklyn Nets because of the suspension. The Heat have gone 8-9 without him this season.
Miami sits ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 21-21 record.