Theirs is a complicated relationship, because most with Jimmy Butler tend to be. But it also is one of such respect that what is spoken and what is seen belies the fundamental admiration.
Yes, the not-so-secret handshake between Butler and Miami Heat teammate Max Strus is a pair of middle fingers directed toward one another.
But all it takes is a glance at Butler’s social media to appreciate that such enduring antics can only be built out of camaraderie, nothing toxic in the tone, certainly nothing of concern to coach Erik Spoelstra.
So there was Butler, after Friday night’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena, refusing to budge from the deadpan even when asked about facilitating Strus’ 16-point outburst in the game’s first quarter.
“He just stinks so people leave him open,” Butler said, not even his facial covering masking a smile. “Spo’s like, ‘Throw it to Max he’s wide open.’ So I got to throw it to him.
“I literally tried to look him off. It’s like, ‘OK, you got to throw it to him, he’s wide open. You know, he got lucky, made a couple of shots.’ I’m not impressed. I’m not. I’m not.”
And yet Strus is, because over these past two seasons, Butler has made the game easier with his facilitating, a teammate as willing to pass as to shoot.
“Me and Jimmy got a special connection that we’ve built since last year,” Strus said, aware of Butler’s ongoing mock indignation. “It’s my guy. He looks for me and wants me to be good. So I can’t ask for anything more. He’s been a great role model and vet that I look to. And he helped me along the way.
“So I’m going to keep playing off of him. And we’re going to keep playing through him, obviously. He’s a top player in the league. So he’s one of the best and we’re going to keep going to him.”
Closing time
Among the keys to Friday’s victory was Spoelstra utilizing Caleb Martin for the entire fourth quarter, mostly as a defensive deterrent against Trae Young, who went without a basket in that decisive final period.
Martin had started defensively against Young in Wednesday’s Heat victory in Atlanta, but was moved to the second unit with Butler’s Friday return from an ankle sprain.
Staying with his acerbic approach, Butler lauded Martin’s effort.
“I told Caleb he should start in my place if he can guard like that, seriously,” Butler said. “Because they had me chasing that little dude around. Look, it’s not an easy job to do. So I think if you talk to Spo, I think Spo might start him over me.”
‘Rio revisited
Former Heat guard Mario Chalmers has arrived in Sioux Falls, S.D., to begin his run with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Skyforce.
He spoke with the team’s website about his whirlwind that included a 10-day contract with the Heat that expired last week, and then his decision to move on to the G League.
“My life has been crazy the last month, or even more,” Chalmers, 35, said. “There has been so much going on, so fast. I have been through a lot in my playing career. But this has been a lot to take in.
“It feels good to be back playing inside the Heat family. It’s been a long time coming, especially for me. I was just happy to be back and happy to be still working towards my goal with the family again. It just feels right.”
There is ample familiarity for Chalmers, including time in 2008 Heat training camp with Skyforce coach Kasib Powell. Chalmers also had worked out in South Florida over the summer with Skyforce guards Brandon Knight and Mike Smith, and had played in the halfcourt Big3 circuit with Skyforce forward Earl Clark, the longtime NBA veteran.
“It’s going to be like having a coach on the floor,” said Powell, the former Heat forward. “That is one of the biggest benefits to a team. I am excited to get to work with him.”
