Frustration manifests itself in different ways. Sometimes you shut up and turn inward. Sometimes you hit an innocent, unsuspecting pillow. And sometimes you just have to get into a good, old-fashioned screaming match. In the third quarter of the Miami Heat’s 118-104 home win on Wednesday night, Heat veterans Jimmy Butler and Udonis lost to the incredibly small Golden State Warriors. Haslem got into an altercation on the touchline, which eventually forced teammates to separate them as they yelled supposedly not-so-nice things at each other.
Head coach Eric Spoelstra also seemed upset with Butler when the Heat players came between them. Look:
While we have yet to get an explanation for the specifics of the disorder, it’s easy to see why Heath might be disappointed. After the Warriors had 50 points at halftime, the Warriors, without Stephen Curry, Clay Thompson, Draymond Green and other key players, started the third quarter 19-0 and took a 69-50 lead.
“It’s pretty clear. We have a very competitive, clumsy group and we got our asses kicked,” Spoelstra said after the game. “I would say that practically every person in that crowd was very encouraged by our disappointment in the way we play.”
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The Heat are far from the first team to direct their anger at each other during an unsatisfactory game, and often coaches respond to such squabbles within a team with praise rather than reproach. Correlation does not prove causation, but after an explosion on the bench, the Heat reduced the Warriors’ lead to one point, 81–80, and advanced into the fourth quarter.
Things quickly changed in the final frame, however, with the Heat allowing a 37-point lead for the Warriors, who were known to struggle on offense without Curry and Green. It was a markedly heavy loss in what had been a terrific regular season for the Heat.
Butler has been one of the NBA’s most vocal leaders for many years, and Haslem, who is still in the league during his 19th season solely due to his locker room presence, is likely one of the few Heat players willing and able to return. to the previous level. Butler when he thinks it’s necessary, especially if he sticks up for his coach. Fans often view such quarrels as signs of internal divisions, but in fact, they can sometimes serve as a springboard for rapprochement and rallying. We’ll have to wait and see how Heath reacts to Wednesday night’s side fireworks.
“It’s crazy, but it’s passion… Sometimes it’s good to take your anger and frustration out and just talk about it,” Heat guard Kyle Lowry said after the game. “We will have situations that will make people feel uncomfortable, but in the end, as long as we are comfortable and we understand everything, that’s all that really matters. As long as we’re together. .”