Tyler Herro: Heat would be in a 'completely different situation' with Jimmy Butler

Tyler Herro Jimmy Butler — Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro scored 13 points on 13 shots in Game 3. (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

Heading into Game 3, Tyler Herro made headlines after responding to Darius Garland’s postgame comments, which called out Herro for his defense (or lack thereof). Miami’s first-time All-Star was very quick to say that Garland shouldn’t talk because he can’t play defense and that he would show him tomorrow.

Well, Garland didn’t play because of a foot injury, and Herro had his worst game of the series and, frankly, one of his worst games of the season, all things considered. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting and was blanketed by former Heat guard Max Strus all afternoon.

Though Herro also had some interesting remarks heading into Game 3, reflecting on what life would have been like with Jimmy Butler versus now being without him.

“Obviously, I know I need Jimmy to win. If we had Jimmy right now, I feel like it’d be a completely different situation,” Herro said before Game 3, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “We probably wouldn’t even be the eighth seed. So finding that middle balance of like, damn, we need him, but also understanding, sh–, that’s his career and what he wants is ultimately his right to want what he wants. It was just tough to be in the middle of both sides.”

The Miami Heat are looking to avoid their third-ever sweep on Monday. The only two times in franchise history that they were swept were in 2007 by the Chicago Bulls and in 2021 by the Milwaukee Bucks.

These are, well, interesting comments to say as one of the team’s leaders before a playoff game, of all times. There isn’t context in regards to how the question was framed or the comment was–but does there need to be, in this instance?

Whether it’s framed as his thoughts during the deadline or his thoughts as the second half of the season went on, these remarks, in no way, shape or form, looks good on Herro’s behalf, given that he’s presumably one of the two players others are looking toward to guide this next build.

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Let’s not forget that the Heat were a play-in team in each of Butler’s last two seasons with the Heat. At this point, with this current roster, it’s bold to assume otherwise.

How would you look at the “I need Jimmy to win” part if you’re Bam Adebayo, who’s been one of the most important players to the Heat’s success over the last six years, trying to rally the troops together in a do-or-die spot? How would you look at this if you were involved in the Butler deal (Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Kyle Anderson)? How would you feel if you’re a young player trying to learn from an All-Star? Those are the questions that need to be asked.