"Tough Juice" is Sipping the Heat Kool-Aid

by Bryan Gutierrez on Aug 18, 2010 9:43 PM CDT

It was just a few weeks ago that ESPN/ABC analyst, Jeff Van Gundy made the bold statement that the Miami Heat would basically re-write the NBA history books. He proclaimed that the Heat would match or break the 33-game winning streak the Los Angeles Lakers had in 1971-1972 season AND the single-season win record (72) the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls set. His opinion has met a lot of naysayers, but there is a Maverick that believes he's not off the reservation with his bold comment.

Caron Butler's comments on the Heat:

"When I think of the Miami Heat now," Butler said, "I think ... history. They could do it."

"That’s as much talent assembled on one team as I’ve ever seen," said Butler, who is entering his ninth season in the league.

Sporting News

I can see how his comments definitely leave a bitter taste in your mouth if you're a Mavericks fan. Is Butler trying to keep his name in the back of Miami's mind going into next summer where he is a free agent? I find that very hard to believe.

Butler didn't proclaim the title is going to land in South Beach, he just said history is a possibility for the Heat. When you look at it with some perspective, it is relatively possible. Think about it, Miami was ALREADY a playoff team when it was just Wade. LeBron with "junk" won 60 games back to back years. You add a talented player like Bosh and a nice set of complimentary players and things can happen. Teams look good on paper, but that's why they play the games.

Caron didn't throw in the towel and say the Mavericks are dead in the water.

"Controlling the glass, focusing on defense," need to be the focus, Butler said. "Because we can score with the best of them. We have a great player, we have a Hall of Fame point guard and whole bunch of other guys that want to get it done and are willing to sacrifice whatever to win. We've just got to put it all together and we will."

Having centers like Brendan Haywood and bringing in Tyson Chandler helps with that, he added.

"Tyson is a guy who brings a lot of energy and athleticism to our front line. I'm looking forward to playing along side of him and pushing toward the ultimate goal of winning a championship," Butler said.

"I definitely have been on some real good teams that had the talent to make it to that next level, but somehow some way fell short," Butler said. "I don't want that to be the situation here in Dallas. I look forward to taking it to the next level."

Pro Basketball Talk

Butler is probably showing some admiration or even jealously for what the Heat were able to pull off and where they stand right now compared to where they were over the past few years.

For whatever reason, if the Heat were to win 73 games, that doesn't mean the title is a lock for arrival in Miami. Mavs fans should have an interesting perspective, remembering 67 wins and know things can instantly change in the blink of an eye.

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Comments

We he's somewhat right I think.

Not to give too much credit but I think they have a shot at 72-10. As for a title, mark my words, Miami WILL NOT make it out of the Eastern conference this year.

by elbow greater than face on Aug 19, 2010 10:46 AM CDT reply actions

Yay

I thought we reached an unspoken agreement to stop posting about this godforsaken team we all hate. I for one hate these guys so much it makes me sick to my stomach.

Thanks Caron, thanks for showing us all weeks after the trade had been made your thoughts stillaren’t with Dallas.

~Karim!

by KarimTheDream on Aug 19, 2010 4:29 PM CDT reply actions

I like them

by Why on Aug 19, 2010 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions

why

I'm about to infect you with the back of my hand.

by buckets on Aug 19, 2010 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions

They make the league interesting. Seeing them play together is an interesting prospect, obviously it doesn’t help the Mavericks.

by Why on Aug 20, 2010 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

the league was interesting before those three formed their boys club.

I'm about to infect you with the back of my hand.

by buckets on Aug 20, 2010 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions

True

But it’s even more interesting now.
The league really dies off as early as the conference semis or conference finals depending on who is still left. LeBron’s decision carried through the entire playoffs, through the finals, july and it’s still being talked about in August.

Most casual fans don’t really watch the games religiously until Christmas or January. The Heat have now made the league even more relevant and people will watch training camp, preseason and very early in the year to see what they do.

Super-powers are good for the league.

by Bryan Gutierrez on Aug 20, 2010 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions

i don't think it makes the league more relevant.

i think it brings in more people who want to see that situation blow up. but the way it was composed, and the inactivity, by the league, towards the players and heat organization makes the association look more like a joke than it already was.

I'm about to infect you with the back of my hand.

by buckets on Aug 20, 2010 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

ratings

the ratings will go up, attendance will go up and the general fan will care more about the league earlier than they’re used to. Even with what you said, that’s controversy…that sells.

That makes the league more relevant.

by Bryan Gutierrez on Aug 20, 2010 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions

You ever watch NASCAR waiting for a wreck?

Sometimes I do. I expect to see much the same in Miami. Am I a bad person for that? Yeah maybe, but it is what it is. Besides, if they do crash and burn, who here won’t have a little smile on their face? I sure will =) see I’m smilin’ just thinkin’ bout it!

by elbow greater than face on Aug 23, 2010 3:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't necessarily agree Karim,.......

I see the guy as a respected veteran and from what I read. All’s I can say is he’s not far off the mark. I think they’ll be in the low 60’s in wins, but still there are 29 other teams between those Van Gundy assertions and crowning the Heat undisputed Champs. I dislike the Heat with the best of them but I respect them as a team. Now Pat Riley?,……that’s another matter.

We got our reckoning with the Heat a long time ago. You got to remember they’re(Heat) on the bottom looking up. Caron is a consummate professional in my eyes. I give him latitude in off season comments on his colleagues. I see nothing but professionalism with his comments. I mean after all this is a business. You have to be a bit diplomatic is these situations. My boy Caron’s cool. Let’s let it play.

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are not their stories,.......

by robbo24 on Aug 20, 2010 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions

My real problem

is coming to a Mavericks site and seeing another Heat story. I don’t mean to be a hypocrite, because I myself have posted more than one about the Heat, and now i finally see why it makes people angry, so my lesson is well learned.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bantering Bryan at all, he’s a great writer, far better than I am, so Bryan, i mean no offense in this, it isnt your writing that ticks me off, it is anyone who wears Heat jerseys.

~Karim!

by KarimTheDream on Aug 21, 2010 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

It's all good,......

I got the impression you was questioning Caron’s loyalty to the team. The Mavs will be fine as long as they keep plugging holes.

by robbo24 on Aug 22, 2010 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions

The way I saw it

It makes sense, to me, to have the story on here because it’s a Maverick talking, he does mention the Heat but I threw Mavericks related information in there as well.

It also brings up the interesting situation where people question his intentions with the comments…which affects the Mavericks as well. You even brought it up yourself, Karim.

That creates a buzz, the Heat are the a point in the subject, but I think it creates a bigger situation that really doesn’t have anything to do with the Heat.

by Bryan Gutierrez on Aug 23, 2010 1:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I know I did

I acknowledged that I did that on an earlier post and people didn’t hesitate to give me a lot of crap for it even though it was a Jason Kidd interview in which he also heavily talked about Dallas. So i learned my lesson. I guess I’m technically being a hypocrite, but if I’m a hypocrite then that means its impossible to learn a lesson in life and change your ways, so in that case I don’t think I am.

Back on topic, Like i said it was a great article and well written, and i have nothing but the upmost great thoughts about your writing Bryan, It just put me in a good mood to see more Heat bullcrap.

To be honest, yes, its jealousy. I don’t care to admit it. If you’ve followed any of my stories/comments its not hard to see i literally hate Wade and the heat with a passion. A burning passion.

~Karim!

by KarimTheDream on Aug 24, 2010 1:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Yay

Sounds like sour grapes. Face it you’d love it if the Mavs were in this position!

by 3Heat on Aug 23, 2010 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I think 65 wins is realistic. Lebron won 66 games with an inferior team, but considering this is a new team and they’ll be given hard games by other teams, I’d go down a little from the 72 mark.

Predicting 64-18

by Why on Aug 19, 2010 6:09 PM CDT reply actions

The Cavs actually HAD a bench

while the Heat don’t. They will win 50-56 games, but only if LBJ, Wade and Bosh play almost $0+ min every game.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.-1984 George Orwell.

by tomkanti on Aug 22, 2010 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Wait a tick.

You add a talented player like Bosh…

By talented player you mean a dickrider right? Because that’s all he’s doing down there, dickriding leebren and wade.

by bruce182 on Aug 20, 2010 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

dickrider?

Damn Bruce do I detect an air of hateration!!

by 3Heat on Aug 23, 2010 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey

How bout them Mavs!

by 3Heat on Aug 23, 2010 5:48 PM CDT reply actions

By your name I can instantly tell 3 things

1.You are a bandwagon fan for the heat, because your SB Nation name bears a bit of insight that you obviously made this account after they became stacked.

2. You probably don’t have your own opinion, and constantly watch ESPN to find out what team is predicted to win, then root for them like an oldtime fan.

3. You don’t belong on this site.

And yes, i hate the Heat and am glad to admit it. Have ever since 2006. I do have to say though, you guys really shafted the refs after that series. You guys didn’t even give them their rings! They did more work than your players!

~Karim!

by KarimTheDream on Aug 24, 2010 1:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Awww c'mon 3Heat,.......

Miami hasn’t done a thang since the ref’s handed them their Shampionship. You still have Pat Riley. He’ll find a way to ~uck it up. So don’t go counting your colluding ref’s before they hatch.

PS: I did meant to say “muck”. You bogus fan you.

by robbo24 on Aug 24, 2010 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions