Erik Spoelstra on the Jimmy Butler situation: “The point that I made to our team is you get used to it, 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. Nothing changes, in terms of what the task is."
For Spoelstra, it has meant seven games without Butler, the term of the initial unpaid team suspension, the three games back by the former All-Star forward, and now this two-game sanction that includes Thursday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets that concludes this two-game trip.
“The point that I made to our team is you get used to it,” Spoelstra said in a measured tone, agreeable to taking the question. “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. I think it takes a mental fortitude and commitment just to focus on a task at hand.
“Nothing changes, in terms of what the task is. We have a game tonight. We have enough continuity. We know what our identity is at this point. You can make any excuse you want to. But we get to do what we love.”
A follow-up question was asked about the impact on continuity, of going from a player such as Butler to alternative options.
“Of course there is,” Spoelstra said. “That’s part of the challenge. It’s part of the deal. And, so, we’ve had this happen all season long. So we know the exercise and what we need to do to make those adjustments.”