Erik Spoelstra Exudes Optimism as Jimmy Butler Returns to Miami Heat

teacher_omar@yahoo.com'
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On Tuesday, the Miami Heat can finally showcase their superstar acquisition of the summer when Jimmy Butler takes the court for the first time during the 2019-20 regular season.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was ecstatic to have his star player back on the practice floor after Butler left the team for personal reasons last week. With the eight-year veteran back during shootaround, Spoelstra noted an uptick in his team’s energy.

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Butler was ruled out of the Heat’s season opener, then missed the next two games to witness the birth of his daughter. A few days later, he posted a message about family on his personal Instagram account.

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The presence of the four-time All-Star is excellent news for the team as it faces the Atlanta Hawks tonight. The Hawks sport a similar 2-1 record as the Heat, with both teams looking to continue their winning ways with a victory at AmericanAirlines Arena.

With the red-hot shooting of sophomore sensation Trae Young (34.0 points per game this season), the Hawks could prove to be a handful for the Heat. Butler’s addition to the roster should give Miami an added boost both offensively and defensively.

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Omar is a freelance writer who has followed the NBA for more than 30 years. Prior to the Internet, he devoured every reading material he could find on the game from newspaper articles to books and magazines. He became a Heat fan the moment they acquired Tim Hardaway and his killer crossover, and lamented not seeing him and Alonzo Mourning win a championship. Seeing Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh play in Miami was a surreal moment for him and more so after they validated the Decision with back-to-back championships. He is ecstatic to cover Miami basketball for Heat Nation.