SALT LAKE CITY _ The incumbent Heat players wondered. They all wondered privately _ after observing from afar that dysfunctional situation in Minnesota early last season _ how injecting Jimmy Butler's alpha, forceful personality would impact the gentle balance of Heat chemistry.
But a funny thing happened amid all the wondering: Butler's insertion _ coupled with the addition of Meyers Leonard, Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro and the ubiquitous optimism and team-first approach of Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic _ has made this Heat locker room chemistry as strong as any of the 17 Heat teams Udonis Haslem has ever been on, Haslem said this week.
And even with a just-concluded 1-4 Western swing amid injuries, this Heat team _ on and off the floor _ has been a rousing success, with Butler and Adebayo headed to Sunday's All-Star Game, four other players invited to All-Star events and Miami heading to the break at 35-19 and fourth in the conference.
"This team is different," Dragic said. "Nobody expected us to play so well, and you can see we have a great chemistry and everybody likes each other. We hang out on the road. We have more in common, more topics in common. Me and Jimmy talk about soccer all the time (as an example). You cannot force those kind of relationships. It just happens. It's a good vibe."
But Dragic sees one reason, above all, why this locker room has meshed seamlessly and why Butler's edgy personality has fit here:
"Nobody is sensitive here," Dragic said. "That's the main key. Sometimes you need to tell some guys you better do this better and it's nothing personal. With this group, every individual understands that. It's not personal."
Dragic admits he wondered how the young players would respond to Butler challenging them but "they push you here. Jimmy is the same. If you're not used to it, it can (be) like, 'I don't like him.' But this is the perfect situation for us and Jimmy. He just wants you and the team to get better."
There are a few other factors why Heat players have taken so well to Butler's pushing, more so than in Minnesota: The team has been winning, aside from the recent road trip. They know Butler cares about them. And the Heat's locker room is filled with players with pleasant, easy-going personalities, which is also the case with newcomers Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill.
