Jimmy Butler and his new team, the Golden State Warriors were to play his former team, the Miami Heat. The game was broadcast on TNT, hence Shaquille O’Neal, someone no stranger to revenge games, was going to watch his former team face one such game tonight.

The game started off with the usual situation where Miami fans come in late. The franchise did give Butler a tribute video, but the mixed reaction from fans proved not everyone loved what he did. Not everyone appreciated the way he forced himself out.

His former teammates were quiet about this discourse the entire time it played out. Even after his departure, they did not talk about it and instead focused on their games. But during the game, their performances showed what they probably truly felt.

The Heat jumped out into a lead and increased it by half time. The Warriors tried to repeat their usual third-quarter rallies. But the home team held on even provided the finishing touch in the fourth quarter. After the game, Shaquille O’Neal was asked what he felt went wrong with the Warriors.

It’s hard to hold the grudge for five days in a place like Miami. If I arrive on a Monday and we play on a Tuesday, I’m still upset. But you arrive, you are chilling, you go to your house, and then you come back. Obviously, they were flat, they just had too much fun in Miami. Five days in Miami, concentration is zero.

Shaquille O’Neal said

O’Neal carried over a point former NBA star Nick Van Exel made about having fun in Miami. Then on top of that they were playing without Stephen Curry. That made the task more difficult, especially when they were not focused.

Jimmy Butler and Warriors were enjoying in Miami

This was not a random theory Shaquille O’Neal threw out. He has been in that city long enough to know how it goes down. He even embraced that partying culture to win one of his championships. In this case, there was proof too.

A video surfaced online showing Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green playing dominoes. This was in Miami and surprisingly, it was the former who posted this on his official Instagram page. This shows the Golden State Warriors took those five days as an opportunity to relax.

It is just that by doing that, they lost focus of what they were about to face. Butler most importantly, lost track that he was going up against the very team he led to an NBA Finals a couple of seasons ago. That revenge was basically one sided.

Shaquille O’Neal praises Heat rookie

The revenge did not work out for Jimmy Butler . But it sure worked out for the Miami Heat. The players came out all guns blazing and put on a show. That was not something anyone would expect a team losing ten straight games to do. One of the pieces that helped get that win was rookie Kel’el Ware.

He’s a really good role player. I’m surprised that he is starting now. He definitely embodied what the Heat Culture what they do, play hard. I love how active this guy is for a big guy. This kid seems to me that he can do a lot, and I would like to see him get more repetition.

Shaquille O’Neal said

The Big Aristotle rarely praises other current generation big men. He is often extremely critical of today’s stars, especially when he compares them to himself. But in the case of Heat rookie Kel’el Ware, he has made an exception.

The seven-footer finished the game with 14 points, 10 rebounds and one block. A couple of his plays were highlight reel worthy and sent the home crowd into a roar. O’Neal believes the Indiana alum can be better if he continues to get enough minutes.