Dwyane Wade says others must help take pressure off Jimmy Butler

Dwyane Wade is an NBA realist, having seen it all during his 14 seasons in the league.

So his take on why Jimmy Butler’s numbers have sagged since the All-Star break proved typically blunt. And it also reiterated the inconsistency of the Bulls’ young core, albeit in a way that management can’t fine, unlike in January.

“Right now, Jimmy is getting the treatment that guys get that average 25-plus a game,” Wade said. “The only way Jimmy can have a little more comfort out there is teammates continue to make shots.”

Having Wade back from his two-game absence because a sore left quad obviously helps. But Wade pointed to the Bulls’ 61-point first half against the Clippers last Saturday in which he and Butler took just seven shots combined as an example of why Butler’s decreased production isn’t all on Butler.

“It’s crazy, the first half of the Clippers game coming off the Golden State win was a great first half. Everybody was scoring the ball,” Wade said. “And then second half, zip. So the last two games, plus that second half, it hasn’t been there the same.

“Jimmy is doing what he needs to do. He’s trying to pass to his teammates more, trying to give them more confidence. And it’s that time of year where he’s going to see a little bit more people in front of him than there was earlier in the season. He’s just got to figure it out.”

Heat is on: The Bulls began Friday just a half-game ahead of the Heat, who have won 20 of 24. Some coach of the year talk is building for Erik Spoelstra, who often gets overlooked when the game’s elite coaches get mentioned.

“This year probably opened a lot of eyes to his and his staff’s coaching ability,” Wade said. “What that team has been able to accomplish is incredible, the way they continue to keep winning. He has been overlooked in the past and a lot of it is because he had LeBron James and Chris Bosh and the other guy on this roster and Ray Allen.

“Everybody thought it’s easy to win that way. But it’s actually harder. I think what he’s doing this year is phenomenal.”

Point taken: Chicago product Patrick Beverley is underrated by many outside the Rockets’ locker room.

“He’s as important as anybody,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He gives us that edge. It’s in the locker room, it’s on the bus, everywhere. He’s just ready to play and loves to play. You can feel his enthusiasm. He’s a pain in the butt for the other teams and great for us.”

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