Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler Puts On Career Passing Display In Wizards Win

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts against the Washington Wizards(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts against the Washington Wizards(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat passes the ball past the defense of DeAndre Jordan #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler Is A Fast-Break Wizard And On Both Sides Of Ball

It’s simple, but facilitating often requires a great deal of patience and has become an integral part of Butler’s game. Similar to other great players though, Butler allows the play to develop and understands that others have to be more involved.

JIMMY CAN BE A DANGEROUS TRANSITION MAESTRO, ESPECIALLY IF HIS TEAMMATES ARE WILLING TO MOVE WITH HIM

Despite being one of the lowest-ranked teams in Pace this season, creating transition opportunities remains a point of emphasis for the Heat’s success. Also, for as terrific as Butler is in igniting fast-breaks with steals and deflections, he can control them in the open court as well as any player.

You can’t fully see it all here, but after Butler grabs the defensive rebound, he immediately pushes while scanning the floor. The Wizards don’t get back after wanting a foul call and Jimmy has his easiest assist of the evening to a trailing Omer Yurtseven.

The Heat extended their lead to 27 here and at this point, it just seems like insult was added to injury.

Piggybacking on the earlier statement of when Lowry misses time and how the responsibility shifts to Butler as a primary ball-handler, that also applies to transition sequences.

Butler can advance the ball on fast-beak opportunities just as well as he plays the passing lanes to obtain steals or deflections. Plainly put— he’s a fast-break freak on both sides of the ball.

It speaks major volumes about Jimmy’s skill too, overall, as he’s dependable enough to find teammates in transition.