The Miami Heat got all they could from Jimmy Butler this year. While he would only play in 57 of their 82 possible games, missing 25 games for all the non-mathematicians out there, he gave them all that he had and some more when he was on the floor.
That was the case throughout their postseason run as well. Though he had a few stinkers, understandably so as he had to tote the Miami Heat as far as they were able to advance on his back, he came through huge when it mattered the most.
You could look all throughout the playoff run, the first two rounds specifically where he was already among the best two or three players in the entire playoffs, minimally but it was again and especially highlighted in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jimmy Butler’s Game 6 win or go-home performance was one for the ages. He would finish with 47 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, four stills, a block, and only one turnover on 16/29 shooting from the floor (55 percent) and 4/8 from range (50 percent).
Jimmy Butler carried the Miami Heat in the playoffs and used his three-ball to do it. He should look to incorporate that into his game earlier next season.
For good measure, he also sank all 11 of his free throw attempts that game. The stat before that one is where the money is for Jimbo though.
Shooting just 24 percent on two attempts from deep per game across his Miami Heat tenure, Jimmy opened up the floor and his game during this past playoff run. Ramping up near the end of the regular year, a bit, he would shoot the three-ball with good efficiency in the playoff.
A great boost from his Miami-career 24 percent shooting, he would shoot about 34 percent on four attempts from range this postseason. It, absolutely, helped open up and diversify his game more, while it also allowed his teammates to be better because of the space and confidence it helped give them.
With Jimmy Butler being as clutch and strong-willed as he has shown to be, you know that he hit some in the biggest moments (even sinking the above shot that wasn’t quite a three, but close enough and definitely good enough). That should be his one key improvement entering next season.
He has shown the ability to hit them when he needs to with regularity and on the biggest stage in the Conference Finals. He should look to incorporate that into his overall floor game earlier and more often next season.
Being one of the best at drawing fouls and attaining free throws in the game right now, you don’t want him to fall in love too much with the perimeter shot, but you trust that he won’t—especially him.
Though he couldn’t hit the one that essentially ended the season, a heftier dose of his range shooting could help his cause, the rest of his game, and the effectiveness of the entire team moving forward.