The Playoff Round: 2023 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (Heat Win 4-1)
The Player & The Line: Jimmy Butler, 37.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG on 60-44-71 shooting splits
The Context: I ultimately settled on putting Butler’s performance here (for now). Again, from a pure standpoint of basketball played and degree of difficulty, I don’t even think Dwyane Wade or LeBron James can lay claim towards outdoing this, especially when factoring in that Butler faced an elite defensive team with three different All-NBA Defensive Team candidates and, let me reiterate, shot 60 percent from the field. That’s Shaq efficiency from the perimeter.
Jimmy Butler attempted 50 pull-up jumpers against the Bucks, coming out of the series with an eFG% of 58.0 on those shots.
— Couper Moorhead (@CoupNBA) April 27, 2023
His average eFG on those shots was 38.8 over the past four seasons, playoffs included, and 42.6 this year, probably the most efficient season of his career.
About the only thing to knock Jimmy for is uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting in this series. Coupled with the fact that this was done in the first round of the playoffs (even if it was an 8 upsetting a 1), it’s hard to rank this any higher. However, if he can continue his 2023 postseason magic, this list may have to be re-examined in a few weeks.