Jimmy Butler laid the blueprint for what the Heat need to compete in the East

In the Miami Heat’s 106-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night, Jimmy Butler returned from injury and didn’t miss a beat. He had his imprints all over the game and was able to manipulate the Sixers defense. Butler finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists on 8 of 12 shooting, along with a perfect 13 of 13 from the free throw line. 

His aggression in creating fouls, attacking with the midrange and inside the paint is when Butler is at his best. The Heat’s slow start to the game kept them in striking distance because of his assertiveness offensively. Going into halftime, he led the team with 19 points, providing some valuable production when the rest of the team was looking flat. 

This blueprint of having an aggressive and engaged Butler has always led to wins throughout the course of this build, with that trend continuing in the Sixers game. It seems like he picks and chooses when to turn it on for Miami, which is mostly noted from his postseason heroics– where he has elevated his game to a top-five player in the league over the years.

Injuries and age also take place in his up and down regular season performances, but the Heat look like a completely different team when he is dialed in.

Last season, Miami had a 7-1 record in regular season games when Butler scored 30 points or more.

It is more than just the scoring production when he is at his best, as the Heat star has grown into a well rounded player on both ends of the floor. He can find ways to control the game in several different areas, whether that is getting active in passing lanes and creating havoc defensively, playmaking for his teammates or being assertive on the glass. 

Against Philadelphia, not only did Butler record a season-high in points, but Miami out-scored them by 29 points during his 34 minutes. That was good for a game-high, and shows just how impactful he can be for his team when he is at his best. 

Heading into this new season, he doubled down on his abilities by waiting out his contract situation rather than demanding a new extension. The 35 year-old forward essentially bet on himself to earn one final payday from his play on the court. Games like this show that there is still plenty left in the tank, he just needs to stay locked in and engaged. 

There is still plenty of work to be done in that regard, as his 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists averages across nine games are all the lowest of his six-year Heat tenure. However, it’s always been clear that this build will go as far as he can, regardless of his possible one-two year window.

The 2024-25 campaign has showcased similar inconsistency in years past so far, but just one or two wins can lead to a breakthrough at any point. If the Heat want to turn the corner, it needs to happen sooner rather than later, and Butler’s aggression has shown that it could put them in the best position to win.