Like Jamal Murray, Jimmy Butler emerged from the “bubble” in 2020 with a nickname: “Playoffs Jimmy“. The Heat guard/winger was heroic in the 2020 playoffs, and he epitomizes that ability to elevate his playoff game. This year again, he proves it with his incredible series against the Bucks, marked by a performance of 56 points, or his 35 points in the first set against the Celtics. Since the start of the playoffs, he has averaged 27.3 points. It’s almost five points more than in the regular season.
“I am not a scorer. Just because I score a lot of points in a game doesn’t mean I’m a scorer.” does he warn. “I’m not someone who takes a high volume of shots. I don’t do any of that. I don’t force myself to score. I just force myself to win.”
One goal: to win
It is because he has the feeling of being the same player in the regular season as in the playoffs, that he does not believe in this story of “Playoffs Jimmy”.
“If I pass on every possession, and we win, I don’t care. If I shoot every possession, and we win, I don’t care. This story of Playoffs Jimmy does not exist. I just want to win, like everyone else. I don’t care much about anything other than winning. »
It is for this reason that he does not worry about averaging 17 points after two matches.
“I think I played very well…I think I did what it took to be 1-1. I would have liked us to be 2-0, but it’s not the case… I don’t pay attention to the stats. It’s not a lie, I’ve always said it. As long as we win, that means everyone is playing well. If we lose, and I hope we don’t lose a lot, then everyone can blame me. I don’t care about all that… But if we win, then nobody can blame anybody. »
In the footsteps of Dwyane Wade
Ten years after the Heat’s last title, and three years after the final in the “bubble” against the Lakers, Jimmy Butler will experience his first Finals game in Miami. When he arrived at the Heat, he had promised to take over from his friend Dwyane Wade, but never tried to copy him.
“D-Wade always told me to be myself, stay who I am, and create my own story. He told me to do what I love, and that’s winning. He has been by my side for a very long time now. I am very grateful to him. It is for a lot in the fact that I am there. I don’t like being compared to him, but if there’s one thing I want to be like him, it’s to be NBA champion. That’s what I have to do. »
| Jimmy Butler | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 42 | 9 | 40.5 | 18.2 | 76.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 82 | 26 | 46.7 | 38.1 | 80.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.6 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 67 | 39 | 39.7 | 28.3 | 76.9 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 65 | 39 | 46.2 | 37.8 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 67 | 37 | 45.5 | 31.1 | 83.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHI | 76 | 37 | 45.5 | 36.7 | 86.5 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 23.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 59 | 37 | 47.4 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 65 | 34 | 46.2 | 34.7 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 55 | 33 | 46.1 | 33.8 | 86.8 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 10 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.8 | 78.7 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 21.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 58 | 34 | 45.5 | 24.4 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 24.5 | 86.3 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 57 | 34 | 48.0 | 23.3 | 87.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 21.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 64 | 33 | 53.9 | 35.0 | 85.0 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 22.9 |
| Total | 754 | 33 | 46.8 | 32.2 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 18.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
