Despite the ups and downs that marked Miami’s season, Jimmy Butler is used to having to play the underdogs with the Heat, rarely given favorite but present twice in the conference finals in the last three seasons, with even a participation in the NBA finals in the “bubble” of Orlando in 2020.
Even if the Floridians have experienced a big fall since they have gone from 1st to 7th place in one year, Jimmy Butler’s objective remains the same: to thwart the predictions and aim for the NBA final. For this, Miami will have to go through the play-in for one or even two games before hoping to see the playoffs.
Focused on his goal
” It’s always the same thing. No one picked us to win last year either. So who cares. You’re not going to choose us this year, you still don’t care. Ten years from now, you still won’t be choosing us. We continue to have nothing to do with it”, he confided speaking to the media.
Last season, the Heat’s campaign ended on the brink of a new NBA Finals, with Game 7 lost at home to Boston, and an end to the game marked by its failed 3-point attempt in transition then that the Celtics only led by two points.
A failure that did not affect him as he came out of a Game 6 at 47 points. In the same way that he did not gamble in the face of the criticisms that accompanied his choice that evening.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes for my team to win, game after game. And honestly, I don’t care what people write, if I was a good basketball player or a bad one. Coach Pat (Riley) and Coach (Erik Spoelstra) didn’t get me here because of what you all write. When I come into Tuesday’s game and we get the win, then we’ll worry about what happens next. But in the end, I think I will always be a good basketball player.”he added.
The “play-in”, a first for the Heat
If Miami will start as the favorite tonight with the advantage of the field against Atlanta, Erik Spoelstra for his part has asked his players, the most experienced in particular, to live this “play-in” experience to the fullest. Maybe his way of taking some pressure off them.
“Among the oldest in our locker room, who have had long careers in the NBA, none has yet had this opportunity”he explained. “I think it’s been great for the league. Seeing how challenging it’s been the last 6-8 weeks for 16 Western and Eastern Conference teams, it’s just been great for the competition.”
Jimmy Butler will undoubtedly appreciate the experience, especially if there is victory at the end and if his team validates its place in the Top 8, the first step before starting to aim higher.
| 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.
