As Vision said in Avengers: Age of Ultron: “A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts.”
This perfectly characterizes Jimmy Butler’s 2022 playoff run: not as long-lasting as hoped for but beautiful — and dominant — regardless.
Butler’s playoff run was undoubtedly historical and one to remember. He put the Miami Heat on his back by playing at an all-time level. He had some of the best playoff performances in both recent memory and Heat history.
THE STATS
- Round 1 vs. Hawks: 4 games, 30.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.8 SPG, 63.6 TS% (54.3/43.8/79.4)
- Round 2 vs. 76ers: 6 games, 27.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 60.5 TS% (51.3/32.1/81.8)
- Round 3 vs. Celtics: 7 games, 25.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.0 SPG, 58.2 TS% (47.7/29.2/88.9)
- Overall: 17 games, 27.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, 60.4 TS% (50.6/33.8/84.1)
Players to have that games total, points, rebounds and assists per game in a single postseason and not make the Finals:
LeBron James (3x), Jimmy Butler.
Players to score at least 40 points four or more times in a single postseason and not make the Finals:
Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bernard King, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Jamal Murray, Jimmy Butler.
Players to score at least 40 points and have at least five assists four or more times in a single postseason and not make the Finals:
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Jamal Murray, Jimmy Butler.
Players to score at least 40 points and have at least four steals two or more times in a single postseason and not make the Finals:
Michael Jordan (2x), Jimmy Butler.
Players to score at least 35 points with a field goal percentage of 54% or higher six or more times in a single postseason and not make the Finals:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bernard King, Jimmy Butler.
That should get the point across that Butler was unbelievably historic. He absolutely put the team on his back in ways that have been seen only a few times throughout NBA history.
Remember this run; don’t let it be lost in history.
THE HEAT NEED BUTLER
These stats should also hammer the point that Butler needed more help. Would the Heat have gotten out of the second round against the 76ers without Butler? Likely not.
Did Butler have games where he struggled this postseason? Absolutely. From Games 3 to 5 against the Celtics, Butler averaged 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on a disgusting 25 FG%. The Heat went 1-2 in these games: a close win and two not-so-close losses.
This team is nothing without Butler. They may have went 15-10 without Butler this season, but clearly, when it matters, Butler is absolutely essential. Miami’s depth was able to keep the team afloat when Butler was absent, but it certainly isn’t enough to be an elite team without him. We — Heat fans — ride or die with him.
And that’s why his last-second shot against the Celtics is one that we have to live with.
We’re never close to that point without him.
Could Butler have gotten downhill against Horford? Maybe, but he didn’t and that’s in the past. Hindsight is 20/20. If Butler makes that, he’s a hero, and that’s a highlight that will never get old. That’s your best player taking the game-winning shot that was relatively open.
Teams should be okay with that every time, and Spo was.
Erik Spoelstra says he thought it was about to be an insane storyline for Jimmy on that pull-up three:
“I love that about Jimmy. That was the right look.”
Says he thought it was going down as it left his hand
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) May 30, 2022
Butler is a grinder. He will not quit. He played all but two minutes in the final two games of the season. He’s the perfect player to ride or die with, so let’s trust him when he says that the Heat will be back and better than ever. He absolutely can be the best player on a championship team, as he proved with this historic postseason.
Ride or die with Jimmy, regardless.
