The Story of Playoff Jimmy
Photo Credit: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37599558/nba-playoffs-2023-playoff-jimmy-phenomenon-real-spectacular
Jimmy Butler was drafted back in 2011 by the Chicago Bulls. After six seasons with the Bulls, Butler was traded to the Timberwolves, and then a season later, was traded to the 76ers. After a disappointing loss in the 2019 NBA playoffs with Philadelphia, Butler decided to leave and join the Miami Heat. When Butler joined the Heat, he earned the nickname “Playoff Jimmy”. Butler has put up some remarkable numbers in high moments:
40-point-triple double in Game 3 of the 2020 Final
47 points in Boston while facing elimination in Game 6 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals
56 points against the Bucks in Game 4 of the First Round in 2023
These are some of the notable performances that everyone remembers, but I will be going through all the playoff series that Jimmy was part of with the Miami Heat.
2020 NBA Playoffs
The Heat were coming into the “Bubble Playoffs” with the 5th seed and were facing the Indiana Pacers. The Miami Heat comfortably won the series in a sweep (4-0). Jimmy didn’t lead the team in scoring, but he was very efficient. He averaged 19.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 2.5 steals per game, and 1 block per game with 57% from the 3-point line.
In the next round, the Heat faced a tough task in the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks were the number 1 seed and looked absolutely dominant. The Miami Heat had no expectations of winning this series. The difference between the Bucks and the Heat at the time is that the Heat have “Playoff Jimmy.” Butler sets the tone of the series with a 40-point explosion and takes Game 1 of the series. After this, the Heat won the series in a gentleman's sweep (4-1). Jimmy led the team in scoring, averaging 23.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.8 SPG.
For the Conference Finals, no one expected the Miami Heat to be there and especially not beating the Boston Celtics. Jimmy had a somewhat quiet series against Boston. He averaged 19 PPG, 6 RPG, 5 APG, and 1.5 SPG. With the help of other players, the Heat advanced to the finals in a 4-2 series win.
In the Finals, the Miami Heat faced Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The series would have been different if Bam Adebayo and Gordon Dragic didn’t get hurt in Game 1. The Lakers won this series 4-2, but Jimmy tried his absolute best. In their two wins, Jimmy averaged 37.5 PPG, 12 APG, and 11.5 RPG. He put his heart on the line and got the respect from the whole league.
2022 NBA Playoffs
For these playoffs, Jimmy Butler started off super hot. The Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks in a gentlemen's sweep (4-1). Butler exploded this series with averages of 30.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 2.8 SPG. Jimmy had his best game during Game 2, where he dropped 45 points and absolutely shut down Atlanta’s offense.
Jimmy continued his hot streak against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Second Round. In this series, Butler averaged 27.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 5.5 APG. With Joel Embiid not showing up for the playoffs once again, the 76ers had no answer for Jimmy Buckets. After the series deadlock at 2-2, the Miami Heat won the next two games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the Eastern Conference, Jimmy Butler cooled off, with only averaging 25.6 PPG, 7 RPG, and 2 SPG. This series was a nail-biter, with the Boston Celtics winning the series in 7 games. In game 6, facing elimination, Jimmy Butler had a historic performance with 47 points. The Heat weren’t going to go down without a fight. In Game 7, the Miami Heat were one Jimmy Butler 3 from advancing to the NBA Finals once again.
2023 NBA Playoffs
In recent memory, this is the playoffs that everyone remembers of “Playoff Jimmy.” The Heat come into these playoffs as an 8th seed and barely making it out of the Play-In Tournament. The team wasn’t expected to win this series at all, but they upset the Milwaukee Bucks in 5 games (4-1). Jimmy Buckets averaged 37.6 PPG, 6 RPG, and 4.8 APG. In Game 4, Playoff Jimmy absolutely went off with 56 points and clutch buckets all around.
In the Second Round, the Heat faced Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. Jimmy Butler tweaked his ankle in Game 1 and caused him to miss Game 2, but that didn’t prevent him from going off each game. In this series, Butler averaged 24.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.2 BPG. The Heat won this series 4-2 and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2 straight years.
For this series, it was the rematch against the Boston Celtics. Jimmy set the tone in Game 1 with 35 points and proving everyone that he is so clutch. The Miami Heat went up 3-0 but choked it and made it tied 3-3. With all the momentum in Boston’s favor and Game 7 in Boston, the Miami Heat had no business winning this game. Still, with Jayson Tatum not showing up, the Miami Heat upset the Celtics and advanced to the NBA Finals once again.
The toughest task for the Heat came in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. Jimmy Butler came down to being “average” compared to the rest of the playoff series. The Nuggets were just too good for the 8th-seeded Miami Heat. Denver won this series comfortably 4-1.
Jimmy Butler typically never takes the regular season seriously until it's closer to playoff season. That’s why you see all of his amazing performances happening in the post-season. Currently, the Heat are an 8th seed, and Miami is starting to ramp up its play in preparation for the playoffs. Will the Miami Heat have another Cinderella story?