Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler. Credit: Getty Images Credit: NBA
When the NBA playoffs come around, Jimmy Butler hits a bit differently, proving it once again in these playoffs. The Miami Heat star has shown up in a big way, averaging 29.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.
Without question, the six-time NBA All-Star has stood out in the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Boston Celtics. In Game One, Butler set the tone with 35 points, seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds.
Butler made playoff history as just the second player to have multiple games with 30 points, five assists, five rebounds, and five steals on the road. The other player is Michael Jordan, which is in pretty elite company.
Moreover, the former Marquette Golden Eagles star has found himself in the history books for the Heat. He is the third in franchise history in career playoff points with 1,380. Only three others have over 1,000 points in team history: Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. What’s more impressive is that Butler has played in 55 playoff games since joining Miami in July 2019.
Butler can do it all
Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The superstar is more than just an offensive star. He can hold his own on the defensive side of the court. He is currently the leader in the postseason with 28 steals and tied for third in defensive win shares (0.8). Also, his stellar play can be measured in two other stats: VORP (Value over Replacement Player) and Win Shares.
According to Basketball Reference, VORP is the box score estimate of the points per 100 TEAM possessions that a player contributes above a replacement level. In this case, Butler is tied for third in the category (1.2).
Win shares is the estimated number of wins that a player contributes. The Heat superstar ranks second in the playoffs in the category (2.4). All things considered, Jimmy Butler is the catalyst for Miami as they are on the quest for their fourth NBA title in team history this season.
