“Playoff Jimmy” Mystic has defined Jimmy Butler for five years. It started in 2020 when Butler led the Miami Heat as the fifth seeded in the NBA Finals.
At the time, the Miami Heat entered the postseason as the fifth seed of the Eastern Conference, but exceeded expectations by becoming a conference champion.
Jimmy Butler’s performance was one of the main reasons for this. He was a strong shooter, fearless player, an elite defender and consistent influence in the fourth quarter.
The nickname peaked in 2023 in another unlikely final. Butler’s eighth seed heat steamed with the East’s dominant performance.
His 56-point explosion against Milwaukee in the first round set a franchise playoff record. Butler has made Miami alone past his high-seeded opponent in a vintage performance.
However, some analysts believe those magical playoff runs are behind him. Bill Simmons has given a tough verdict on Butler’s current abilities.
Simmons’ rating comes from Butler’s struggle in the semi-finals of the Golden State Western Conference to Minnesota. The Warriors fell 4-1 when Stephen Curry was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
“I think the Minnesota series killed it. I think he can get there from time to time, but I don’t think he had an impact enough,” Simmons said on the podcast.
“It’s really a chore to ask someone to do something good for nine months when you reach 35 or older. We don’t have much history with it,” he added.
Simmons co-host Zach Lowe reflects similar concerns about Butler’s current position among current elite players. He believes that Butler’s focused versions are rarely superficial anymore.
“Focus, Healthy, Happy Jimmy Butler is probably taking part in this conversation, but that guy doesn’t exist often anymore,” explained Lowe.
The history of Butler’s injury and the age of advancement became an important factor. His tailbone injury during the playoffs raised additional durability questions.
Statistics support their arguments. Butler averaged under 20 points per game this season, with the lowest output in five years, during which the team won playoff games. In Golden State, Butler acts as Robin to Curry’s Batman rather than as a major offensive weapon.
