A Couple Thoughts…
You could make the case that from Game 1 through 67 in a 76ers uniform, Jimmy
Butler was just about everything the franchise could have hoped for, and then
some.
Not that it was necessary given his track record, but almost immediately, the
All-Star cemented his status as a closer for the Sixers, nailing a pair of
clutch game-winners against Charlotte (his fourth game) and Brooklyn (his
eighth).
While Butler made a big a splash right off the bat, he only proved that much
more valuable to the Sixers when it mattered most. He averaged team-highs of
22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the second round, plus 6.9 rebounds.
In the months between his arrival in November and the start of the playoffs in
April, Butler successfully walked an impressively delicate line – he respected
the groundwork that had been laid prior to his trade, yet at the same time found
ways to use his versatile skill set to regularly leave a positive imprint.
Scorer. Rebounder. Facilitator. Defender.
Butler embraced and excelled at each of these roles, oftentimes assuming them
simultaneously. His bottom line was winning, and he would consistently do
whatever it took to best position the Sixers for that outcome.
As the 2018-19 season moved along, it was neat watching the growth of Butler’s
relationships with teammates, and his continued emergence as a leader. By the
end of the Sixers’ playoff run, he wasn’t just a big playmaker, but a big
brother to the club’s young stars.
From Jimmy Butler, the Sixers no doubt got a little bit of everything.
A Big Number
In 55 regular season games with the 76ers, Butler tied for seventh in the NBA
(among players with a minimum of 50 appearances) with an average of 8.8 minutes
per game in the fourth quarter.
Out of this group, Butler ranked second in fourth quarter scoring (6.4 ppg),
third in shooting (45.5 fg%), first in foul shots (2.4 fta), second in
rebounding (1.4 rpg), and second in Player Impact Estimate.
A Quote
“I think as the year went on, I got more comfortable with how I was being
utilized in the offense, and on the defensive end of the floor as well. I would
legit be in the coaches’ meetings – whether they would want me in there or not –
just because I wanted to know what was always going on at all times. I got
comfortable. At the end, I knew what my job was.”
A Mixtape
. JIMMY G. BUCKETS!!? AND THE G STANDS FOR GETS !!? 2018/19 @JimmyButler Mixtape
pic.twitter.com/eURWJ1XHdo
Player: Jimmy Butler
Media Content: https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/year-review-jimmy-butler
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Philadelphia Sixers, Jimmy Butler, Philadelphia
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