Jimmy Butler has been on a rampage for the past two games. The man has 98 points in the last two games, a literal scoring machine for the Miami Heat. But, he is a leader first and foremost. And, he knows when and how to get his teammates to pick up the pace.
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The 2022-2023 Playoffs have just started and things are getting wild. With round one drawing to a close, the biggest shock so far has to be the Miami Heat’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. A victory that can be credited to one man, Jimmy Buckets.
However, that isn’t to say it was a one-man show. While he did go off, his teammates also played their part, picking up the slack and allowing Jimmy to pace himself. This, according to Pelicans star Trey Murphy is a testament to Butler’s leadership. He even recalled how four words from the Heat leader turned Kyle Lowry into a game-changer.
Jimmy Butler leads his team and paces his scoring by motivating players like Kyle Lowry
The Miami Heat have been charged up this post-season by the phenomenal performances of Jimmy Butler. The former Marquette Golden Eagle has been firing on all cylinders and looks set to lead the team on a long Playoff run.
So, what exactly makes Playoff Jimmy so special? Well, he is a great scorer, has tenacious defensive ability, and has a drive for victory seen in a few superstars. But, Trey Murphy believes there is more to it than that.
The New Orleans Pelicans star appeared on The Old Man & The Three podcast with JJ Redick, where he emphasized Jimmy’s leadership. In particular, he shared a story about how the Heat forward egged his teammate Kyle Lowry on, motivating him to ‘Go get the ball’ and score.
“We’re playing Miami in Miami. It’s the fourth quarter, with around two minutes left. And, Jimmy’s been hoopin game and I’m on him at this point. Like I’m guarding Jimmy. And, he looks at Kyle and says, “Go get the ball!”, and he says that multiple times.”
“And, I’m just like, ‘Alright! I guess I’m gonna guard Jimmy while he’s chilling in the corner!’. Kyle Lowry scores 12 straight points and we lose that game. Part of our 10-game losing streak. And I was just like, “There’s no way this just happened!”. He’s coming down hitting tough shots like cross, cross, mid-range, falling away…knockdown.”
“It just shows you how good guys are in the NBA because they can literally turn it on in an instance, whenever they want to. And, also with the help of Jimmy Butler telling you to go get the damn ball!”
It truly is a perfect example of the kind of player Jimmy is. A player who knows when to start scoring, when to defer to his teammates, and knows how to lead and motivate his team.
The Miami Heat superstar has denied the existence of Playoff Jimmy
With his exceptional form in the Playoffs, Jimmy Butler has been given the nickname Playoff Jimmy. The epithet was first introduced after he led the Miami Heat to the 2020 NBA Finals in the Bubble, and it has stuck ever since. However, Butler has denied its existence and claims that he is just playing basketball.
He may not want to accept it, but Playoff Jimmy is definitely a thing. And, the Miami Heat will be hoping he will help them reach the Finals once again.
