There were high expectations for Jimmy Butler to embrace his “Playoff Jimmy” persona and lead the Golden State Warriors against the fully healthy and hungrier-than-ever Minnesota Timberwolves team, much like he did during his Miami Heat days, where he continuously led them as the underdogs in high-pressure moments.
So, when the Dubs needed him the most, especially to stretch the series to a minimum of Game 6 when Steph Curry could return from a hamstring injury, the six-time All-Star had no real impact. That subpar performance of averaging 15.5 points over the last two games of the series prompted Lou Williams to emphasize how Jimmy needs to add to his scoring arsenal if he wants to make him thrive in a new environment.
“Sweet Lou’s” advice to Jimmy
Butler found his groove in Game 3 of that series, dropping 33 points. However, just as when many expected him to rise to the occasion, he appeared shy to jump into the spotlight, attempting only nine field goal attempts in Game 4 and merely 11 in the do-or-die Game 5. Ultimately, he wrapped up the series, averaging 20.2 points per game, slightly less than Jonathan Kuminga, who edged him out with 20.8 points per game.
Advertisement
This, according to the three-time 6MOTY, is exactly why veterans must continuously adapt. He cited the example of Ray Allen, about how during his days with the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle SuperSonics, he had the responsibility to score over 20 points per game, but when he was on a star-studded Boston Celtics team, his primary role was to be efficient from the field and beyond the arc. Thus, aging players need to reshape their games to remain a threat and provide reliable help for their team.
“We gotta allow some of these guys to grow older. I’m not trying to make excuses that Jimmy Butler is done, this or that, but guys get to certain levels in their careers where they are at a crossroads where your mind is telling them, ‘Go, go, go.’ But your body is telling you something different. I remember dealing with it at the end of my career,” Williams said.
“For Jimmy to have so much success in the paint, getting to the rim, still getting to the free throw line, those things are intact. Now, where does he evolve his game from there? Can he bully guys being 36-37 years old? He’s going to find some different pieces to put in his bag and evolve. SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks Ray Allen looked different than the Boston Celtics Ray Allen. But he still found ways to contribute,” the retired guard added.
Butler needs to add more weapons
Against Minnesota, Butler struggled to find his spots. Coach Chris Finch’s Timberwolves were prepared with multiple defenders cutting off his drives and closing out on his midrange looks. That pressure seemed to shake Jimmy’s confidence, particularly from beyond the arc. In the final two games, he attempted four three-pointers, missing all of them.
Advertisement
Safe to say that it is now evident: if “Jimmy G. Buckets” wants to truly make his mark under Steve Kerr and in the Warriors’ system, he needs to strike fear into defenses, not just at the rim or midrange, but from everywhere on the hardwood. Without that versatility, a high-intensity defensive scheme will always find ways to exploit Butler’s limitations.