Philadelphia 76ers: Jimmy Butler starting to turn a corner

After a rough stretch post-All-Star break, Jimmy Butler is rounding into form for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a convincing win over the first-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, clinging to a 130-125 margin despite Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s 52 points. Joel Embiid was the main attraction, accumulating 40 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.

Embiid wasn’t the only Sixer who played a big role in the victory, though. Jimmy Butler exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 27 points in the final frame. He provided everything fans expect of the four-time All-Star — dribble penetration, pull-up jumpers and halfcourt playmaking.

The last few weeks haven’t been kind to Butler, who has struggled mightily as the Sixers adjust to new talent. He’s still effective, but his passivity and poor shooting were definite concerns after the All-Star break. Over the last two games, he has shown marked improvement.

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Sunday’s win over Milwaukee was one of Butler’s best games with the Sixers. His defense still lags behind in stretches, but that’s typical of an aging veteran looking to conserve energy down the stretch. It’s his timely offensive contributions that go a long way in helping the Sixers close games.

In the game prior to Milwaukee, Butler dropped a team-high 22 points in a solid win over Sacramento. He hit meaningful fourth-quarter shots in that game too, propelling the halfcourt offense when things slow down.

The Sixers have enough firepower to excel in Brett Brown’s motion offense without Butler. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and J.J. Redick are all better suited for that style. Jimmy’s late-game prowess is still a weapon the Sixers previously lacked, though. A weapon that will become even more important in the postseason, when defenses focus more energy on Embiid and Simmons.

In addition to his heroics, Butler made two three-point attempts against Milwaukee, breaking an extended (and alarming) drought from behind the arc. His unwillingness, combined with poor efficiency, after the break left many pundits concerned about the Sixers’ spacing come April and May.

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Brett Brown made it clear he wants Butler to shoot more threes, which would make his fit significantly cleaner. Rather than hesitating on open looks, he should embrace spot-up jumpers when they’re available. He’s good enough to make them at a high clip.

At his peak, Butler is the Sixers’ second-best player. He’s a dynamic halfcourt scorer who has shown a propensity to create for teammates in his Philadelphia tenure. All the tools of an effective second or third offensive option are there. He’s an elite first option on most teams.

When pairing four stars and another high-usage offensive player, there’s always a natural adjustment period. Butler was always going to require the biggest changes and the most time. Now, with the season winding down and the Sixers battling for position, he’s beginning to trend upward.

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The Sixers will face Charlotte without Embiid on Tuesday before venturing home for a showdown with Boston on Wednesday. Expect Butler to continue his current trajectory in both games.