The Philadelphia 76ers finally got what they paid for on Saturday: Jimmy G. Buckets.
Lost in the haze of a Game 1 loss on Saturday was the return of Jimmy Butler — or, in more precise terms, Jimmy G. Buckets (the G stands for Gets). It was a renaissance of sorts for the embattled star who, for most of the season, performed below general expectations.
Butler was never bad, but his poor shooting and quiet nights left some pundits concerned about his long-term viability. Those concerns are still real and there will need to be an important discussion this summer, as Butler is unlikely to sustain his current intensity for 82 games a season.
With that said, it was a solid reminder on Saturday. Not only of how talented Butler is, but of how important his presence will be this postseason. The Philadelphia 76ers still need to get past Brooklyn, but someone with Butler’s skill set was lacking in years past.
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When the Celtics ousted the Sixers in five games last season, the lack of a secondary ball-handler who could create his own offense was evident. Now the Sixers have a star-caliber isolation scorer in the halfcourt — one who’s also more adept at creating for others than his Game 1 stat line suggests.
Zero assists taken into account, Butler’s 36 points set a playoff career-high. He was the only reason Philadelphia was remotely competitive in a game the Nets were thoroughly better in. Butler can prop up the Sixers’ offense when Joel Embiid struggles and the shooters are fazed out.
In addition to his offense, Butler had some stellar defensive possessions in Game 1. He was active and aggressive, pressuring Brooklyn’s guards at the point of attack and using his hands to create difficult passing angles. It was a stark departure from his regular season effort level.
Butler made a clear effort to conserve energy this season. The degree to which he conserved energy remained in question, but Jimmy seldom unleashed his full offensive and defensive potential on the same night. His explosion on Saturday was a much-needed return to form.
The Sixers still have the talent and firepower to make a run in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee, Boston and Toronto remain favorites, but the Sixers have more individual star power than all three. When Embiid and Butler are on, with steady doses of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, the Sixers are tough to stop.
It’s important to avoid understating the importance of Game 2, though. The Sixers are in very real danger, as their lack of cohesion and collective chemistry was problematic in Game 1. Adjustments need to be made, and Butler can’t be the only Sixer providing reliable offense.
Game 2 takes place at 8 PM E.T. on Monday night. Ideally there’s another dose of Jimmy G. Buckets in store.