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Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference for years, but not now. After coming close to another finals appearance last year, they've been about a .500 team in 2023.
Even though the Heat are a little lower in the standings, one analyst still feels they are a team that should be feared in the postseason. No matter what the regular season looks like for them, they always manage to be a tough out in the postseason.
Recently, Bill Simmons of "The Ringer" compared Jimmy Butler and the Heat to horror film icon Michael Myers. Despite being the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, he has them pinned as a team to watch out for come the playoffs.
“There’s Jimmy and Spo and Bam and Riley lurking every April like Michael F*cking Myers. You know how the movie ends, and you'll probably survive, but you'll also probably be standing in your burning house covered in blood. Any Butler team scares the sh!t out of me.”
If the postseason were to begin today, the Miami Heat would find themselves in a first-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. A team that Butler knows all too well.
Jimmy Butler has proven to be a problem in the postseason
Bill Simmons might have used an extreme comparison, but his insight is spot on. The Miami Heat are always a team to watch out for once the playoffs get underway.
Part of why the Heat are always a sneak postseason team is because of Jimmy Butler. When it comes to players stepping up when the lights are bright, he is among the best.
As far as top NBA playoff performers go, Butler belongs near the top of the list. Every year, he elevates his game on both ends to give his team a shot at winning.
When the Heat made it to the NBA Finals in 2020, Butler left it all on the floor against the LA Lakers. During those six games, he averaged 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists. Two years later, he averaged 25.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics.
At 33 years old, Butler is on the back end of his prime. However, teams should still be ready to see his best in the postseason. No matter what stage of his career he's in, his competitive drive will always carry him in the big moments.
