Jimmy Butler finally spoke to the elephants in the room regarding his reduced firing since joining the Golden State Warriors.
The sixth-inning All-Star attempted just four shots in his recent matchup against the Phoenix Suns, following a modest seven field goal attempt against the Houston Rockets.
These numbers represent a dramatic change for players once considered Miami’s main offensive weapon.
Statistical conversions cannot be denied. Jimmy Butler’s score average plummeted from 20.8 ppg in Miami last season to 16.9 ppg in Golden State.
However, his playmaking responsibility has increased, with assists rising from 5.3 to 5.7 per game.
“I want to do whatever it takes to win,” Butler explained frankly after the Suns game.
“If you’re open, my job is to get you the ball and I’ll continue to play that way as long as everyone is winning.”
Jimmy Butler specifically highlighted the recent offensive explosion of rookie sensation Brandin Posiemsky as justification for his pass-first mentality.
“I’m not Brandin (Posiemski), so I’m a pass-first type guy,” admitted Butler, recognizing his teammate who scored more than 20 points in three of his final four games, including 22 points against the Phoenix.
The young guards effectively step into the secondary scoring role behind Stephen Curry, and directly benefit from their willingness to promote Butler’s property rather than dominate.
Despite criticism of the decline in scores, Butler’s impact on victory cannot be questioned.
The Warriors have put together an astonishing 22-5 record since their arrival in the Bay Area, reaching sixth in the Western Conference standings.
This dramatic turnaround is located by Golden State to ensure an automatic playoff berth. Promoting Butler’s willingness to reform himself may be what the Warriors need to return to their championship competition.