Tell me about Jimmy Butler

[tims4wins]

I'm not interested in what it would take to trade for him, but what kind of a player is he? I haven't seen him play much. From his stats page I see he is a 6'7 SG who can't shoot (career 32.8% from 3), does decently on the glass and in the assist and steals departments (5.3 boards, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last year)... what role does he fit on the Celts?

When I look at Jae Crowder's stats, I see a lot of similarities. Crowder is a year younger, 6'6, career 32.4% from 3, similar rebound and steal stats, a little less scoring and assists. Seems like Crowder is just a notch below Butler.

So ignoring what it would cost to get Butler, how / why would this make the Celts significantly better?

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

2 Jae's are better then 1.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Beyond the raw numbers, Butler would provide a massive boost to our ability to create shots in the half-court offense, and unlike IT his great size at the 2 means he doesn't get swallowed up by defenders in the process. He has shot 38% from 3 in two different seasons so there is a capability there, and I like our offense to create better looks for him. You're replacing Turner with a much more efficient and controlled offensive player without losing any of the defensive versatility for which ET was oft-celebrated. Suddenly your rangy and agile Bazemore types have to cover Butler and can't smother IT anymore.

Unlike Bradley/Crowder/Smart, Butler is a second guy who demands extra defensive attention thus opening the floor for the guys--like Crowder--who are better off shooting open threes than trying to do more than they can. He also gets to the line a lot and shoots it well when there. Among potential acquisitions, he's one guy who would seamlessly fit mentally, physically, and ability-wise into what the C's do without requiring a 2nd acquisition (Love + elite rim protector and the like).

 

[Cellar-Door]

I'd say Jimmy Butler is basically the same or better than Crowder in every facet. Similar 3pt shooters, similar rebounders, similar defenders (I think Butler is better), he's somewhere between a significantly and much better passer, he's had much higher usage with the same turnover rate, and the big difference is he draws tons of fouls by driving to the hoop.

The last two are where you see the real difference between them. Crowder is basically a 3 and D player (who isn't actually that good at the 3s), Butler has the first step and handle to drive the lane and be the primary option on an offense, Crowder is not taking anyone off the dribble consistently.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Anyone familiar with how they played together as teammates at Marquette in 2010-2011? Obviously, much better players now but would be interesting to know how their games complemented each other.

 

[tims4wins]

Thanks for the replies so far. So Butler can get to the rim, that is definitely a plus, and also great to hear that he plays good D as well.

Still though, how will this team compete if they can't shoot?

 

[mt8thsw9th]

He's incredibly prone to damaging others' cars while backing up.

 

[sox311]

Jaylen Brown can't shoot yet but he will be a 3 - 8 draft pick because he can do what Butler can do, which is, get to the rim with a crazy fast first step and create his own shot.

Think of watching Cs games early last season when Isaiah was the only person who could create his own shot. When he had the ball it looked like the rest of the team was just watching waiting for him to get to the rim. (Only Evan Turner eventually became the other player who could create a shot on the team later in the season.)

Think of Isaiah trying to get off his shots in the playoffs when opposing players stepped up their games and gave the effort to stop him. Jimmy won't be stopped in the playoffs because he isn't too small as Isaiah was shut down by the Hawks because the calendar didn't read January or February.

 

[southshoresoxfan]

Jaylen Brown can't shoot yet but he will be a 3 - 8 draft pick because he can do what Butler can do, which is, get to the rim with a crazy fast first step and create his own shot.

Think of watching Cs games early last season when Isaiah was the only person who could create his own shot. When he had the ball it looked like the rest of the team was just watching waiting for him to get to the rim. (Only Evan Turner eventually became the other player who could create a shot on the team later in the season.)

Think of Isaiah trying to get off his shots in the playoffs when opposing players stepped up their games and gave the effort to stop him. Jimmy won't be stopped in the playoffs because he isn't too small as Isaiah was shut down by the Hawks because the calendar didn't read January or February.

Disregard the IT avg 24 PPG in the playoffs. Nothing to see here.

ITs issue wasnt his height. It was a complete and total lack of anythinf resembling a second option.

 

[Phragle]

I wouldn't trade Crowder in any package for Butler. The talent is too close to make up the difference in cap hit, and we know Crowder is a locker room fit.

 

[rymflaherty]

He was much more effective (and seemed more comfortable) without Rose on the court.
When Rose dominates the ball he really seems to defer and play more passively. He does effect the game in multiple ways though and is one of the better perimeter defenders in the league.

His best game of the year came without Gasol or Rose.
He played 49 minutes (an OT win) scored 53 w/ 10 reb. 6 ast. 3 stl's
It was against the 76ers, but still there's not a lot of guys that can put a team on their back and put up numbers like that.

He was on Bill Simmons Podcast this week. Funny since I just listened to that today and then I saw this thread and they spoke about quite a few things from this thread. Like his relationship with Crowder and Butler actually brought up Brown as a young player he thought highly of.

 

[nighthob]

I wouldn't trade Crowder in any package for Butler. The talent is too close to make up the difference in cap hit, and we know Crowder is a locker room fit.

More importantly Butler has a reputation for being difficult, so it sort of behooves Boston to keep hi BFF around to help him fit into the clubhouse.

 

[sox311]

Disregard the IT avg 24 PPG in the playoffs. Nothing to see here.

ITs issue wasnt his height. It was a complete and total lack of anythinf resembling a second option.

It's a different conversation, but I almost want to ask you if you watched the games.

If Butler was the #1 and #2 option like Isaiah was/is then the Butler led team would have a better chance to win.

I watched Buter torch Toronto this season single handed on a Sunday afternoon and all I could think was how nice it would be for the Cs to have a player like him.

Isaiah is not that player and wouldn't be that player even if he had a quality second option, which is what he should be, and I love Isaiah. Yes, his height is an issue.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I was getting he feeling that it wasn't his height but his weight. I can easily be corrected because I didn't watch every minute of the series, but it seemed like Atlanta just beat the crap out of him and he wore down.

 

[nighthob]

It's both. On the defensive end even diminutive players can just shoot jumpers over his head. You can also wear him down progressively over contact and the height forces a superhuman effort to score in the paint over all the much taller players. The former might not be as much an issue for someone like Kay Felder, who looks like a running back, but the latter is always going to be an issue for guys like Lil' Zeke (and Felder, obviously). This is one of the reasons I always felt that Thomas' true calling was a HOF sixth man, because the size issues are mitigated when you're torching stiffs.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I was speaking more about his offensive game, since that was what the conversation was touching on. Obviously being short doesn't help defend a jumper from a taller player.