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.