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Three thoughts on Jimmy Butler’s Sixers debut | David Murphy

Jimmy Butler had 14 points in his Sixers debut.

John Raoux / AP

Jimmy Butler's first game in a Sixers uniform was a reminder that he alone cannot transform them into a contender. It was a lot of other things as well, including an early look at all of the ways his addition better equips this team to compete against the elite of the Eastern Conference. The end result, a 111-106 loss in Orlando, isn't important, or even all that surprising. It's going to take some time for Butler to learn his teammates, and for his teammates to learn Butler, and for Brett Brown to figure out the optimal manner in which to deploy all of them.