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Philadelphia 76ers: Jimmy Butler trade paying off through first 10 games

By Jerran Anderson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: The jersey of Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers as seen during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 2, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: The jersey of Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers as seen during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 2, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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It’s early, but the returns on the Jimmy Butler trade to the Philadelphia 76ers are looking good through the first 10 games.

The Philadelphia 76ers front office shocked a lot of people across the NBA when they traded away Robert Covington, a coveted two-way player, and Dario Saric, an up-and-coming stretch-4 to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jimmy Butler, but things have changed mightily in the results column since then.

Since Butler played his first game for the Sixers on Nov. 14, the team has posted a record of 8-2. They’ve won eight of their last nine games and shown no signs of slowing down since his arrival. With a record of 17-8, the Sixers are looking like the contender they were predicted to be at the beginning of the season at third in the Eastern Conference standings.

Butler is producing 18.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game since joining the Philadelphia roster. He’s shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 48.5 percent from 3-point range as well, showing his addition has paid dividends so far for a lineup in need of an All-Star.

Prior to Butler, things seemed to be falling apart with Markelle Fultz in the starting rotation. Health aside, head coach Brett Brown was wrong to start him ahead of a veteran sharpshooter like J.J. Redick. Now, the team is fully focused on getting Fultz and his shoulder issue fully taken care of.

The Sixers are feeding off Butler’s presence

When the team acquired Butler, adding Redick back to the starting rotation was a no-brainer, given Fultz’s current health situation. Redick continues to excel in his second season with the Sixers. He’s averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game on 36.3 percent shooting from behind the arc through 25 appearances this season.

Another player benefiting from the arrival of Jimmy Butler is second-year point forward Ben Simmons. Simmons has looked more aggressive than ever since Butler’s arrival, averaging 16.4 points, 8.1 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest in that span.

Simmons has generated an offensive rating of 113.6 and a defensive rating of 107.2 across the last 10 contests with Butler in the rotation. Prior to Butler’s arrival, he was generating an offensive rating of 103.5 with a defensive rating of 105.5. Clearly, things have opened a whole lot more with Butler on the floor. It also helps Butler already has two game-winning baskets and has let big man Joel Embiid continue to play his dominant game.

Embiid has continued to produce during his MVP-caliber season. Since Butler’s arrived, he’s averaged 25.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game over the last 10 appearances. He’s settling into the role of priority No. 1 in Philadelphia and with Butler in the lineup, it’s accelerated the process.

Solving their road woes

Before Butler’s arrival, Philadelphia was 2-6 on the road. Since he’s joined the squad, the team has posted a 2-1 record. Granted, they’ve only played three road games, but it’s still something to build on, given his first game as a Sixer came on the road.

The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been the greatest team on the road this season, that hasn’t been much of a secret. At home, they’re 13-1 on the season. On the road, they’re currently 4-7.

In their biggest road wins of the season, Butler has delivered as the hero. In a comeback victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 25, he drained the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in regulation.

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In the previous road game, he drained a 3-pointer from almost the same spot against the Charlotte Hornets back on Nov. 17, to seal a 122-119 victory. Butler also secured a key stop against All-Star point guard Kemba Walker on the previous play.

Before Butler, the Sixers didn’t have a go-to defender. With Butler, he’s their unquestionable defensive stopper and it’s already shown down the stretch in games.

They have a big road trip coming up at the end of the month starting on Christmas Day. They’ll face the Boston Celtics on Dec. 25 before heading on a Western Conference road trip for four more games. They’ll have four more road games between now and then, but the real test begins for them with their only five-game road trip of the season.

Philadelphia has looked like a completely different team on the road this season. Prior to Butler, they were posting an offensive rating of 102.9 on the road, compared to 110.9 at home.

Since his arrival, they’re averaging an offensive rating of 112.0 as a team. It’s a small sample size, but Butler may have solved the road woes for the Sixers and they look good through his first 10 games.

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Up next on the schedule for Philadelphia are two road contests against the Toronto Raptors (Dec. 5) and Detroit Pistons (Dec. 7). It will be interesting to see if Butler can deliver another memorable performance. The Raptors and Pistons are a combined 33-11 on the season, and the Sixers have fallen on the road to both teams once already this season.