How the Indiana Pacers can neutralize Jimmy Butler in the NBA playoffs

Let’s take a look at how the Indiana Pacers are defending Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and whether it is the right game plan to win in the NBA playoffs.

Indiana Pacers head coach Nate McMillan has been unhappy with the team’s defensive performance on Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler. McMillan told reporters after Game 1 of the NBA playoffs that the team did a good job defending everyone except Butler, who was scoring and setting up everything for Miami.

McMillan’s comments came after Butler scored 28 points with four assists on 53.3 percent shooting in Game 1. Butler’s Game 1 statistics created 42 points for the team, 37.2 percent of their production.  Indiana’s inability to contain Butler’s offensive production is related to their defensive game plan.

The Indiana Pacers run a defensive system that encourages guards to crowd ball handlers as they want to force opposing teams into a turnover or taking a heavily contested shot. However, playing tight defense only works if there is a big man positioned near the guard serving as a second line of defense if the opposing ball handler gets by the guard.

A prime example of this can be found late in the second quarter of a home game against Philadelphia when Malcolm Brogdan tried to crowd the space of Ben Simmons by standing two feet away from him on the right wing.

Simmons called for Al Horford to set a screen attempting to create separation from Brogdon. The screen successfully created separation, but Myles Turner was waiting for him on the other side, forcing him to pass the basketball.

Indiana’s defense has made it difficult for an opposing team to make a shot as they were 6th in defensive field goal percentage holding opponents to 44.6 percent shooting on 88.2 attempts.

The Indiana Pacers were able to execute the first half of their defensive system as Butler had a defender within 2-to-4 feet of him on 66.6 percent of his field-goal attempts. Unfortunately, Myles Turner didn’t want to leave Bam Adebayo unguarded due to his ability to roll to the basket.

Adebayo rolled to the basket a career-high 2.9 times per game this season, shooting 62.4 percent from the field on 2.3 attempts. The field goal percentage allowed him to score 3.4 points per game. Consequently, Butler had more time to get around his defender or draw a foul.

Turner’s hesitancy contributed to Butler drawing nine fouls leading to 12 free throws. 50 percent of those free throws came on cuts to the basket. For example, late in the second quarter, Butler threw an inbound pass to Adebayo.

After the inbounds pass was completed, Butler stood up the left wing until Tyler Herro came up to set a screen behind Malcolm Brogdon. Herro’s hip hit Brogdon’s shoulder, causing him to waste a second clearing the screen.

Consequently, Butler had a free path to the basket and began cutting in that direction. Ideally, Turner would have rotated over to block Butler’s path to the rim, but he refused to leave Adebayo. Therefore, Butler completed his cut to the basket by drawing a foul. He converted 83.3 percent of the attempts to generate 10 points, 35.7 of his scoring output.

Turner did a much better job rotating over to block Butler’s path in Game 2, forcing him to become more of a facilitator. For example, early in the fourth quarter Butler went over a screen on the left-wing, and Turner was waiting for him on the other side.

Turner’s adjustment made Butler pass the ball to Duncan Robinson, who hit a 3-pointer on the right wing. Turner’s presence played a role in Butler dishing out six assists, a 50 percent increase from Game 1.

The six assists created 20 points for the team, a 66.6 percent increase from Game 1. The facilitator role led to a decrease in fouls drawn as he drew 7, leading to 9 free throws. Sadly, Turner’s adjustment didn’t have a significant impact on Butler’s production as he created 38 points for the team, four points less than Game 1.

If the Indiana Pacers want to neutralize Butler, they should give him space as he is a below-average shooter outside the restricted area. Butler shot 36.7 percent outside the restricted area from 2013 to 2018 on 8.7 attempts.

Butler’s outside shooting has taken a turn for the worst over the last year and a half as he shoots 33.7 percent on 6.6 attempts per game.

Although Butler has yet to explain why his shooting statistics have declined, the drop off coincides with a wrist injury. Butler suffered a sprained right wrist in January of 2019, which sidelined him for ten days. Upon Butler’s return to action, he shot 34.7 percent outside the restricted area on 7.2 attempts per game, a 3.2 percent decrease from before the injury.

Butler’s shooting struggles have continued this season as he shot 32.8 percent outside of the restricted area on 6.1 attempts per game in the regular season.

Therefore, his defender should stand around the free throw line to force Butler to make a decision, take the low percentage open three, or drive to the basket and take a heavily contested shot as two defenders would be close to him.

More importantly, Turner can focus on making sure that Adebayo doesn’t roll to the basket.