Was the Milwaukee Bucks’ failure to double-team Jimmy Butler in the NBA Playoffs last season a mistake?

The defense can only do so much when a top-tier NBA player enters a zone. The Milwaukee Bucks had to cope with that in the opening round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Jimmy Butler has been on fire throughout the series, even setting a Heat franchise high with 56 points in Game 4; the Bucks had little success slowing down “Jimmy Buckets.” But according to Bucks wingman Khris Middleton, throwing double-teams at the former Marquette standout might have changed the course of the series.

“We weren’t involved. On JJ Redick’s podcast, Middleton said, “That was a decision we made as a team as a collective, and we got to live with that outcome.

Single coverage

As early as Game 1, when Butler and the Heat stunned the Bucks 130-117, the outcome was obvious. In the first game of the series, Jimmy finished with 35 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and three steals. He scored 30 more points in a victory in Game 3 before pouring in 56 points in a decisive Game 4 victory for the Heat, giving them a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Despite Butler’s offensive prowess, the Bucks stuck to their defensive game plan of single coverage on him, a strategy Middleton thinks was the best given the defensive strength of his teammate Jrue Holiday. However, Jimmy was definitely playing at a higher level, and the Bucks’ hesitation to use a double-team against him backfired.

“It’s difficult to control. I believe, particularly if we don’t use double teams to attack him. We discussed it but didn’t actually do it. We wanted to go with Jrue because we have a lot of faith in his track record, what he’s done, and what he knows; that wasn’t the plan, Middleton said.

Good D, better offense

Jrue is unquestionably one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, but in this particular matchup, Butler actually had a little advantage on offense. Butler was continuously pursued by Holiday throughout the whole game, but he displayed unwavering confidence and bravery by taking the chance to make crucial shots.

You’ve seen some of Jimmy’s shots, and they were scorching. Meanwhile, Jrue is playing defense at an all-time high level, and Jimmy is just shooting jumpers over him, said Middleton.