Miami Heat Center Details 'Unique, Underrated' Thing About Jimmy Butler's Game

The Miami Heat scored a critical 130-124 road win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday to strengthen their hold of the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and avoid the play-in round.

Jimmy Butler once again delivered all-game long with 26 points (9/14 shooting), eight rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Heat, which led by as much as 26, improved to 37-31, a full two games ahead of Boston (35-33) which they will battle again on Tuesday at the TD Garden.

Throughout the season, Butler has been spectacular for coach Erik Spoelstra, averaging 21.6 markers, 7.0 boards, 7.2 dimes, and a career-best 2.1 steals.

In the post-game interview, Heat center Bam Adebayo shared Butler's ability to draw fouls and get to the line is something that is often overlooked.

"I think that's one of the biggest things about Jimmy that's really underrated," Adebayo, who finished with 20 points, said of the five-time All-Star.

"He will have 25 but only shooting the ball like six times. That's because he is manipulating the game so much to where they just keep fouling him and he just goes to the free-throw line."

Analytics back Adebayo's point. Per NBA Stats, Butler ranks fifth in total free throw attempts per game at 8.1, behind elite stars Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trae Young and Zion Williamson.

The 6-foot-7 wingman has thrived in Spoelstra's system, getting a lot of touches and driving opportunities where he gets a big chunk of his foul shots.

Butler is 11th in the league in total drives per game, and 10th in free throws generated off those drives.

"He's unique. He definitely has a knack for getting people in foul trouble," Adebayo stated. "And you can be as aggressive as you want, he will use that aggression against you. That just goes to [show] his high IQ and how he's developed it throughout the years."

That shrewd aspect of Butler's offensive repertoire has the Heat staying competitive in the East, and translating to victories in spite of Victor Oladipo's nagging injury.

Unless opposing defenses find a way to effectively figure that out, Butler and the Heat are poised to pull off surprises in the playoffs once again.