June 17, 2014

Finding the seams of the defense.

Playing alongside Preston Medlin in a backcourt shooting duo prone to occasional extreme bursts of points, Butterfield was an unconventional but highly effective role player.

Rarely called upon to create, Butterfield plays very hard and has an uncanny knack for being in the right place, as evidenced by his rebounding numbers, thoroughly remarkable from an unathletic 6'3 shooting guard. Without being much of a slasher or creator, Butterfield is a high IQ player who creates for his team through good passing vision and unselfishness, plus the occasional bit of pick and roll action. He moves the ball around, never stopping it, plus he feeds the interior well and cuts off the ball for looks, also using screens effectively when coming off them for jump shots. Dribble drives are very rare and he is not the best ball handler - he played at off-guard for a reason. Nevertheless, toughness and a jump shot can cure a lot of ills.

Small and grounded, in a point guard's body without having shown he is all that capable of playing the point, Butterfield's options for professional play are a bit limited by the physical tools alone. However, efficiency, toughness, IQ and coachability are highly marketable skills. May I recommend Holland? It worked for Zack Novak.

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