Pippen Ain't Easy
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Jimmy Butler’s Brilliance Could Not Help Chicago Bulls Win Game 4

By Dave Daniels

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The Chicago Bulls played another sloppy basketball game on Saturday, and they can’t perform like this if they make it to the next round against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls turned the ball over far too much, which is something they can’t get away with against a quicker team featuring the likes of LeBron James. Their 28 total team turnovers certainly did not work against the Milwaukee Bucks, and Brewtown won the match on a Jerryd Bayless layup at the buzzer.

The one guy who came to play the entire game for Chicago was Jimmy Butler. He had a fantastic first half that ended with a 3-point bank shot near the buzzer. Did he mean to put that jumper off the glass? No, but he was still fantastic throughout and finished with 33 points, seven rebounds and three steals. The game was tied at halftime 50-50 thanks to Butler’s effort, and he is more crucial to Chicago’s playoff hopes than many casual fans mention. He should have been involved in the Bulls’ final possession, but that one ended (most fittingly) with a turnover.

Even though I thought that rushing Nikola Mirotic back into the mix was a bit premature, it is hard to underestimate his impact on the game. He helps Chicago’s floor spacing in ways that open up shots for other players, and it was super nice to see his bushy beard out there on the floor. Let’s hope he can help swing Game 5 and close this series out giving the Bulls time to rest.

Derrick Rose had a mixed bag on Saturday. He struggled in the first half but helped to tie the game at 90-90 in the fourth quarter after a tough 3-pointer and a dish to Pau Gasol for an and-one. Rose then gave up the game-winning layup to Bayless at the buzzer, and the PG will be seeing that in his sleep for at least one more night.

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On a side note, does Aaron Brooks need to get his head checked? He received a flagrant foul for an unnecessary elbow in the first half, and it made me want to jump through the TV and slap him. He did not get a lot of run in the second half as a result, and hopefully he can bring some more minutes to the table in the next game.

The Bulls need to close out this series in Game 5 to have any hope of getting a lot of rest before the Eastern Conference semifinals, and I’m betting the Cavs will close their series out in a sweep tomorrow. Butler’s brilliance notwithstanding, the Bulls have a lot to improve on if they want to be NBA champions.

Next: NBA Playoffs Roundtable: How Far Will Bulls Advance?

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