Jimmy Butler’s Chaotic Finish vs. Indiana
Comcast SportsNet Chicago color commentator Stacey King didn’t nickname Jimmy Butler “Jimmy Jordan” for no reason. Butler’s pair of clutch plays in the final seconds on Wednesday led the Bulls to another win over division rival Indiana.
It’s not secret that Chicago Bulls wing Jimmy Butler has become one of the premier stars in the NBA after his stellar 2014-15 season that resulted in him winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
Why did Butler earn so much respect from his peers? Because of his playmaking ability on both ends of the floor.
That ability to get things done on both ends of the floor was made clear on Wednesday night in the third meeting of the season between the Bulls and the Indiana Pacers.
With the score tied at 100 in the final seconds of overtime, the Bulls would get one final chance to win their 18th game of the season and the second in a row against a relevant name in the Eastern Conference.
Butler was able to beat Pacers star Paul George backdoor on a lob from Pau Gasol out of the inbound pass and Butler was just able to tip the ball in to give the Bulls a 102-100 lead.
But, Butler’s night was far from over.
The Bulls still needed one final stop.
And they got it, thanks to Butler.
VIDEO: Final play for the Pacers the Frank Vogel wanted a foul called. Lol Stacey King.https://t.co/0RPAod40qu
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD_) December 31, 2015
You tell me.
Foul? No foul?
Regardless, Butler made a fantastic play to lock down the victory for the Bulls to end 2015.
Butler said he heard Taj Gibson yell out "lob" on the final defensive sequence against Paul George.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 31, 2015
The Pacers—specifically head coach Frank Vogel and Paul George himself—were furious after the final possession of the game. Both thought there was a foul that needed to be called on the lob.
(Watch Vogel’s reaction in the video above of the final possession.)
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The outcome may have been questioned by many, but there’s zero doubt over Butler’s feelings towards George’s game.
“He’s a helluva player man. He can really go. He does everything really well,” Butler said. “He can shoot, handle, finish. But in the end, I think I got a good piece of the ball. I knew he was going to get the ball. I didn’t know where. I heard Taj yell out lob.”
Butler and the Bulls got a huge boost off the bench from Aaron Brooks (game-high 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting) again on Wednesday night, but Butler was sensational after a poor outing against the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
After a 2-for-7 shooting night against the Raptors, Butler dropped 28 points on 8-of-16 shooting against Indiana on Wednesday without Derrick Rose on the floor. Rose missed Wednesday’s game because of a late scratch due to right hamstring tendinitis.
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As for the Bulls, that’s another win over Indiana. The Bulls have three wins in the Central Division this season: Indiana (twice) and Cleveland on Opening Night.
They’ll bring in the new year on Friday with a rematch from Dec. 19 against the New York Knicks, better known as the “we need to be coached harder” game.