Is there a new alpha dog on the Chicago Bulls? Jimmy Butler has taken his improvement to another level, and Derrick Rose is not complaining about having a backcourt mate who can take over some of the scoring load.
The Bulls have a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks after their 91-82 victory on Monday, and the main reason they got the win was because of Butler’s 31 points.
“As far as on offense, I was in rhythm,” the SG said afterwards to the Chicago Tribune. “And I think Derrick and Pau and Jo (Noah), whoever it might be, did a great job of getting me open or giving me the ball where I’m comfortable to score. A lot of my scoring goes to those guys for drawing so much attention.”
Butler has shown off his improved 3-point shot and midrange touch so far, but he is also averaging 11 free throws per game. That will be a tough number to keep up; however, he could end up averaging near eight or nine per game throughout the playoffs, and that would be enough to keep Chicago in most affairs.
Rose, on the other side of the coin, struggled a bit in Game 2. He went scoreless in the first half, but he still finished with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The difference between the Bulls in 2011 and now is mainly that they can withstand a half like that from Rose and find a way to win by leaning on other offensive talent.
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Jimmy has set a career high in points for two matches in a row, and he will score over 31 in at least one game this postseason. The Bucks will continue to play physical defense on him, but it should not have much of an effect on his production. If anything, Butler seems to get fired up after altercations like the one he had on Monday with O.J. Mayo.
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“It’s an emotional game, and I want us to play with a lot of toughness,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “But I also want us to play smart. You stop right before it becomes physical. I don’t want anyone thrown out.”
Butler went right up to that line and didn’t cross it. We all know from Jimmy’s past that he will not back down from anybody; however, the SG also has shown a knack for getting under the skin of his opponents. This little incident with Nene comes to mind.
“Jimmy Buckets” is coming into his own, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us all in Game 3. He might just be a kid from Texas, but he is blossoming before our eyes into a superstar.
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