Can Jimmy Butler And Derrick Rose Co-Exist?

“I am a point guard.”

With those recent words, Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler told Bulls.com that he and Derrick Rose will be a force to be reckoned with going forward, or announced to the world that after claiming the mantle of team leader during last season’s playoffs, he is now asking for control of the ball and offense.

ALSO ON PIPPEN AIN’T EASY: Tension between Butler and Rose after Game 6 loss?

Here’s what we know:

In his fourth season Jimmy Butler (20 PPG on 46.2 FG%, 37.8 3PT%) established himself as a first-time All-Star and one of the best two-way players in the NBA.
Former MVP Derrick Rose is returning after a successful season (17.7 PPG on 40.5 FG%, 28 3PT%) and is working to re-establish himself after a history of injuries as one of the top players in the NBA.

It was alleged that Butler and Rose did not get along during the playoff loss to Cleveland, in which Butler has to this point, offered explanations and insist that he and Derrick are fine and will be united in their desire to win a championship. Rose has said little to nothing about the alleged rift.

During the offseason, the Bulls hired Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg to bring together what was described by some as a “toxic locker room” during last season.

What are the prospects?

“It sounds like a joke for the guy who was supposed to be a small forward replacement for Luol Deng,” Bulls.com writer Sam Smith said on the Butler-Rose situation.

“But having another guard who can handle the ball and allow Rose to play off the ball with Butler’s defensive prowess provides a potentially exceptional and previously unknown element to the Bulls arsenal,” Smith wrote.

This to me sounds like solid analysis, however, isn’t it possible for Jimmy Butler to accomplish all of the above from the two-guard position?

For example, Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were one of the dominant backcourts in NBA history, and they shared ball-handling duties, with each being capable of initiating the offense for the Detroit Pistons of the 1980s and early ’90s. There were times when Thomas would operate from the wing position and move without the basketball, while Dumars would do the same depending on match ups and or tactical advantages.

What I find interesting is Joe Dumars never announced to the world first that he is the team leader and then he plays the position of his team’s established point guard, who just happens to be a league MVP.

On the surface, Jimmy Butler’s new-found confidence could just be a natural changing of the guard (no pun intended). However it begs to question, how does Derrick Rose feel about all of this? Is Rose in agreement? Will he abdicate leadership?

Going back to the game that started this whole soap opera — Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semis against the Cavaliers — where Derrick Rose seemingly backed off during the late stages of the eventual rout. There were those who theorized that Rose was giving Butler room to prove he could carry the team. Whether he was or not, it was not a pretty sight for a team that returns the entire roster for the upcoming season.

Next: Could Jimmy Butler play point guard?

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