Here’s the second edition of Chicago Bulls Blurbs a day after Jimmy Butler put on the best performance of his NBA career against the Charlotte Hornets.
Not even the likes of USC and Penn State during the 2017 Rose Bowl had the eventful night on Monday that Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler had against the Charlotte Hornets.
In the Bulls’ 118-111 victory over the Hornets, Butler scored 52 points — his career-high for points and tied for the fourth-highest point total in a game this season — grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out six assists for the Bulls.
When asked about Butler’s 52-point performance, Doug McDermott had nothing but good things to say about his summer workout partner.
“Very impressive,” McDermott said, via Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago. “We’ve seen it before from Jimmy. But tonight the ball was moving, and I think it opened up things for him. He was taking easier shots rather than tough shots, like kind of what he’s had lately.”
How good has Butler been this season? Well, have a look.
Jimmy is averaging 25.3, 6.8 and 4.4. Only others to average at least 25/6/4 are Harden/Russ/LBJ/KD.
— Jason Patt (@Bulls_Jay) January 3, 2017
Yeah, that’s pretty good.
McDermott wasn’t the only one to have some thoughts on Butler’s huge night at the office against the Hornets. There were others across the web that had some things to say about Butler and the Bulls, which leads us right into our second edition of Chicago Bulls Blurbs.
Next: Chicago Bulls Blurbs, Vol. 1: What can/will the Bulls do with Rajon Rondo?
Jimmy Butler scores 52 in new-look Bulls’ victory over Hornets – K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop)
As mentioned in the first edition of Chicago Bulls Blurbs, there’s no better person on the Bulls beat than the Chicago Tribune‘s K.C. Johnson. After Butler’s performance on Monday night, Johnson had a solid read of what took place at the United Center along with a plethora of quotes from Butler, Dwyane Wade and more.
Bulls-Hornets: 3 Takeaways from Jimmy Butler’s Career Night (@Ecript99)
Our own Matthew Price took to taking a few notes from Monday night’s win for the Bulls over the Hornets, including Butler’s huge performance and Doug McDermott, along with the rest of the Bulls’ youth, chipping in to help Butler put up the best showing of his NBA career.
Keeping Jimmy Butler and pseudo-rebuilding – Your Friendly BullsBlogger (@BullsBlogger)
One of our friends and colleagues — the famous BullsBlogger at SB Nation‘s Blog a Bull — wrote a good piece on how the Bulls enter 2017 in a bizarro world of sorts with Jimmy Butler playing around the youth of the Bulls. (You know, probably like the Bulls should’ve done instead of signing two 30-year-old past their primes … but that’s none of our business.)
Could Rajon Rondo work on the bench? – Stephen Noh (@hungarianjordan)
Stephen is one of the best Bulls writers out there for The Athletic Chicago and he wrote about a solution that could potentially help the Rajon Rondo situation for the Bulls. This was an interesting read and it focused on how Rondo could help out the Bulls’ second unit by helping the non-shot creators get some more open looks moving forward.
Nylon Calculus: Is 2016-17 Russell Westbrook producing more than Michael Jordan in 1988? – Andre Snellings (@ProfessorDrz)
Andre wrote a piece for FanSided‘s The Step Back about the 1988 season from Michael Jordan compared to this season’s outburst from Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. Does Russ have a case? This was a fun, statistical read.
Robin Lopez is the best gift-giver on the Bulls roster
Tuesday marked Doug McDermott’s birthday and Robin Lopez got him probably the best gift a person could get someone named Doug.
Who wouldn’t want a framed picture of the cartoon Doug playing basketball? That’s perfection.
So Robin Lopez is officially the best gift giver. pic.twitter.com/U5uGcjpebr
— Lauren Comitor (@laurencomitor) January 3, 2017
Vincent Goodwill vs. Taj Gibson
After Monday’s win against the Hornets, the Comcast SportsNet Chicago duo of Vincent Goodwill and Chuck Garfien were photobombed by the jubilant Taj Gibson, who chipped in six points and seven rebounds for the Bulls.
Gibson was in a good mood after the victory thanks in part to his USC Trojans winning the Rose Bowl in a thrilling game against Penn State, but Goodwill had throw a jab his way in good fun.
Of course, Gibson had a response.
The Bulls-Pistons rivalry will probably live forever.
The NBA is in pretty good shape
Bulls' Jimmy Butler becomes 8th player this season to hit 50 points, tying NBA's record for most different players to hit 50 in one season.
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 3, 2017
That seems good.