Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

A History of the TNT Bulls

By Hunter Kuffel

Apr 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) and Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) react after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in game two of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 92-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) and Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) react after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in game two of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 92-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 21
Next
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Game 7: A peek into the future

Basketball-Reference box score.

Jimmy Butler never wanted the stardom that he currently has. He told us so after he dropped a career-high 35 points in yet another win over the Knicks. According to the AP report on the game, Butler said, “I don’t want to be a star. I just want to be a decent role player on a really good team.”

You can’t always get what you want, Jimmy.

The New York Knicks, without Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith or Iman Shumpert, fell to the TNT Bulls thanks to an impressive showing from Butler. 35 points on 11-for-21 shooting, five rebounds, seven assists, four steals and four 3-pointers was more than enough to give New York their 23rd loss on the season in mid-December. Cheer up, Knicks fans. You’re about to get Kristaps Porzingis.

Pau Gasol scored 20 points of his own and Joakim grabbed 13 boards, but it was Butler’s night, with many considering this to be the best game of his career to date. This season, a stat line like that would still be awesome, but it likely wouldn’t turn any heads. That’s just who Butler is now.

Fun fact about this game: Hinrich passed Norm Van Lier for third most assists in Bulls franchise history. Who knows, maybe he can join the other nine point guards on the current roster and go for the No. 2 spot before season’s end. Stranger things have happened this year.

Home/Bulls History