Small Forward Grades
It definitely looked like Fred Hoiberg had driven Butler into the ground, but guess who got his second wind and tore up the league last week – duh, Jimmy.
Jimmy Butler – Grade: A+
Legitimate A+ work from the dude this week. He scored 33 and 39 points in his last two games, playing 43 and 38 minute respectively. Also, those games were back-to-back affairs and the second game required a trip to Louisiana. He’s just incredible. And the entire league is starting to notice again, naming Jimmy the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He had an amazing month of March and earned the honor for the final week. A lot of people out there aren’t appreciating what Jimmy brings to the table or just how much of an impact he has on the fortunes of Chicago. Jokes on those people, Butler is the only good thing this team has going for them and now he’s willing them into the playoffs on his back after carrying them for more than 60 of the games they played so far.
Anthony Morrow – Grade: Blah
Anthony Morrow does not play professional basketball at this point in time. He has been racking up the DNPs. He has played something like 30 minutes in the last six weeks.
Denzel Valentine – Grade: C
Valentine is getting his number called more often and that is good for him. I hope that he really gets going and can elevate his game. It’s not great at all right now. He was one of just three Bulls to play 15 games last month. He averaged 11 points on 42.3 percent shooting from the field in 28.8 minutes per. That’s very impressive for him. Better news – he shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range. Chicago desperately needed shooting from deep and over the past seven games, they’ve been getting it. A little from Zipser, some from Butler and Valentine. I have much more hope for him than I do for players like Jerian.