Wesley Matthews and Jimmy Butler BOTH in Reggie's top five backcourts

[bamamarquettefan]

On the Bulls telecast, Reggie (Miller I assume, but just cut it on) just ranked the top five backcourts in the NBA.

He picked Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews as the fifth best NBA backcourt and

Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler as the fourth best.

Wow, the guy who was supposed to be the third best of the Three Amigos and the guy who was Lazar's support.

Tell our guys tomorrow night even if they aren't featured they cane make it all the way!

[hilltopper03]

Jimmy had another excellent games tonight. 21 points of 7-10 shooting, 8 boards, 6 assists.

[🏀]

If DRose had a pair of testicles, instead of the fleshy mound of whatever is there now, Jimmy would be real close to DWade in exposure terms.

[buckchuckler]

Jimmy had another excellent games tonight. 21 points of 7-10 shooting, 8 boards, 6 assists.

He's been just great this year.  Looks like he made a really smart move turning down 10 mil a year. 

[CTWarrior]

He's been just great this year.  Looks like he made a really smart move turning down 10 mil a year. 

Watched the Bulls last night.  That is a rarity since I don't usually watch the NBA but I had the TV to myself and nothing else of interest was on.  JFB looked fantastic.  Very smooth with the ball, a great mid-range jumper and a super annoying and effective defender with a nose for the ball.  He was very good at MU, but he's improved leaps and bounds in all facets.  Can't say enough nice things about his game.

[Galway Eagle]

Watched the Bulls last night.  That is a rarity since I don't usually watch the NBA but I had the TV to myself and nothing else of interest was on.  JFB looked fantastic.  Very smooth with the ball, a great mid-range jumper and a super annoying and effective defender with a nose for the ball.  He was very good at MU, but he's improved leaps and bounds in all facets.  Can't say enough nice things about his game.

Agreed. Wondering if he had a coach that focused more on development of players than just toughness if he could've been
Remotely that good here.

[Lennys Tap]

Agreed. Wondering if he had a coach that focused more on development of players than just toughness if he could've been
Remotely that good here.

Jimmy was very raw when he first came to MU. He became much tougher (I remember him missing bunnies early while anticipating/shying from contact) and much more skilled (went from a garbage guy to an end of the game closer) offensively. And he went from nothing special to our best player in decades defensively, from a role player to a first round draft choice in three years at MU.

In the pros his development has continued. He's gone from defensive specialist to the whole package. It wouldn't be surprised to see him make an NBA All Star game. I've seen him play for 6 years and he grown as a player every year. Who knows what his ceiling is?

[ThatDude]

Agreed. Wondering if he had a coach that focused more on development of players than just toughness if he could've been
Remotely that good here.

+100000000000

Still was pretty good here though

[reinko]

Jimmy was very raw when he first came to MU. He became much tougher (I remember him missing bunnies early while anticipating/shying from contact) and much more skilled (went from a garbage guy to an end of the game closer) offensively. And he went from nothing special to our best player in decades defensively, from a role player to a first round draft choice in three years at MU.

In the pros his development has continued. He's gone from defensive specialist to the whole package. It wouldn't be surprised to see him make an NBA All Star game. I've seen him play for 6 years and he grown as a player every year. Who knows what his ceiling is?

Great question.  You just don't see players that tough on D, that can still fill up the box score.  I am trying to think of his comp right now in the NBA right now.  A guy who guard your best 2 or 3, with enough minutes get 18 & 6, maybe even more on the right team.  A smaller Paul George perhaps might be his ceiling, which could make him a top 20-30 NBA player?

[buckchuckler]

Agreed. Wondering if he had a coach that focused more on development of players than just toughness if he could've been
Remotely that good here.

Without his toughness and defensive prowess and energy, Jimmy likely would not have been drafted.  Some times it just takes time for players to come into their own.  It has taken Jimmy 2 full years in the NBA to get to this point.  Seems really silly to try to put anything negative about him on Buzz. 

[Silkk the Shaka]

Jimmy was very raw when he first came to MU. He became much tougher (I remember him missing bunnies early while anticipating/shying from contact) and much more skilled (went from a garbage guy to an end of the game closer) offensively. And he went from nothing special to our best player in decades defensively, from a role player to a first round draft choice in three years at MU.

In the pros his development has continued. He's gone from defensive specialist to the whole package. It wouldn't be surprised to see him make an NBA All Star game. I've seen him play for 6 years and he grown as a player every year. Who knows what his ceiling is?

This is, of course, exactly how it played out. Jimmy was an afterthought recruit on his own JUCO team behind Joe Fulce. He was only honorable mention JUCO All American (the rest of Buzz' JUCO guys were 1st or 2nd team). He looked completely lost on both sides of the floor against Dayton at Hoffman Estates his 1st year, to the point where I said that guy's never gonna play.

His game progressed more from the start to finish of his MU career than any player I can remember.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Great question.  You just don't see players that tough on D, that can still fill up the box score.  I am trying to think of his comp right now in the NBA right now.  A guy who guard your best 2 or 3, with enough minutes get 18 & 6, maybe even more on the right team.  A smaller Paul George perhaps might be his ceiling, which could make him a top 20-30 NBA player?

Kawhi Leonard yo. He's gonna be LeBron's kryptonite in the Eastern conference. A guy you can rely on to contain (not shut down) LeBron without having to double team, while also having the ability to get his own on the other end. The Spurs laid out the formula last year. Jimmy is the Bulls' Kawhi piece.

[reinko]

Kawhi Leonard yo. He's gonna be LeBron's kryptonite in the Eastern conference. A guy you can rely on to contain (not shut down) LeBron without having to double team, while also having the ability to get his own on the other end. The Spurs laid out the formula last year. Jimmy is the Bulls' Kawhi piece.

Well done.   Zactly.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Jimmy was offered by Kentucky, Iowa State among others... he was a JUCO All American.  Let's not undersell how "raw" he was.  Talented player who got better, no doubt.

[JWags85]

Butler had a career high 32 last night to go with 6 rebounds and also led the team in minutes, per usual.  Really stepping up this season.  Fun to watch.

[wadesworld]

Kawhi Leonard yo. He's gonna be LeBron's kryptonite in the Eastern conference. A guy you can rely on to contain (not shut down) LeBron without having to double team, while also having the ability to get his own on the other end. The Spurs laid out the formula last year. Jimmy is the Bulls' Kawhi piece.

Kawhi is a much better player on both ends of the floor in my opinion, and I love Jimmy.  BUT they do have similar games.

[forgetful]

Jimmy was offered by Kentucky, Iowa State among others... he was a JUCO All American.  Let's not undersell how "raw" he was.  Talented player who got better, no doubt.

He was not offered by any of them...they looked at him.  And he was an honorable mention JUCO All-American.

Big differences.

[Lennys Tap]

He was not offered by any of them...they looked at him.  And he was an honorable mention JUCO All-American.

Big differences.

Chico/jimtelevision knew that. He just likes stirring the pot.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Kawhi is a much better player on both ends of the floor in my opinion, and I love Jimmy.  BUT they do have similar games.

Agreed, just saying he will play the same role against the Cavs in the playoffs as Kawhi did against the Heat the last 2 years.

[ChicosBailBonds]

He was not offered by any of them...they looked at him.  And he was an honorable mention JUCO All-American.

Big differences.

Thank you for the clarification.  Would it be fair to say that Kentucky usually doesn't waste time on players unless they are good?  Kentucky isn't much on taking "raw" or "very raw" because they don't need to invest time or a scholarship in players that fit that bill.

IMO.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Thank you for the clarification.  Would it be fair to say that Kentucky usually doesn't waste time on players unless they are good?  Kentucky isn't much on taking "raw" or "very raw" because they don't need to invest time or a scholarship in players that fit that bill.

IMO.

Yeah, prolly why they didn't offer him

[Ellisium]

If DRose had a pair of testicles, instead of the fleshy mound of whatever is there now, Jimmy would be real close to DWade in exposure terms.

????  So Jimmy Butler is going to get a plethora of endorsement deals based on Derrick Rose's play?  Are you using the new math?