Jimmy Butler had a nearly perfect game with 28 points in his best game as a Bull. He played the entire game. The Bulls mounted a desperate and furious comeback and almost pulled it off as they had a shot to tie it at the buzzer after being down by 17 w/ 6 minutes left. He's been great and he's getting better.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278878 (http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278878)
If only Nate Robinson would pass him the ball...
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on April 09, 2013, 09:34:23 PM
If only Nate Robinson would pass him the ball...
So hard to watch him play. So hard. On the other hand Jimmy makes it what it's worth to be a Bulls fan.
Chicago radio guys fully behind giving Jimmy the starting #2 spot starting next season. And as far as they're concerned, it's his spot to lose.
Also said Jimmy, right now, is better than any #2 in the draft this year.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on April 09, 2013, 09:34:23 PM
If only Nate Robinson would pass him the ball...
You stole the words out of my mouth. Nate Robinson was 7-22 from the field. The guy is a joke and people get excited by his 3's that go in at the end of the game. He's the reason why an opponent can score at will.
But back to Jimmy. What a game. He doesn't force things and made things tough for Rudy Gay (especially in the 4th quarter). He plays both ends of the court. I look forward to him taking the ball out of Nate Robinson's hands in the future with a firm bitch slap.
Quote from: TomW1365 on April 09, 2013, 09:39:41 PM
You stole the words out of my mouth. Nate Robinson was 7-22 from the field. The guy is a joke and people get excited by his 3's that go in at the end of the game. He's the reason why an opponent can score at will.
But back to Jimmy. What a game. He doesn't force things and made things tough for Rudy Gay (especially in the 4th quarter). He plays both ends of the court. I look forward to him taking the ball out of Nate Robinson's hands in the future with a firm bitch slap.
Who gets excited? Everyone knows what Nate is. He is a volume shooter and sometimes a volume scorer. Sometimes he hits big shots, but he usually misses quite a few. No mystery.
Jimmy still needs to improve his shot, and then the two spot is his.
From CSNChicago.com
Even in loss, Butler's career night displays vast potential
After scoring a career-high 28 points, snatching seven rebounds and holding Raptors' leading scorer Rudy Gay to a 6-for-14 shooting night while playing all 48 minutes, you'd think Jimmy Butler would be happy.
But the second-year swingman could care less about his production if the end result isn't a Bulls victory.
"I'd rather have 'Jimmy with 28 points and the Bulls win,' but points are just a stat. I'd rather win games," Butler said Tuesday night, after the Bulls' 101-98 loss to the Raptors at the United Center. "I'd rather not score at all and get a mark in the win column. But it feels good to put the ball in the basket a little bit. But we all could have done more as a team on the offensive end or the defensive end to help win this game."
Still, Butler was extremely impressive as a featured option. He increased his offensive output with an efficient 10-for-12 shooting night, including knocking down the trio of three-pointers he attempted, and showed that not only is he a competent offensive player, but one who has a higher ceiling than anyone imagined when he was drafted out of Marquette back in 2011.
"I was just taking the shots that I was given. My teammates found me in transition, in the corner. I feel like a lot of it goes to them because they're attacking and they're getting me open shots, so kudos to those guys. But I'm not really tired," he said, in a nod to injured teammate Luol Deng, the league's reigning minutes-per-game leader and the player he replaced in the starting lineup Tuesday. "I've got a long way to go, but the confidence that I have is going to keep building."
[More: Bulls lose close call to Raptors]
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is clearly much more trusting of Butler than he was earlier in the season and these days, almost every word about the Texas native out the coach's mouth is positive.
"Terrific. Plays hard, great demeanor, keeps battling, keeps getting better and better. Did a great job," Thibodeau said. "He's got a lot of opportunities. I think they are looking for him ... I thought he made good plays. I thought when the ball went into him, The second defender came, he moved the ball, so he's making the right play. That's what I'm more concerned with."
His teammates also lauded Butler's impressive performance.
"Oh, he was great. I talked to him before the game," guard Rip Hamilton recounted. "I just told him, 'You've got to be confident. You've got to go out there and play hard. You've got to go out there and act like you want the ball on the offensive end. Everybody knows what you can do defensively, but nobody expects you to do what you do offensively. But you've got to expect it from yourself.' And he really showed it tonight."
Nate Robinson concurred: "Jimmy had a great game, on offense and defensively on Rudy, and did a great job on whoever he was guarding."
[More: Aggrey Sam's weekly mailbag]
Butler has earned a reputation as a tough and versatile defensive specialist with slashing ability and exciting above-the-rim finishes, but nobody thought such a reluctant outside shooter at the beginning of the season would develop into a confident long-range marksman.
"That's okay," Butler, who has also improved his handle and mid-range game, as well as showcasing emerging back-to-the-basket skills, responded when asked about his prior perception. "I feel like that's what the coaching staff's for and that's what the gym's for, so you can go in and work, and do whatever your team needs you to do.
"Just reps, reps and some more reps. When you hit them in a game, your confidence builds and you know that you can make that," he continued. "There's always room for improvement. You're not going to be perfect in any one aspect of your game, so you keep working until hopefully you reach that point."
Butler is now being discussed as a popular candidate for the Bulls' permanent starting shooting guard of the future — not to jump the gun, but if the Bulls don't lock him up after next season, which would be his third year in the NBA, he'll be in popular demand, as scouts from other teams are already evaluating him closely — next to former league MVP Derrick Rose in the backcourt.
"The future — hell, tomorrow's not even promised — not to even think of next season," he said. "It brings a smile to my face obviously, but I try not to get too caught up in the future because it's not promised. You never know what can happen, so right now, I live for the moment and I praise every moment that I'm given because it's a blessing, but knowing that they want me to be here alongside Derrick, Lu and all these other guys, that makes me smile."
Jimmy is the low salary player who could be the difference (no pun intended) in 2013 for the Bulls. If Boozer maintains his production and health, the Bulls should be able to score enough to beat Miami once Rose returns to form. They should be able to score inside on the Heat enough to keep up the scoring pace and maybe force the Heat to go big which mean less spacing. Jimmy allows them to within reason match Miami athletically on the wings compared to other teams.
If the Bulls win the rebounding battle decisively and D Rose is a hero down the stretch then they do have a realistic shot with Butler instead of Korver, Bogans, and Brewer. He is a good combo of the three of them, especially if he can get his 3 pt percentage up there.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on April 10, 2013, 11:58:06 AM
Jimmy is the low salary player who could be the difference (no pun intended) in 2013 for the Bulls. If Boozer maintains his production and health, the Bulls should be able to score enough to beat Miami once Rose returns to form. They should be able to score inside on the Heat enough to keep up the scoring pace and maybe force the Heat to go big which mean less spacing. Jimmy allows them to within reason match Miami athletically on the wings compared to other teams.
If the Bulls win the rebounding battle decisively and D Rose is a hero down the stretch then they do have a realistic shot with Butler instead of Korver, Bogans, and Brewer. He is a good combo of the three of them, especially if he can get his 3 pt percentage up there.
No, the Heat are still way better.
On ESPN Chicago this morning the discussion was to offer Deng less money and to amnestery Boozer, go figure that. The Bulls have a good core group of players and with Butler's emergence as a 2G they could be really good, next year. Rip Hamilton just doesn't have much left in the tank and the Bulls will most definitely give Jimmy a chance to start, maybe even early in the playoffs...in my opinion.
This whole Rose thing is really starting to piss me off. ACL surgery isnt a death sentence anymore and Rose is absolutely milking it. Otule came back after 8 months, AP came back after 8 months and Shumpert came back really quickly I think it was 8 months. Rose is past the 10 month mark now and doesnt look to return anytime soon. Back on topic, Butler looks really good and hopefully will be around for awhile.
Quote from: esard2011 on April 10, 2013, 12:25:14 PM
This whole Rose thing is really starting to piss me off. ACL surgery isnt a death sentence anymore and Rose is absolutely milking it. Otule came back after 8 months, AP came back after 8 months and Shumpert came back really quickly I think it was 8 months. Rose is past the 10 month mark now and doesnt look to return anytime soon. Back on topic, Butler looks really good and hopefully will be around for awhile.
Derrick's coming back for the playoffs, but it has been frustrating since he isn't listening to the doctors. He's just hurting his recovery at this point.
Regardless, the Bulls are not winning crap this year.
It is funny/doing a double take watching White Sox games and hearing Steve Stone do a promo for an upcoming Bulls game and saying "Watch Jimmy Butler and the Bulls take on "opponent" on Comcast Sportsnet tomorrow night at 7 ".
Quote from: esard2011 on April 10, 2013, 12:25:14 PM
This whole Rose thing is really starting to piss me off. ACL surgery isnt a death sentence anymore and Rose is absolutely milking it. Otule came back after 8 months, AP came back after 8 months and Shumpert came back really quickly I think it was 8 months. Rose is past the 10 month mark now and doesnt look to return anytime soon. Back on topic, Butler looks really good and hopefully will be around for awhile.
Or maybe he's one of the few (Otule obviously couldn't) not using PEDs to get back to health. Also, ACLs and recovery for bball player are MUCH different than for football players. As well, Rose plays his game in a much different way than Otule/Shumpert (cutting/jumping/etc.)
As someone else noted, the Bulls aren't winning this year anyway, so why does it matter?
Quote from: jesmu84 on April 10, 2013, 12:40:47 PM
Or maybe he's one of the few (Otule obviously couldn't) not using PEDs to get back to health. Also, ACLs and recovery for bball player are MUCH different than for football players. As well, Rose plays his game in a much different way than Otule/Shumpert (cutting/jumping/etc.)
As someone else noted, the Bulls aren't winning this year anyway, so why does it matter?
Yea, Peterson never has to make a quick cut on the football field...
Quote from: PTM on April 10, 2013, 12:04:03 PM
No, the Heat are still way better.
Strongly disagree that they would be way better. The heat would be favored of course. But the bulls when healthy do everything that hurts the heat which is rebounding and point guard penetration. They always find ways to beat Miami when healthy. Boston was the same way.
Quote from: MU B2002 on April 10, 2013, 12:43:50 PM
Yea, Peterson never has to make a quick cut on the football field...
I was referring to the bball players when talking about Rose's play. And jumping, as Rose does, is much harder on an ACL compared to simple juking that Peterson does. As well, you're completely fooling yourself if you don't think pro athletes, particularly in football, are using PEDs to come back from injury faster.
Quote from: jesmu84 on April 10, 2013, 12:58:38 PM
I was referring to the bball players when talking about Rose's play. And jumping, as Rose does, is much harder on an ACL compared to simple juking that Peterson does. As well, you're completely fooling yourself if you don't think pro athletes, particularly in football, are using PEDs to come back from injury faster.
Nowhere in my one line snarky response did I refer to PED use. (Which is believe is rampant.)
You're completely fooling yourself if you think that a 250-300 lb man using his weight to try and tackle you while you are still running, as Peterson deals with 20-30 times a game, isn't torture on your knees.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on April 10, 2013, 12:48:35 PM
Strongly disagree that they would be way better. The heat would be favored of course. But the bulls when healthy do everything that hurts the heat which is rebounding and point guard penetration. They always find ways to beat Miami when healthy. Boston was the same way.
As a Bulls fan I hate to say it, but with a healthy Rose, the best the Bulls could do against Miami would be to force a sixth game.
Quote from: MU B2002 on April 10, 2013, 01:02:09 PM
No where in my one line snarky response did I refer to PED use. (Which is believe is rampant.)
You're completely fooling yourself if you think that a 250-300 lb man using his weight to try and tackle you while you are still running, as Peterson deals with 20-30 times a game, isn't torture on your knees.
I never said it wasn't hard on his knees. But the simple physics of the situation and how the ACL works say that jumping is harder on the ACL. Ask any kinesiologist, othropedic surgeon or physical therapist. Or physicist for that matter.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on April 10, 2013, 12:48:35 PM
Strongly disagree that they would be way better. The heat would be favored of course. But the bulls when healthy do everything that hurts the heat which is rebounding and point guard penetration. They always find ways to beat Miami when healthy. Boston was the same way.
In the regular season, sure.
Playoffs Heat is a whole different animal.
The Bulls need a really, really strong 3 guard to match with Rose and Butler if that's the future. Or Kevin Love.
Until then, the Bulls can't stop the Heat. I still have nightmares of LBJ completely taking Derrick Rose away.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on April 10, 2013, 01:03:11 PM
As a Bulls fan I hate to say it, but with a healthy Rose, the best the Bulls could do against Miami would be to force a sixth game.
They barely beat and old Boston team last year, albeit Bosh and Wade we're banged up. They are the champs and favorites, but there are a lot of teams that can hurt them with rebounding. The Bulls are lucky enough to pair that rebounding with an MVP caliber scorer. No one else in the league can run a defense of Rose, Butler, Deng, Gibson, and Noah at them. That lineup could switch screens and force them to take tough shots.
Every game was close in 2011 but the bulls couldn't score late which a healthy Booz and jimmy in over brewer will help. And the bulls tend to beat them in the regular season. Yes the heat had a hot streak like the 2008 Rockets had, but that doesn't mean they are unstoppable.
Quote from: PTM on April 10, 2013, 01:10:36 PM
In the regular season, sure.
Playoffs Heat is a whole different animal.
The Bulls need a really, really strong 3 guard to match with Rose and Butler if that's the future. Or Kevin Love.
Until then, the Bulls can't stop the Heat. I still have nightmares of LBJ completely taking Derrick Rose away.
LBJ did not take rose away. He and Wade's double team did. Korver could not match up with the heat, so wade was free to double off of brew or Bogans. I think LBJ guarded rose a handful of times one on one. I can tell it bothers rose in interviews when people bring that up but he isn't the type of person to blame Bogans and brewer there even though that is the case.
I wish we could have seen it, but a healthy Hamilton would force wade onto him in 2012 actually leaving James on Rose. But we weren't able to see it and he heat got to play old Boston and barely squeak by them. That would be a big task for jimmy to keep someone honest like you are saying.
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/984366-bulls-rumors-not-everyone-is-happy-with-richard-hamilton-signing-but-should-be
According to this article, Synergy tracking data showed that Lebron guarded Rose 6 total times in the entire series in 2011.
I remember the Heat putting Korver into a pick and roll every play and then Lebron or Wade torching him. Korver then shot a horrible percentage. Bogans and brewer had to play more.
Jimmy has the opportunity to be just enough to keep the defense from doubling Rose. No or has proven an ability to stop Rose alone and the Heat don't have interior defense like other teams do. I would have loved to see that series last year with both teams healthy. We won't get it this year, but the Bulls have a great chance to upset the Heat with their rebounding. Lots of MU talk with Jimmy and Wade too.
Jimmy was ballin' last night. Can't wait to watch him as the season winds downs and all of next year.
But all you people that are bashing on Rose for not coming back are straight dumb and ignorant.
O'tule came back after eight, Peterson after eight, yada yada yada.
Every player is different and every player recovers differently. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Why come back when you're still afraid of making cuts? I had a friend of mine tear his ACL and he dropped football for life because he was scared of taking a hit to his knee again. That is totally reasonable. Why bring him back when he's not 100% there mentally? That's the hardest hurdle to jump through. As a Bulls fan, I'd just rather see him play next year. Rest up during the summer and come back once the season starts again. Lay off the ACL talk. Some of you guys are just down-right fools.
Quote from: setyoursightsnorth on April 10, 2013, 05:27:26 PM
Jimmy was ballin' last night. Can't wait to watch him as the season winds downs and all of next year.
But all you people that are bashing on Rose for not coming back are straight dumb and ignorant.
O'tule came back after eight, Peterson after eight, yada yada yada.
Every player is different and every player recovers differently. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Why come back when you're still afraid of making cuts? I had a friend of mine tear his ACL and he dropped football for life because he was scared of taking a hit to his knee again. That is totally reasonable. Why bring him back when he's not 100% there mentally? That's the hardest hurdle to jump through. As a Bulls fan, I'd just rather see him play next year. Rest up during the summer and come back once the season starts again. Lay off the ACL talk. Some of you guys are just down-right fools.
Im a huge Rose fan but this is honestly just ridiculous. Otule is 6'11" thats a nightmare to rehab being that tal yet he came back quickly. AP had the best season of his life. At a certain point you have to question why he isnt back yet when all the doctors say hes ready. Whats the diference between now and October when the season starts up again. He really is hurting his own recovery. I tore my ACL and the Physical Therapist said the best thing I could do once I was cleared was to get right back to playing.
Quote from: esard2011 on April 10, 2013, 08:19:27 PM
Im a huge Rose fan but this is honestly just ridiculous. Otule is 6'11" thats a nightmare to rehab being that tal yet he came back quickly. AP had the best season of his life. At a certain point you have to question why he isnt back yet when all the doctors say hes ready. Whats the diference between now and October when the season starts up again. He really is hurting his own recovery. I tore my ACL and the Physical Therapist said the best thing I could do once I was cleared was to get right back to playing.
he's probably still looking for someone to do his rehab for him
Quote from: setyoursightsnorth on April 10, 2013, 05:27:26 PM
Jimmy was ballin' last night. Can't wait to watch him as the season winds downs and all of next year.
But all you people that are bashing on Rose for not coming back are straight dumb and ignorant.
O'tule came back after eight, Peterson after eight, yada yada yada.
Every player is different and every player recovers differently. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Why come back when you're still afraid of making cuts? I had a friend of mine tear his ACL and he dropped football for life because he was scared of taking a hit to his knee again. That is totally reasonable. Why bring him back when he's not 100% there mentally? That's the hardest hurdle to jump through. As a Bulls fan, I'd just rather see him play next year. Rest up during the summer and come back once the season starts again. Lay off the ACL talk. Some of you guys are just down-right fools.
Yes. Derricks doctor is dumb and ignorant. There's also the multiple NBA players that have recovered from ACL tears that have said playing in the way to mentally trust your knee are dumb and ignorant. Derrick has proven he its the ignorant one in this situation.
His rehab includes playing and he won't do it despite running circles around his teammates in practice. Looks real good for him.
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on April 10, 2013, 08:53:45 PM
he's probably still looking for someone to do his rehab for him
That was awesome. Well played.
Quote from: SaintPaulWarrior on April 10, 2013, 12:30:55 PM
It is funny/doing a double take watching White Sox games and hearing Steve Stone do a promo for an upcoming Bulls game and saying "Watch Jimmy Butler and the Bulls take on "opponent" on Comcast Sportsnet tomorrow night at 7 ".
I so loved reading that! :)
I don't find a problem with this whatsoever. None of us are in his shoes. Who are we to judge? He'll be back when he damn well pleases, which will most likely be at the start of next season. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Once he's ready, he'll play.
You say he's milking in. Do you honestly think he's going out of his way to do this? He's been asked the same question since the all-star break. The bulls are losing close games which they probably could have won with him in the lineup. You think he enjoys that? He's the gave of they franchise. I want him to retire here. If that means he misses the season and comes back better next year, I will take that in a heartbeat.
The issue is his mental health will only return by playing. He is ignoring his rehabilitation plan.
Grantland is a really good website for well written and research backed insights. Jimmy Butler and Wesley Mathews were among those listed as the new age guard needed by teams in hybrid man/zone defenses. It's definitely worth a read. While they didn't use the word "switchable" as Buzz uses, they did mention the need for these new age guards to be able to defend both guard positions along w/ the small forward and the ability to move from the paint to 3 point line quickly.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9225802/players-shane-battier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests?ex_cid=facebook (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9225802/players-shane-battier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests?ex_cid=facebook)
Who are the new age Shane Battiers? As the league changes, certain skills become more and less valuable, and the teams who sniff out those value shifts first reap the benefits. The NBA today is much different than it was even five years ago. Teams shoot many more 3-pointers, they cram the paint on defense, and they use schemes that often require players to be able to guard multiple positions. Being a wing in a Thibodeau-style pack-the-paint scheme requires smarts, effort, and crazy athleticism — the ability to move from the 3-point line to underneath the basket and then back out to the 3-point line within the same 15-second half-court sequence.
If I were running an NBA team — ha! — I'd be scouring the world for role players who can do all of the following three things:
• Defend shooting guards.
• Defend small forwards.
• Shoot 3-pointers proficiently.
Quote from: TomW1365 on April 09, 2013, 09:39:41 PM
You stole the words out of my mouth. Nate Robinson was 7-22 from the field. The guy is a joke and people get excited by his 3's that go in at the end of the game. He's the reason why an opponent can score at will.
But back to Jimmy. What a game. He doesn't force things and made things tough for Rudy Gay (especially in the 4th quarter). He plays both ends of the court. I look forward to him taking the ball out of Nate Robinson's hands in the future with a firm bitch slap.
Question is, will Jimmy perform like this once Nate is replaced with Derrick Rose. He hawks the ball more than Nate.
Quote from: Sunbelt15 on April 30, 2013, 01:08:13 PM
Question is, will Jimmy perform like this once Nate is replaced with Derrick Rose. He hawks the ball more than Nate.
Are you kidding me?!? Derrick Rose is a former MVP point guard. He creates. Nate knows how to get his own shot and that's it. Jimmy Butler should be as good or better w/ Derrick running the point.
Quote from: Sunbelt15 on April 30, 2013, 01:08:13 PM
Question is, will Jimmy perform like this once Nate is replaced with Derrick Rose. He hawks the ball more than Nate.
Are you potentially confusing ball hog with ball hawk? The first has a negative connotation, the second has a positive. I don't agree with what I assume you meant (ball hog), it was just weird to see the term "ball hawk" used in the pejorative sense.