How do you think JFB is doing with the Bulls?

[MU82]

There is a spot in the NBA for a guy who can defend the league's best small forwards and big guards.

If Jimmy can improve his range out to 3-point land, he's Shane Battier or Bruce Bowen and he can make a real nice living for a real long time. If he simply can't be a long-range shooter, he still can be valuable by hitting the mid-range jumpers he'll get because of the attention Derrick Rose draws.

I doubt Jimmy will ever be an NBA star, but he has the body and drive and skills to be in the league. Coaches love a guy with his attitude and lock-down defensive skills.

[TallTitan34]

From the Chicago Tribune game story:

But the Knicks wouldn't go away, pulling within 99-96 with less than two minutes remaining. That's when Joakim Noah blocked Carmelo Anthony and rookie Jimmy Butler, playing clutch minutes, knocked down a jumper with 68 seconds left. Butler, in his best performance this season, contributed seven points in 20 minutes.

[PaintTouches]

Getting some love from the ESPN Chicago reporter and Thibs himself.
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/7015/butler-shows-growth-at-the-garden

"We've liked him from the start," Thibodeau said. "We love his attitude and approach and the way he works every day, his demeanor. And we know he's going to get better and better. The hard thing for him is right now, we're not practicing. He's doing a lot of individual work with the assistant coaches. ... We have a lot of confidence in his ability and he's already got a defensive mindset. As he gets to learn the league and the tendencies of the players and the teams, he's only going to get better and better. But he's got a very serious approach to the game. I thought he made a lot of big plays down the stretch for us."

[timinatorx3]

Chuck Swirsky (radio play-by-play guy) had these tweets last night:

"Rose with a 32-13 game Boozer and Korver each with 16 but the young pup-Jimmy Butler was HUGE"

"Can't say enough about the job Jimmy Butler did for the Bulls-good job young fella"

[Tugg Speedman]

Getting some love from the ESPN Chicago reporter and Thibs himself.
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/7015/butler-shows-growth-at-the-garden

"We've liked him from the start," Thibodeau said. "We love his attitude and approach and the way he works every day, his demeanor. And we know he's going to get better and better. The hard thing for him is right now, we're not practicing. He's doing a lot of individual work with the assistant coaches. ... We have a lot of confidence in his ability and he's already got a defensive mindset. As he gets to learn the league and the tendencies of the players and the teams, he's only going to get better and better. But he's got a very serious approach to the game. I thought he made a lot of big plays down the stretch for us."

A good point here.  With the manic 66 game schedule, and sometimes playing 3 games in 3 days, no one really gets to practice. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

He had a very nice game but looks like he lacks a little confidence with the ball. That could come to him. Made me enjoy the game that much more.

[GGGG]

He had a very nice game but looks like he lacks a little confidence with the ball. That could come to him. Made me enjoy the game that much more.

Kind of like when he first came to Marquette. 

[ringout]

Chuck Swirsky (radio play-by-play guy) had these tweets last night:

"Rose with a 32-13 game Boozer and Korver each with 16 but the young pup-Jimmy Butler was HUGE"

"Can't say enough about the job Jimmy Butler did for the Bulls-good job young fella"

Bill and Bob's brother?  cousin?

[🏀]

Bill and Bob's brother?  cousin?

That's Swerski, however Swirsky was an influence for the skit.

[RushmoreAcademy]

Stuck Melo in most of his minutes, and played in the closing minutes of tight game for the first time. Also hit a big jumper with about a minute and a half on the clock. Definitely a coming out game for JB. Great to see!

[TallTitan34]

Keep in mind Jimmy is also playing without having gone through a NBA training camp.  There are also very few practices this season with the tight schedule.

[Biggworm]

Waddle and Silvy were just talking about Butler last night, and they said that during one of the timeouts in the 4th quarter, Deng approached Jimmy and told him he had to start shooting.  Nice to see that the team has confidence in him

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Reggie Miller,who was very complimentary of jimmy, said he should be the go-to guy when Rose was double-teamed last night.

[MarsupialMadness]

Serious crunch time action for Jimmy. On TNT, Reggie Miller gave him some love for his D on Carmelo. Then Jimmy stepped up and hit a nice 15-footer. I think this was his first real, when-it-matters contribution for the Bulls. Nice job!

That shot took some balls to take, and he nailed it.  Good to see him getting some real NBA experience at the closing of a tight eastern conference matchup in the garden. 

[seakm4]

he's doing better than luke harangody, matt carroll, and any notre dame nba scrubs i may be forgetting.

[brewcity77]

Stuck Melo in most of his minutes, and played in the closing minutes of tight game for the first time. Also hit a big jumper with about a minute and a half on the clock. Definitely a coming out game for JB. Great to see!

I always cringe when I see these types of statements. If JFB doesn't have another game where he plays more than 4 minutes for the next month, suddenly it wasn't a coming out game, it was a blip. He played great, glad he got recognition for his efforts, but you really can't tell if a game was a "coming out" or "break out" game until weeks later.

[Tugg Speedman]

Any chance he starts tonight in Milwaukee?  Not that he plays more minutes than he would otherwise, but he gets a start and the Milwaukee crowd should show him some love in the intro.

[Avenue Commons]

Glowing article in the Chicago Sun Times: http://www.suntimes.com/mobile/10420379-463/bulls-rookie-jimmy-butler-does-it-in-crunch-time-against-knicks.html

[brewcity77]

Any chance he starts tonight in Milwaukee?  Not that he plays more minutes than he would otherwise, but he gets a start and the Milwaukee crowd should show him some love in the intro.

Doubt it. Would be a sentimental move, and this isn't the time of year for a sentimental move. I think he'll get some PT, but can't see him getting the start just because he's back in the BC.

[4everwarriors]

Yeah, JB's gonna start in place of Rose.

[Tugg Speedman]

Yeah, JB's gonna start in place of Rose.

Rip Hamilton and Deng are both out.  How about starting him instead of Kyle Kover?  Yes it would be a reward for his play in the Garden.  He would not get any more minutes.  And Milwaukee, with Buzz in attendance (will MU be back in time?) Would be the perfect place for his first start.

[Slim]

Today's Trib:

"Following his best game, Jimmy Butler will practice Saturday at Marquette, his alma mater"

Are the Bulls practicing at Marquette?
Is JFB just shooting around at the Al?

Just wondering

[brewcity77]

Today's Trib:

"Following his best game, Jimmy Butler will practice Saturday at Marquette, his alma mater"

Are the Bulls practicing at Marquette?
Is JFB just shooting around at the Al?

Just wondering

That's what I heard, that the Bulls shootaround is at the Al.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-02-03/sports/ct-spt-0204-bulls-chicago--20120204_1_tom-thibodeau-thigh-issues-bulls

Following his best game, rookie Jimmy Butler will practice Saturday at Marquette, his alma mater.

[timinatorx3]

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/7041/butlers-homecoming-a-happy-one

Another JFB article, lots of MU / Buzz mentions.