Jimmy Butler Relishing Being Bulls' Go-To Guy In Crunch Time
By Cody Westerlund--
MILWAUKEE (CBS) -- Amid Jimmy Butler's grand pronouncement this season that he's the Bulls' leader, like or it or not, has been a crucial and inevitable basketball development.
It first surfaced in the second game of the year, back when hope sprang eternal for the Bulls under rookie coach Fred Hoiberg. In a confident road win before October was even over, Chicago played through Butler down the stretch at Brooklyn, running five straight possessions through him at one point as Derrick Rose largely stood in the corner.
At various times throughout the season, the Bulls have played through both Rose and Butler in crunch time, depending on who has the preferred matchup in Hoiberg's eyes. Now, with more and more often with games hanging in the balance and Rose's health being iffy, Butler has turned into Chicago's go-to guy late.
He was perhaps at his finest Sunday night, leading the short-handed Bulls to a 102-98 win against the Bucks at the Bradley Center to keep their fading playoff hopes still flickering. With Rose (elbow) and Taj Gibson (ribs) sidelined again, Butler scored a team-high 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting, while adding eight assist and five rebounds in 38 minutes.
His performance included six points, one assist and big defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fourth quarter as the Bulls narrowly held off the Bucks after leading by 19 in the first half. Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 34 points, but only three came in the final 9 minutes, 15 seconds after Butler took over the defensive role on him.
"He wants the ball in his hands, and he's done a great job for us closing out games," Hoiberg said, with Butler's jumper in the waning seconds to beat the Pacers last Tuesday in mind too. "We get in a close, low-possession game like that, and Jimmy's the guy with the ball in his hands and has generally made the right play, especially as the year has gone on. You can see him getting more comfortable in that role."
Most significant Sunday – and lately – was that Butler made the right decisions and never forced the issue. That hasn't always been the case this season in a bogged-down offense, but Butler likes to claim this crunch-time role is really easy.
If you're open, shoot it. If you're not, pass it to the open guy.
"Jimmy made play after play," Hoiberg said.
True to form for a man who's enjoyed the spotlight amid his rise to All-Star status and loves to flaunt his friendship with Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg, Butler's embraced his closer's role. If anyone forgot why he should take on such responsibility, Butler was quick to reference the $92-million contract he signed last offseason.
"I kind of have to do it now," Butler said. "I think everybody looks at me to do so with the deal that I just signed and being one of the better players on this team. I think when Fred is putting the ball in my hands late, he knows I'm going to make the right decision whether to shoot the ball or to pass."
Because the team ranks in the bottom six of the league in offensive efficiency, the Rose-Butler dynamic will continue to hover over the Bulls. Asked whether Rose being out makes it easier on him in crunch time because it offers more room to operate and play freely, Butler responded "yes and no."
"With Derrick out there, I get a couple more breaks when I'm out there on the floor, so I'm not gassed as much," Butler said. "Then at the same time, even when he is out there, I still have to be aggressive and make the right plays, because on any given night, it could be him in the pick-and-roll or it could be me."
For now, it will be Butler who gets the call. After missing his second straight game with left elbow pain and soreness, Rose remains uncertain for Tuesday's road contest against the Grizzlies.
The Bulls themselves remain two games behind the Pacers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East (Chicago holds the tiebreaker). Because of the team's disappointing 39-38 record, his max contract and his self-proclaimed leadership role that included calling out his own coach in December, Butler's faced more criticism than ever before.
At this point, he's come to accept it.
"I'm fine with that," Butler said. "I like all the weight on my shoulders, to tell you the truth. It will only make me better. I love criticism because I like silence my doubters. I love that.
"The work that I put in all summer and during the year, I'm very confident in my game. I've said that all along, and I'm going to continue to work and continue to be confident and take those shots."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
