If every single fucking Cavs player is allowed their own thread, Jimmy G Buckets' ascension to an elite level gets one as well. Folks/Bags hated on the kid, but it's becoming clear he's probably the most complete two guard in the league.

21/6/3.9
50%
37% from three

http://instagram.com/p/qaPvVph7jg/

JIMMY GON GET PAID.

First season:
0.3 stl, 0.1 blk, 0.6 DWS - Jimmy
0.7 stl, 0.3 blk, 0.3 DWS - Klay

Second Season:
0.7 stl, 0.3 blk, 3.2 DWS - Jimmy
0.9 stl, 0.4 blk, 2.9 DWS - Klay

Third Season:
1.1 stl, 0.4 blk, 7.8 DWS - Jimmy
0.9 stl, 0.4 blk, 6.1 DWS - Klay

This Season:
1.1 stl, 0.4 blk, 8.3 DWS - Jimmy
0.9 stl, 0.5 blk, 6.6 DWS - Klay

Jimmy's been clearly better, numbers-wise, since last year.

And I don't really fuck with numbers this much.

See? http://bkref.com/tiny/95xik

Weird.

Where was Klay?

36 year old Bean has busted his ass a couple of time this season that Iggy had to switch on him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O315P30u9-k#t=104

Joe is a nyquil, but his game is all sorts of
perfect on offense

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Kawhi & Jimmy are a more athletic version of Ron Artest & have a potential to be a Pippen-ish type of player.

.

He was Team USA's best perimeter in tryouts and the tournament and he's been recognized as one of the best defenders at his positions for more than two seasons.

Like, do I REALLY read and watch that much more about basketball than y'all?

Do you all STILL not know how good Klay is?

Butler is good, but he ain't the best two-way two guard. Period. I'd give it to Derozan before him, too.

> he's been recognized as one of the best
>defenders at his positions for more than two seasons.

jimmy is probably the most effective bron defender in the league. prove yourself against the best before you call yourself the best, ya know?

checking mamba when he goes 7-34 doesn't count. edit: playing good defense in tryouts and scrimmages during the summer don't count either.

I agree that he has become better than what the naysayers have said of him, and on the low, I hate how the Bulls keep finding players like this and yet we gotta deal with someone who has a "Wannabe Dwyane Wade" Complex

but yeah, he's balling out.

http://oi62.tinypic.com/rgw3rd.jpg

almost identical. that's crazy.

later

your hate for the bulls is strong
see your knicks in the playoff....oh wait

http://i.imgur.com/ORETsvC.gif

a higher motor and a little more 'dog' in him than Klay

-He's an underrated shooter
-He comes up big when the Bulls need him to
-capable of guarding 3 positions
-pretty good at getting to the cup

If Klay was the #1 option he would be nothing more than Kevin Martin in a Kings uniform.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrwiAkh1Pc

http://bkref.com/tiny/N0rog

K-Mart was as efficient as Klay although K-Mart had washed up Bibby as his back-court mate while Klay gets to play off Curry.

simple

Holla at me when he locks up anyone besides during scrimmages, lol cats acting like he is anything like Eddie Jones.......Redd used to actually be known as a defender when he was backing up Ray but ended up being an average defender just like Klay. Besides, Redd had the ability to do everything Klay does offensively & then more while play as the primary scoring option on a playoff team...TJ Ford was his back-court mate.

LOL @ this: http://bkref.com/tiny/m8gy3

on here

dumbest thing you've said this past week.

I already stated Kawhi/Jimmy are a more athletic version of Artest but since they are both RAW AS FUCK they can potentially improve their games to be compared to Pippen......they both have the physical tools & drive.

Jimmy can shoot as well as Pippen RIGHT NOW & he isn't far back defensively/rebounding wise(which he isn't ask to do much)........he just needs to keep improving his ball handling(will probably never be as fluid as Scottie) & court vision/bbIQ (which both improve w/ experience). Give Kawhi/Jimmy 3 years & I bet their games will be closer to Pippen's than Artest's.

Lets slow down homie....lol...Jimmy is doing his thing. But Pip?...chill...

great to watch night in and night out


BULLS

i would rather cyse than root for a pathetic franchise.

Its gone from completely dismissing Butler to now moving the goalpost...

Right now as it stands Jimmy is the best defending 2 guard in the league. He doesnt have the instant offense like Harden or the lights out jumper of Klay, but that kid is proving he will be worth the money on both sides of the ball....And he shoots the 3 AND gets to the line????

The only thing that can stop Butler's exceptional growth at this point is Thibs who is giving that kid slave minutes in November. That worries me. A LOT...

it's been two weeks.

....and Klay plays along side Steph meanwhile Jimmy has been playing w/ the ghost of D-Rose.

BTW, I thought Austin was threatening to take Gordon's starting job? Muphucka's past 2 games indicate he's regressing back to his old self: 1-8, 6pts TOTAL.

>....and Klay plays along side Steph meanwhile Jimmy has been
>playing w/ the ghost of D-Rose.


And that ghost still can get u 20 and 7 on hobbled ankles....

But you are right on Klay's NBA success. He's still young and he's only going to get better. And the same should be said for Butler...

And I'm not even on that anti-Klay shit...It's obvious that Klay offensively is on another level than Butler...

But Butler is the better all around defender. He is starting to get to the line A LOT and he is the better playmaker with the ball...

It's not as cut and dry as one thinks...But Klay is def. the more superior shooter...

This is going to be fun....U better hope Thibs continues to play Jimmy like he stole something....Because dude is turning a lot of heads....And will only get better...

y'all ain't winning nothing.

>y'all ain't winning nothing.


This is why u r so good at this shit...U mix agendas on some sneaky shit....lol

Keith Murphy has been on record that HE doesn't think the Bulls will win the trophy if our coach, who is damn good, continues to play our talent like they are picking cotton...I'm arguably the most pessimistic Bulls fan on this site...So my argument was never whether the Bulls were winning something or "nothing" as u put it...

My point is the massive L you will take when Jimmy Butler gets an All-Star patch (if it matters for Ky, it will matter for Jimmy, right?) and proves you wrong...Again....Because u shitted on that kid's TALENT...Not on whether he can lead the Bulls to a championship....DAWG...

That's what we are talking about right? Jimmy Butler...Not whether the Bulls will win a fucking ring when much more depends on that outcome such as Rose's alarming injury issues, Thib's ride-or-die coaching philosophy, ect...

Remember...Klay hasn't won anything in the NBA either...U my dude...But your mad-making routine is hilarious...

Goalposts are continually moved...It is what it is....

I'm sure we will meet up and have a drink one day though...Because u r a fucking riot....

it's klay. period.

i really didn't wanna hate on jimmy in this thread. wasn't even about that. but, you can't just hand a career single-digit guy that title because he scoring 21 per in the first two weeks of the season.

be reasonable. y'all are NEVER reasonable.

I can dig it....

I just find it funny that u were very vocal about Butler in the past even before "best two-way-guard" statament...U were the one that said dude was getting overhyped when he started to struggle last year....U basically dismissed him...But I believe u will eat those words in a massive way...

I get it. It's easy to troll Bulls fans given your Deng/Boozer boosting in the past...So I already know it's just u doing your mad-making routine...

Just know Crow will be served....

the rest has been epic fails that i've partied on y'all about...from big ben being the final piece to kirk being the best PG in east to tyrus being anything but the bum i said he'd be to rip being old...don't act like y'all been handing me Ls.

rose won MVP. that was it.

Butler is better on defense than Klay.

Klay is better on offense than Butler.

Anybody arguing those two points is either an idiot or too blinded by agendas to see facts (which also makes them an idiot).

From there though I would argue Klay is better on defense than Jimmy is on offense. That could change either way in the next couple of years. They both have similar trajectories in that Klay's defense was criticized and now it's become elite level and Butler's offense was non-existent and now he's looking like a consistent scorer.

That's why Klay's max contract scares me. If Butler keeps this up he could be seeing pretty damn close to max, which the Bulls would not give him.

and only pressed bammas give people "best" titles after two weeks.

klay been building his buzz and rep steadily. jimmy on a hot streak and y'all have lost your damn minds. what happens when people realize they HAVE to guard him...when he gets doubled? when he's drawing the league's best defenders?

y'all ain't thought this through. and i gotta be the bad guy again.

Klay averaged 18/2/3 last year. 16/3/3 in the playoffs.

lol @ you in here talking about two week hot streaks and pedigrees while your guy is in the same exact boat.

you're just cysed off his euro invasion this summer.

and who cares about pedigree? Jimmy Butler being friends with Mark Wahlberg is just as relevant.

butler been building his rep and buzz steadily. he's seen league wide as one of the best perimeter defenders and him and kawhi are tied for best bron defender. if you're going to dismiss jimmy's 2 weeks of noticeable offensive improvement then don't try trumping klay's summer against euros and 2 weeks of overdue defensive effort.

when jimmy is drawing the league's best defenders the bulls will be set. let's say bron guards jimmy. then rose gets to feast on horrible defenders.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/11/19/blogtable-eye-opener-out-of-the-gate/

> Give me a lesser-known player who is opening your eyes. What do you like about him?

Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: Looks like I was wrong about Chicago’s Jimmy Butler – again. I didn’t share the Chicago Bulls’ high hopes for Butler when they drafted him No. 30 in 2011; “short arms, flat shot, plays too straight-up-and-down” was my initial impression. And I didn’t agree with Butler’s decision not to nail down a contract extension by the Oct. 31 deadline (too much risk to eke out another 10 percent raise or so on the $40 million or so the Bulls offered). But Butler’s do-everything impact for Chicago, combining Luol Deng‘s and Derrick Rose‘s responsibilities on many nights, has him in line for a much bigger payday. And his offensive game has grown (21.3 ppg, 13th in true shooting percentage, 17th in PER). But I don’t mind being wrong – when Marquette University’s annual pledge drive calls next year, I can point them in yet another direction of fellow alums (Doc Rivers, Dwyane Wade, Wesley Matthews) who have all the money.

Fran Blinebury, NBA.com: In a season when every inhale, exhale and twinge from Derrick Rose is worthy of re-tweets and headlines, Jimmy Butler has been the driving force behind the Bulls at both ends of the floor. After the two sides couldn’t come together on a contract extension, he’s driving toward restricted free agency next summer as the No. 1 option in the Bulls’ offense while also guarding the best perimeter players on opposing teams. That’s making your case.

XiBin Yang, NBA.com/China: Jimmy Butler. Maybe he’s well known now, but he’s a no-brainer to me. We love him because we love to see him play that kind of hustle, grind, bloody games, and we thought he could be a key 3-D guy in a championship team. On the other words, we never thought he could be that good. He just established himself into a go-to guy on a terrific team (21.3 PPG,6.2 RPG,3.9 APG). Look at his number, he’s literally a better version of Luol Deng, even if this just his third year in the league. Statistics cheat, but the ball don’t lie.

Karan Madhok, NBA.com/India: I’m really loving the improved play from Jimmy Butler this season. While the top items of concern in Chicago seem to be Derrick Rose’s health, Joakim Noah‘s play or Pau Gasol‘s addition, I feel that Butler has emerged as the breakout star of the season. He has taken advantage of his offensive opportunities in Rose’s absence (and even his presence) and continues to be one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. I like that he’s asserting himself more aggressively on both sides of the floor this season: In a few years, I feel he has the potential of becoming one of the most-feared wing players in the league.

Davide Chinellato, NBA.com/Italy: Jimmy Butler is becoming a lethal 2-way player, probably one of the biggest reasons why Chicago can survive without Derrick Rose. He was a defensive specialist, he’s adding a lot of offensive moves and he’s averaging 21.3 points per game. I really like his versatility, his strength, he’s ability to defend the best opponent on the perimeter and be a factor offensively.

It's early yet. See where he's at by ASB.
----------------------------
Same as it ever was!

Given the minutes Jimmy Butler is a solid NBA player capable of all-starish performances at times. Leave the Cavs alone and let us gel dammit.

Jimmy has that crafty game and HE HUMBLE so I fucks with him. That whole Bulls squad is filled full of bammas:

Jimmy a bamma.
D. Rose is a candy eating bamma.
Noah is a goofy bamma.
Kirk is a bamma with glasses.
Gasol out there trying hard.
Mike Dunleavy is a bamma that stuck in this league.
Aaron Brooks keep getting them checks.

just called jimmy butler "the best two way player in the league" on the tnt broadcast.

lolz.

dude must lurk.

https://vine.co/v/OJD0bwXULIQ

serious question.

was like damn watching it live

just another day at the office for jimmy.

Chance at free agency with the new cap? Yep. Logic would say the Bulls shouldn't let it get to that point but........

>Chance at free agency with the new cap? Yep. Logic would say
>the Bulls shouldn't let it get to that point but........



----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

If they could just get some consistency together.

The starters need to somehow string together 2-3 months of games with each other before the playoffs.

>If they could just get some consistency together.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2279015-jimmy-butler-proving-hes-worth-any-cost-to-the-chicago-bulls

Jimmy Butler Proving He's Worth Any Cost to the Chicago Bulls
Bleacher Report - Chicago
by John Wilmes

A surprising storyline emerged during Chicago Bulls training camp, nearly overshadowing the endless wind about Derrick Rose’s fragile body: Jimmy Butler’s contract negotiations.

Butler and the Bulls didn’t end up getting a deal done, and now the fourth-year shooting guard is heading into restricted free agency in July 2015. With the way he’s playing lately, the Bulls' front office is likely ruing that future day.

Through November, Butler’s looked the part of an All-Star.

Averaging 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, Butler has been the Bulls’ most important player so far this season—especially when we consider he’s still the team’s best perimeter defender, too.

His numbers are in the arena of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who recently signed a four-year, $70 million extension. So if the rumors about what kind of money Butler was seeking were true, the Bulls could have had him at a real bargain.



The Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson tweeted on the final day of contract eligibility that Butler wouldn’t say no to a four-year, $50 million deal. The Bulls, apparently, weren’t willing to make such an offer.

This is not to say the team won’t happily pay him that kind of money—or more—later on. The Bulls can still negotiate with Butler in July. But if the $12.5-million-a-year figure is real, they did miss their opportunity to lock him down at a discount price.

With the new $24 billion TV deal, the NBA is about to undergo a major money influx. Butler is a hot commodity: a young, surging player with a terrific attitude who plays a position that’s generally weak across the league.

Depending on how receptive he is to other teams come summertime, Butler could easily see offers exceeding $15 million per season.

The Bulls, of course, weren’t without reason in their approach to the negotiations. Butler’s offensive explosion was somewhat unforeseeable—the University of Marquette alum struggled to score throughout his 2013-14 campaign. He shot just 40 percent from the field, including an anemic 28 from beyond the three-point arc.



There’s a good chance the Bulls’ front office wanted to see Butler prove himself before shelling out a big contract. If that’s the case, the team will surely have its checkbook ready seven months from now, so long as he continues his current productivity.

According to USA Today’s Sam Amick, Butler is confident about both his money and the Bulls’ title chances: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/bulls/2014/11/23/jimmy-butler-chicago-contract-extension-future-title-hopes/19437583/

...

Butler has long since found his way, and he's convinced the Bulls (8-5) will do just that by the time the end of this season rolls around. When asked last week if this is a championship team, even with the recent rash of injuries, Butler told USA TODAY Sports, "Hell yeah, it's a championship team. We're going to win that (expletive).”

...

If the Bulls do win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it will be in no small part because of their rising star. Butler has created a new identity for himself as a scorer this season, eschewing the simple jump shots for a more creative outlook.

As coach Tom Thibodeau put it after Butler torched the Atlanta Hawks for 17 fourth-quarter points in a preseason victory, Butler is “more of a scorer than a shooter.”



Like the player the Bulls targeted and missed out on this summer—Carmelo Anthony—Butler is getting buckets in a style that exceeds mere marksmanship. Boasting a devastating pump fake and sly off-the-ball movement, Jimmy is now looking like a schematic ace.

He’s also much stronger than most players assigned to guard him and increasingly shrewd with his recognition of mismatches. His 7.1 free throw attempts per contest—good for sixth in the league—are proof in that regard.

Bulls fans should be encouraged by this output because what Butler is doing is probably sustainable so long as he’s healthy. He’s not relying on a hot hand so much as a smarter, bolder approach.

He’s giving the Bulls exactly what they need through 13 games and has Chicago crossing its fingers over the possibility of him doing it for years more to come.

he'll be more than deserving of klay's contract at the end of the year if he keeps this up.

and if he's not paid thibs will probably resign.

When asked last week if this is a championship team, even with the recent rash of injuries, Butler told USA TODAY Sports, "Hell yeah, it's a championship team. We're going to win that (expletive).”


I got that feelin' (c) JB

lots of good quotes in here. jimmy sounds like a solid dude.

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/11/25/jimmy-butler-bulls-breakout-tom-thibodeau-derrick-rose

Jimmy Butler’s smile says it all: It's been a good month for the Bulls' budding star.

Back in Butler’s hometown of Tomball, Texas, they might even use a phrase like “boom times” to describe his strong start this season. Chicago’s defensive-minded shooting guard is averaging 20.8 points and posting career-high numbers across the board. Not only is Butler looking like a leading candidate to become a first-time All-Star, he is also emerging as one of the most-coveted free agents of the 2015 class.

The smile crept across Butler's face again as he thought back to the Tomball teenager who, even though he wasn’t recruited by a single Division-I school, was convinced that he was the best player in the country.

“Derrick and I were both in the Class of 2007,” Butler told SI.com during an extended interview in Portland, where the Bulls were playing, on Saturday. “At that time, I never paid attention to the game. I didn’t know this guy was No. 1 in the nation or this guy was No. 10. Some of my teammates did and obviously Derrick was No. 1 in the nation. They’d come to the games and say, ‘Did you see what Derrick Rose did last night? Simeon High School! Chicago, Illinois!’ Everyone in the nation knew who Derrick Rose was.

“Me being myself, I was like, ‘Let him come down here, I’ll give him 40.’”

This season’s success is happening fast for a player with an “ego” – Butler’s term – which was broken down over the next four years. He settled for one year at Tyler Junior College (Texas) before catching on at Marquette. It’s happening fast for a player who contemplated leaving the Golden Eagles on numerous occasions because he was forced to pay his dues, minutes-wise, and because he wasn’t aware that Wisconsin winters would be any different than what he experienced in Texas. This is all happening fast for a man who spent years of his high school life without a permanent home, kicked out of the house by his biological mother at age 13 before he was finally taken in by a friend’s family.

The All-Star talk and max-contract chatter would be hard for anyone to process; imagine how surreal it must seem for Butler, whose only worldly possessions as recently as seven years ago were a well-worn collection of t-shirts and basketball shorts.

Although Butler grew up idolizing Tracy McGrady, he found his own way into the first round of the 2011 draft by refocusing his attention on the defensive end. A big portion of Butler’s defensive impact can be attributed to his relentlessness and indefatigability. While that motor was first recognized by a national NBA audience during postseason matchups with LeBron James, Butler has commanded respect around the league with his rare tenacity, which led to a 2014 All-Defensive Second Team selection.


Photo: Chicago Tribune/Getty Images
Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that this ball of motion is taking his early-season breakout in stride. Asked if he has heard the growing social media buzz that that he might receive a max-type contract offer next summer, a la Klay Thompson, Butler nods and accepts the idea as both a challenge and an opportunity.

“Why not have a be a goal? When I hear ‘max player’ I just think about being able to take my family to Bora Bora or something, going on a nice vacation. Because I don’t really pay attention to the money,” Butler said. “I just love the game of basketball. As long as I’m happy and it’s my job, I’m good. Money has never been too much of a thing for me. I grew up without it. I can manage with the amount of money I have now.”

• MORE NBA: Bulls down to No. 11 in latest NBA Power Rankings

Butler, 25, is earning $2 million in the fourth year of his rookie contract. Back in October, he declined a rookie-extension offer worth at least $40 million over four years. He delayed his eight-figure gratification even though he spent years in high school without a permanent home, making due on a day-to-day, hand-to-mouth, couch-to-couch basis. Butler admits that it was “hard” to pass on the extension and jokes that his first reaction, when presented with the offer's terms, was: “Bet! We’re good!”

Upon further reflection, and advice from his agent Happy Walters, Butler decided to play out this season and test his earning potential next summer, when he will become a restricted free agent. Market conditions certainly influenced that strategy: less-accomplished players like Kemba Walker ($48 million over four years) and Alec Burks ($42 million over four years) earned larger deals, while upper-echelon, two-way wings like Thompson ($70 million over four years), Gordon Hayward ($63 million over four years) and Chandler Parsons ($46 million over three years) all struck gold. The prospect of the NBA’s salary cap swelling to the $80 or $90 million range in 2016 also promises to swing some leverage in Butler's favor, provided he is able to take a meaningful step forward this season.

Ultimately, Butler’s thinking boiled down to a belief that he possessed sufficient untapped offensive potential that could bump him up into a higher tier.

“The world knows I love Chicago. This is where I want to be,” Butler said. “I think this is where I’m going to be. After last year, everyone was like, ‘He’s not this. He’s not that.’ I knew better. I wanted to prove to myself that last year wasn’t me.”

Summer Of Work


Photo: David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images
While Butler averaged 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 2013-14 – all career highs – he shot a career-low 39.7 percent from the field and just 28.3 percent from deep. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 13.5 was modest, even though other advanced stats, like Win Shares, treated him more favorably.

That statistical profile didn’t necessarily scream “monster pay day,” but there were a number of extenuating circumstances at play. Last season was Butler’s first as a full-time starter, and that new level of responsibility required an adjustment period. There were times, he acknowledges, when he was still reminding himself that he “belongs” in the NBA. To complicate matters, he spent most of the season without Rose and without many other established offensive weapons around him. Meanwhile, he was playing 38.7 minutes a night, second-most-in the league, and he was doing it for coach Tom Thibodeau, whose primary concern is always defense before offense. Finally, Butler was dealing with a foot injury that limited him.

NBA
Pau Gasol
The Fundamentals: How Bulls' offense grew through Derrick Rose's injuries
by Rob Mahoney “I was hurt, I was moving sluggishly, I was heavier,” Butler said, explaining that his 2013-14 performance shaped his approach to the 2014 offseason. “That all played a role in my shooting being down. This summer, I put in hella work on ball-handling, finishing at the rim, mid-range shooting, post work, and threes. The more you see the ball go in, the higher your confidence is going to be.”
Butler embarked on a carefully structured workout regimen in Houston with the goal of filling out his game. His days generally began at 7 a.m. and ran until 8 p.m. – with breaks for meals and a mid-day nap -- and included individual skill work, weight training, running on the track, full-court scrimmages, yoga, and Pilates.

Butler and his friends rented a house for the summer so that they could spend time together, but he says he purposefully chose not to furnish it.

“I wanted to be so good at the game that we didn’t have cable, we didn’t have the Internet,” he recalled. “Whenever we got bored, all we would do is go to the gym. We’d eat, sleep and go to the gym. We’d go three times a day because we didn’t have anything else to do. We were sitting on the couch, looking at each other, saying, ‘What the hell are we going to do all day?’”

NBA
Rajon Rondo
All-Anomaly Team: Five NBA outliers pulling off strange statistical feats
by Ben Golliver A fan of McGriddles during college, Butler now sticks to a diet that mostly consists of chicken and, to his chagrin, vegetables. He weighs 232 pounds, down 12 pounds from last season, when he had attempted to bulk up so that he could bang with the likes of James and Joe Johnson. Butler’s trainer, Chris Johnson, built on that base of physical exertion and dietary regulation by helping Butler review his offensive moves on tape and by encouraging him to read the Bible, which Butler said has helped with his focus and trust in his own abilities.
The fruits of those labors and sacrifices are showing. After the Bulls' offense sputtered last season without a No. 1 scorer in Rose’s absence, Butler has done well filling that void so far this year. His newfound confidence is most evident in his attacking mentality. With Rose in and out of the lineup, Butler is averaging a career-high 7.3 free throw attempts (No. 6 in the league), and 46 percent of his field goal attempts have come in the basket area (up from 36 percent last season). An excellent offensive rebounder for his position, Butler is hitting the glass and pulling down a career-high 5.8 rebounds.

Butler’s aggressiveness is translating. Chicago’s offensive rating has been significantly better with Butler on the court (106.5) than off (100.2), and his 21.8 PER ranks second among starting two guards in the East (trailing only Dwyane Wade). Most importantly, the Bulls sit atop the Central Division with a 9-5 record, even though Rose, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol and Kirk Hinrich have missed time recently due to injuries.

Honing His Craft


Photo: Justin Tucker/Sports Media World
Although the size of his next contract will be influenced by how well he is able to maintain his hot start, there’s no question that the bread-and-butter of Butler’s game remains his individual defense. Those skills will go under the microscope again in April, as all of Chicago’s major conference foes possess match-up targets for Butler: Cleveland (James), Toronto (DeMar DeRozan), Washington (John Wall and Bradley Beal), and Miami (Wade).

Butler, who succeeds by crowding and shadowing his man, takes a purist’s approach to his craft. He studies tape of his opponents to understand what he’s up against, but he rejects the use of statistical tendency profiles. He doesn’t want to know which way a player prefers to drive, according to the numbers, or where a player’s hot spots are on the floor. He prefers to trust his instincts and technique rather than situation-based scouting reports.

“I just guard. I guard everybody like they’re the best player in this league,” he explained. “The dude may go right every single time. But it’s going to happen, whenever I’m guarding him, the m----f---- is going to go left. I’ve just got to guard him. I hate when people say, ‘He’s not a shooter. Don’t play him as a shooter.’ As soon as I don’t play him as a shooter, he makes a three. It’s the most frustrating thing in the world.”

There’s that smile again.

NBA
Giannis Antetokounmpo
While You Weren't Watching: Giannis stretches, J.R. Smith whirls and more
by Rob Mahoney The video study isn’t limited only to current opponents. In fact, Butler finds himself watching clips of Michael Jordan for fun, like anyone else, but also as a teaching tape when it came to expanding and refining his offensive game.
“He made it look effortless,” Butler gushed about his positional predecessor in Chicago. “It’s crazy watching him on film, his footwork, how he gets to his spot, he raises so quick to knock his shots down. The guy is unreal. The way Mike would play in the mid-post. Not only could he shoot, get into the lane, he could really pass, he could really guard, he could really rebound. He’s top in all the categories because he was a great overall player. Defense, offense, passing, getting steals, blocks. For a two-guard, that’s just hard to do. He did it.”

His respect for Jordan has even manifested itself in some practice-court trash-talking with his loquacious teammate, Joakim Noah, who shares Butler’s competitive drive.

“One time, I did a hitch and a turnaround fade-away and I yelled out “Mike!” in the middle of the shot,” Butler laughed. “Jo always gives me some grief about that. Every once in a while I’ll call myself ‘Baby Mike’ when I’m messing around, especially if Jo is in the vicinity.”

More To Come


Photo: Federic J. Brown/Getty Images
Thibodeau is leaning heavier on Butler than ever before this season, a development that figures to continue indefinitely.

“He’s doing everything,” Thibodeau told reporters earlier this month. “He’s guarding. He’s scoring. He’s making tough plays. He guards everyone. He’s physical. He doesn’t say 'boo.' He works hard. He plays for the team.”

Even as Butler continues to guard the top opposing perimeter players on a nightly basis, he has taken on some of the offense-initiation duties with Chicago wading through injuries. His usage rate and assist rate are both up sharply compared to his first three seasons. The only player who has logged more minutes than Butler this season is Reggie Jackson and unlike James and other stars who have publicly campaigned for a lighter minutes load, Butler prefers his Ironman life to the alternative.

“My rookie year, I used to always complain to Thibs,” Butler said. “I would tell him, ‘I want to play, I want to play, I want to play.’ It got to the point where I was annoying my damn self by how much I was talking to him about playing. The first time he played me all 48 minutes, I was like, ‘Don’t complain. Your rookie year, you were always asking to play.’ I was gassed, tired, but I got what I asked for.”

• Play FanNation's new NBA games: Fast Break | Basketball Throwdown

For a player who has spent most of his career doing the little things to fit in, Butler is looking more and more like a do-it-all threat. His 34.4 percent three-point shooting isn’t where it needs to be, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring 20+ points eight times in his 12 appearances this season (by comparison, he topped 20 points nine times total in his first three seasons). On Monday, Butler posted a team-high 25 points and four steals in 44 minutes in a 97-95 victory over the Jazz, while helping limit Gordon Hayward to six points (on 2-for-11 shooting). Down the stretch, he made game-impacting plays by shooting, passing, and with his hounding defense.

The big challenge for Butler – who still views himself as a “pass-first” player – will be to continue to leave his two-way imprint while also striking the right balance with Rose. Like everyone else, Butler understands that his imaginary high school foil remains the face of the Bulls franchise and the organization’s biggest X-factor. If Chicago is to return to the Finals for the first time since 1998, it will be because Rose remains healthy throughout the postseason, taking Chicago’s revamped offense to the next level.

That balancing act could take months to fully play out because Thibodeau is also crafting roles for newcomers Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott. For now, Butler belongs in the All-Star discussion, even if it’s still too early to get serious about making picks. It's worth noting that the East’s backcourt positions are difficult to predict, as it’s not yet clear who among Rose, Wade and Kyrie Irving will be selected as starters by the fan vote. In addition to those big-wattage names, Kyle Lowry, Wall, DeRozan, Rajon Rondo and Johnson should all be among the candidates vying for spots in New York City.

An All-Star campaign sounds like the last thing on Butler’s mind, crowded field or not. That’s understandable, given that Butler wasn’t a blue-chip recruit and he couldn’t even wiggle onto the All-Big East Conference Third Team in 2011.

“All I want to do is help my team win a championship,” Butler concluded. “That’s it. You’ll be remembered for being an All-Star a little bit, but if you win a championship, that’s forever. … I’m telling myself we are going to win this championship. We have a really, really, really good chance of winning when everyone is healthy.”

The Windy City joins him in smiling at that thought.

I don't know about y'all but they're the finals favorite.

Y'all have the best 2 Way Shooting Guard in the League.

A former MVP at PG

The Reigning DPOY.

A Defensive Coach Mastermind.

2 Time Champion and one of the best Euro players ever and Future HOF.

A 6th Man PF who most teams wish was their starting PF right?

You MUST be winning a title then right?

MUST be.

Not that simple...

The Bulls talent is not the question mark...

Its whether or not we will have enough healthy bodies to make a playoff run...Thibs is the key to that...

All teams deal with the same shit. It's 82 games.

If you don't want to project, just say you're scared bro.

Billy...I'm not playing the agenda game when it comes to my Bulls...U can think what u want homie. I'm more worried about Thibs playing Jimmy and crew obscene minutes like those dudes r in a 7 game series in November. Forget about Rose. Over the last two seasons my team has resembled a MASH unit after 82 games. Thibs gotta be smarter with the minutes.

talking about other teams and players but has nothing to say about his team?

Not surprising.

All teams deal with mins and injuries.

And ALL teams have expectations.

Dont get it twisted. I believe the Bulls r the most ready team in the East. I will talk shit to Cav, Raps fans, and anyone else in the East. But Im a realest.

Ive seen this movie before...My post to u was more about what is being said around the league and my own pessimism. Ive been saying the same thing in even Bulls fan threads. Its one thing to deal with injuries, something that all NBA teams deal with. Its quite another to have your starting center, power forward and starting PG already on the bench in November.

So talk shit homie. I dig it. Rondo is a stat padder. Rose is Mr. Glass. We can go on and on with the jokes all day. I just know that if Thibs continues to be Thibs its not going to be a fun end to my season.

he's definitely top 5 at this point

Harden
Klay
Beal
Jimmy
DeRozan


As far as two-way, would I rather have Klay or Jimmy starting for the Bulls? That's a tough one..

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/20789/thibodeau-incredible-butler-is-a-star

After watching Jimmy Butler tie a career high with 32 points and establish a new personal best by hitting 18 of 20 free throws, coach Tom Thibodeau heaped praise on the Chicago Bulls swingman for the way he has produced over the first month of the season.

"He's been incredible," said Thibodeau, whose Bulls lost 114-109 to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. "He's a star, and he does it on both ends of the floor. He's just an amazing player. We've had him play the point, we've had him play the 2, the 3, and tonight he played the 4. And he hasn't had any opportunity to practice the 4. So he just got out there, he's smart, he's tough, he does whatever the team needs, and he found a way to help lead us into coming back and having a shot at the end."

Although the 25-year-old continues to put up All-Star-type numbers, he doesn't want any part of the star label.

"I'm not a star," Butler said. "I'm a good role player on a really, really good team. A really, really deep team. I like role players. 'Star' has never been next to Jimmy Butler's name, it never will be. I'll always be just an under-the-radar dog."

"I truly just want to win. Both of the games I scored 32 we lost. I'll take scoring 2 points and win, than 32 and lose, any day, every day. Obviously, we got to go back to the drawing boards and figure it out."

the Bulls had some good help out D as well.

Until they take the L, Jimmy is going to the all-star game, thats it, period.

JB - 41.2 mpg, 23.2 ppg (.475 fg%, .438 3p%, .943 ft%), 7.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.8 bpg, 2.2 spg, 1.2 topg
KT - 38.6 mpg, 23.2 ppg (.467 fg%, .400 3p%, .889 ft%), 3.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.6 bpg, 1.0 spg, 2.4 topg

ppl need to stop acting like there isn't a real debate there.

“I don’t want be a star, I just want to be a decent role player on a really good team. Whatever my team needs: If that’s scoring, rebounding, passing the ball or just playing defense, that’s my job on this team. Those guys are always looking for me to be successful. Whenever you have teammates like that who have confidence in you, it’s very easy to have confidence in yourself.

“I think I’m OK at scoring right now,” said Butler. “They give me the ball in incredible position and make it really easy for me; they’re good at driving and kicking and finding me to where I really don’t have to do too much. That’s what great teammates are all about. They see I’m in a rhythm and continue to do that for me. I’ve never been the best player on my team, never probably will be. But I’ve always been a hard worker, a guy who doesn’t give up on himself, who has the most confidence in himself. Now I play for the Chicago Bulls.”

>“I don’t want be a star, I just want to be a decent role
>player on a really good team. Whatever my team needs: If
>that’s scoring, rebounding, passing the ball or just playing
>defense, that’s my job on this team. Those guys are always
>looking for me to be successful. Whenever you have teammates
>like that who have confidence in you, it’s very easy to have
>confidence in yourself.
>
>“I think I’m OK at scoring right now,” said Butler.
>“They give me the ball in incredible position and make it
>really easy for me; they’re good at driving and kicking and
>finding me to where I really don’t have to do too much.
>That’s what great teammates are all about. They see I’m in
>a rhythm and continue to do that for me. I’ve never been the
>best player on my team, never probably will be. But I’ve
>always been a hard worker, a guy who doesn’t give up on
>himself, who has the most confidence in himself. Now I play
>for the Chicago Bulls.”



Jimmy HUMBLE Buckets......^^^^^^

...his game when Rose plays.
At first I was like, "How come we're not seeing the same Butler?"
But I get it. He understands this is Derrick's team and adjusts his role accordingly.
That allows Rose to be great which ultimately will allow the Bulls to be great.

We just need more games with everybody together.

Does he realize he's in a contract year? His agent has to be pissed off at this. He a star gotdammit. He's not Kyrie or anything but he's a star.

I like his game and think he should go to San Antonio if he leaves the Bulls.

:)

Except he had 7 threes & 5 blocks...making him the ONLY player in the history of the NBA to put up those numbers in the same game.

Bulls/Spurs final would be epic if both teams are relatively healthy.

beasting.

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

http://bkref.com/tiny/h4d8b

klay's fantastic. a classic scoring 2, and obv the superior outside shooter. the common perception would say that he's the better scorer but butler's putting up just as many points w/ slightly higher efficiency while using way fewer offensive possessions.

defensively, klay is pretty underrated -- he's legitimately great on that end -- but if i absolutely needed one stop to win a game, i'd take butler 100x out of 100.

overall i'd prolly go w/ jimmy, just because the things he does better are things i value more highly (off rebounding, getting to the FT line, more physical defense) but you could easily go either way based on team need.

That's 4-all star caliber players

CHIP or BUST!

And we will debate this, with my broad in attendance,
on the streets of Chicago, perhaps at Harold's, in
February

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

We BEEN saying it. Ya'll just want to create a narrative.

But it's cool. SIG MY NIG!

but you do get mad when i say y'all engage in title talk at the start of EVERY season and be salty when i mention it.

http://www.nba.com/bulls/community/butler-makes-real-life-difference-400-students

bought xmas presents for 400 kids from CHA projects.

The luv-a-bulls from the 90's were absolute flames though, I still have some of those posters from back in the day. They were basically the first worldstar models lmao

“When he first came in the league and we played in Chicago, I went out early to shoot and he was out there working out. At the time he wasn’t a consistent shooter, but he was working hard early before anyone else got here. Looking at his game and the way he’s playing now, it’s clear he’s been doing that consistently because he’s been playing very well. It’s not an accident, a hot streak. These are shots he’s consistently making; he’s expanded his game.”

is the surprise of the season so far....

Now the Bulls need to try to pick up a wing to cut down Butler's minutes...Thibs is riding that boy too hard....

>Now the Bulls need to try to pick up a wing to cut down
>Butler's minutes...Thibs is riding that boy too hard....
http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/51313_Deng.jpg

U sniffin' that white hard.....

>
>
>U sniffin' that white hard.....

The reason why we traded him was because of money....And the Bulls damn near killed Deng riding his ass to death....

We don't need a Deng type player, a guy that has made an all-star team...We need a role player Brewer type who can play D and shoot the occasional 3....

they're getting mcdermott back in mid-january. i think he has a strong 2nd half and will be a factor come playoff time. he's been missing wide-open jumpers that he can make in his sleep, which makes me think that his struggles are rooted in nerves / confidence and will subside as he gets more comfortable. he's been the #1 option for his entire basketball career, and has to learn and adjust to being a role guy. it's a difficult transition that doesn't happen overnight for a lot of guys.

e'twaun moore has also proven in hinrich's absence that he's more than capable of providing spot minutes. he's logged 4th qtr tick during the toughest stretch of the young season and gained thibodeau's trust w/ the way he's played.

"Smart, tough, doesn't make mistakes," Thibodeau said of Moore. "You can play him at the point or the 2. It's a credit to him. He's very well-prepared."

i also think mirotic will eventually steal a few minutes a game @ the 3 (based on matchup) as he gets more comfortable defensively and earns thibodeau's trust on that end.

they'll be fine.

>they're getting mcdermott back in mid-january. i think he has
>a strong 2nd half and will be a factor come playoff time. he's
>been missing wide-open jumpers that he can make in his sleep,
>which makes me think that his struggles are rooted in nerves /
>confidence and will subside as he gets more comfortable. he's
>been the #1 option for his entire basketball career, and has
>to learn and adjust to being a role guy. it's a difficult
>transition that doesn't happen overnight for a lot of guys.


I think Mcdermott will be fine down the line. But I'm not going to depend on this season. He still learning how to adapt his game to the NBA...

>e'twaun moore has also proven in hinrich's absence that he's
>more than capable of providing spot minutes. he's logged 4th
>qtr tick during the toughest stretch of the young season and
>gained thibodeau's trust w/ the way he's played.

This^^^gives me a little hope. But another wing would not hurt...
>
>"Smart, tough, doesn't make mistakes," Thibodeau said of
>Moore. "You can play him at the point or the 2. It's a credit
>to him. He's very well-prepared."
>
>i also think mirotic will eventually steal a few minutes a
>game @ the 3 (based on matchup) as he gets more comfortable
>defensively and earns thibodeau's trust on that end.
>
>they'll be fine.

I'm just spooked that Thibs is playing Butler like a runaway slave....I need those numbers to come down....

i know bulls fans love to whine about everything, but butler's a young dude. he's in phenomenal shape. he can take it.

all the best players in the league play big minutes.

which makes sense. coaches play their best players more. easier to win games that way.

thibs is the only guy who gets knocked for it tho. i don't get it. look at the league leaders in minutes per game. all 3 cavs guys are in the top 10. so's harden. so's melo.

look at last yr's leaders. pretty much every all star / all nba dude was 35+. every guy!

when did this fixation w/ minutes start? it's recent. i don't remember that being a big deal back in the day. in the 80s / 90s, all of the superstars played 35-40 every night. it was expected. jordan avgd 38 mpg for his career. pippen avgd 38 from 89-98.

from a recent sam smith mailbag:

"The talk of minutes played is already exhausting. The complaints I hear from Bulls fans most... "How could we have played D Rose in that Milwaukee game? D Rose should not be playing more than 28 mpg... Thibs is going to run Jimmy and Pau into the ground come playoff time." The Bulls have overachieved every season under Thibs considering the circumstances they were in. I wish there was more appreciation in Chicago for the job he has done. He works hard and he expects his players to work hard. Why are we more concerned with minutes played than wins and losses or how well the team is playing? Is the fan base simply traumatized by the Rose injuries, hence Thibs and Rose himself have become the scapegoats in spite of all that is logical?

Jan Michler

Sam: You may have hit on something there. I do think the Rose injuries at a time of so much fan hope and expectation has played a part, certainly, in the obsession with micromanaging every move and movement. Or maybe people just have less to do. I will say when I watched basketball in the 60’s and 70’s and 80’s I never knew how many minutes guys played. It was never an issue, in part, because guys didn’t want to come out of games. The money wasn’t great and they needed to play and be in position not only for better contracts but just to return. I do sometimes wonder why fans want to not see the best players. Or less of them. The issue has become fashionable because of the success of the Spurs and the way they have many of their players working part time jobs until April. It’s the exception. You can debate the issue, though there is no science. It seems logical the less you do something the less chance of experiencing misfortune. Of course, the less you do something the less you will be prepared to perform at the right time because you may not have prepared enough. Whatever you may say about Thibodeau, he hasn’t hidden his philosophy or beliefs. He’s been the same guy saying the same things from the day he was hired. The Bulls certainly have been better because of his coaching."

>from a recent sam smith mailbag:

>"The talk of minutes played is already exhausting. The complaints I hear from Bulls fans most... "How could we have played D Rose in that Milwaukee game? D Rose should not be playing more than 28 mpg... Thibs is going to run Jimmy and Pau into the ground come playoff time." The Bulls have overachieved every season under Thibs considering the circumstances they were in. I wish there was more appreciation in Chicago for the job he has done. He works hard and he expects his players to work hard. Why are we more concerned with minutes played than wins and losses or how well the team is playing? Is the fan base simply traumatized by the Rose injuries, hence Thibs and Rose himself have become the scapegoats in spite of all that is >logical?"

Sam acting like fans are on some bullshit...lol

Of course Thibs has done a great job of pushing the Bulls to overachieve....He is one of the best coaches in the league...

But Thibs is also the reason he has had to go to the 12th man as Noah, Rose, and Deng (Thibs and the organization ran his ass into the ground)were left sitting on the bench as they had to depend on back-up PG's to beat the Washington Wizards....

I don't blame Rose at all like other idiotic fans. A guy that plays that hard and that athletic and being asked to be Superman every night leading up to those knee injuries was bound to get hurt...

But I'm still keeping an eye out on Thibs overplaying his guys...Jimmy may be young. But so was Noah when he was being rode crazy...

I'm not a crazy fan boy complaining about everything. So far I'm pretty optimistic about my squad....Great balance.

But I don't want Pau playing 40 minutes...And I don't want Jimmy to become the next Deng and find himself used up by the time the 'Offs hit...

Other than that, I'm eating quite good. Niko has been a revelation....Rose is making niggas look stupid (although I'm going to steer clear of that ROSE's KNEE stuff...Way to soon to be partying), and A. Brooks is killing it as the Bulls D continues to climb....

I'm just looking out for the games that really matter...

https://twitter.com/Bulls_Jay/status/549056757021286400

Look at the last 8 and let's talk about it.

And Jimmy is still learning how to assimilate next to Rose.

>Look at the last 8 and let's talk about it.
>
>And Jimmy is still learning how to assimilate next to Rose.


I like this agenda.....A lot...

https://vine.co/v/OH0LYzFpnj3

https://vine.co/v/OH0VqFHiaPW

Those skill sets don't grow on trees.

https://twitter.com/AschNBA/status/549041297349443584

Steve Aschburner
‏@AschNBA
People ask if @JimmyButler price might get too high 4 Bulls. But some w/in Bulls prefer this, paying top $ for known quantity he's becoming.
9:17 PM - 27 Dec 2014

I believe we'll have the money?

he's obv a max player. the market has been set. he's going to get _multiple_ max offers next summer. lakers, knicks, every team with available money.

and chicago, just as obv, isn't going to just let him walk. why on earth would they?

ppl just need something to talk about.

>he's obv a max player. the market has been set. he's going to
>get _multiple_ max offers next summer. lakers, knicks, every
>team with available money.
>
>and chicago, just as obv, isn't going to just let him walk.
>why on earth would they?

There will be 58mill on the payroll for next season even w/ Dunleavy/Brook's off the books(http://hoopshype.com/salaries/chicago.htm). So if he gets the max (starting at ~15 mill per) that would push the payroll to 73mill (salary cap should be ~60mill). Meaning they would have to sign a wing player & backup PG before Jimmy signs his contract to preserve a cap space of about 5 mill by using his qualifying offer (3 mill) as a place holder. Since they have his "Bird right" they can then go over the cap space to sign him (luxury tax limit is 76mill). If he signs an offer sheet before they are able to sign a wing player/back-up PG then things might get tricky & they might have to move Taj.

FYI: The maximum salary of a player with 6 or fewer years of experience is either $9,000,000 or 25% of the total salary cap (2013–14: $14,670,000), whichever is greater).

>>he's obv a max player. the market has been set. he's going
>to
>>get _multiple_ max offers next summer. lakers, knicks, every
>>team with available money.
>>
>>and chicago, just as obv, isn't going to just let him walk.
>>why on earth would they?
>
>There will be 58mill on the payroll for next season even w/
>Dunleavy/Brook's off the
>books(http://hoopshype.com/salaries/chicago.htm).

We gotta find a way to keep Brooks....Dunleavy would be expendable. But Brooks is the key to keeping Rose's minutes down....

WE GOTTA KEEP NATE

WE GOTTA KEEP DJ

when will you learn?

the bulls are never going to spend any real money on that
position. nor should they.

the FO has shown, repeatedly now, that they can identify guys to
fill that role @ vet min. and those guys, b/c thibs offense makes
them look great, are going to get bigger offers from dumber,
shittier teams. offers that the bulls smartly refuse to match.

and then they go out and find another vet min guy to fill the role
the next yr. and fill it just as well if not better.

that's the way it works. it's not cheap, it's extremely smart
business.

idk why y'all keep falling in love with these guys. aaron brooks
isn't going to be a bull next year. some lottery team is going to
offer him 2 or 3 mil a yr. just accept that now. lolz.

btw, i can't wait til brandon jennings is that guy in 2017.

>WE GOTTA KEEP NATE
>
>WE GOTTA KEEP DJ
>
>when will you learn?

Nate and DJ are not players I would have re-upped for a contract because u can always find THAT kind of plug in...

Brooks though is on an entirely different level than those guys. A player that has proven that he can average 20 a game and start on a playoff team....

He is perfect for Rose and will only help keep his minutes down. Brooks has been just as valuable as Taj. And even more at times given his clutch shot-making in the 4th Q...

Nah man...Brooks does not belong with the list of Thibs' miracle worker PG's....He has proven in the past that given the minutes he can really fill it up....

>Brooks though is on an entirely different level than those guys.

he's really not. he's better than them, but not by leaps and bounds.

wouldn't mind seeing brooks return. if he doesn't, they'll find a guy
just as good to replace him.

>>Brooks though is on an entirely different level than those
>guys.
>
>he's really not. he's better than them, but not by leaps and
>bounds.
>
>wouldn't mind seeing brooks return. if he doesn't, they'll
>find a guy
>just as good to replace him.


There are some plays I've seen Brooks make this season that those other guys could never dream of making...lol

I get what u r saying. But if we can get Brooks for a relative decent price we need to find a way to keep that man after we wrap up Jimmy. With Nate and DJ I was surprised every time they had a big game.

With Aaron Brooks I'm not at all surprised when he goes off for a quick 15...

They kinda flourish in Thibs system b/c they are surrounded w/ above average defenders who can erase their mistakes but if they ever go up against an elite PG then they aren't worth playing. Lucky for them a majority of the elite PGs are out West & D-Rose is on their squad. Who the hell did Nate & DJ go up against in the postseason: broken down D-Will & Rio/Norris Cole.

I remember Brooks getting man handled in the 2013 postseason by Reggie Jackson (who was starting for the injured Russy) in the OKC series when he was playing for the Rockets. The Spurs don't even play Patty much unless he's going up against mediocre PGs such as Rio/Norris Cole/Fisher/Mo Williams b/c he's TOO SMALL even though he's a pest defensively (draws charges/full-court press/ball denial/steals inbound pass)& a better defender than the likes of Brooks/Nate. Pop just plays Manu as the backup point & throws Cory Joseph out there for defensive purposes.

jimmy ain't going anywhere.

Will the Bulls have enough in the cap to sign Jimmy and the role players like A. Brooks? Jimmy is a huge priority. Gotta wrap him up.

http://bkref.com/tiny/YX9e4

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/3398/most-improved-player-of-the-first-trimester

Most Improved Player of the First Trimester: Jimmy Butler, Chicago


After years and years (and years) of whining from us about how hard it is to sift through the wide range of players who are nominated for this award and then zero in on a name or three, 2014-15 appears poised to give us our first overwhelming MIP favorite in memory.

Have to believe Chicago's Jimmy Butler would be a unanimous hoister of the MIP trophy if the voting were done on Christmas.

Even with Draymond Green making his own mega-leap in Golden State, what Butler has achieved defies explanation, even after we've had a couple of months to let the transformation sink in. He's hiked his shooting percentage from .397 last season to .483, which bumped his scoring average from 13.1 PPG to 21.6 PPG and, more than any other Bull, has helped Tom Thibodeau cope with the steady stream of injuries Chicago has faced by happily taking on a league-leading 40.1 minutes per game.

He's tireless. The offensive spike means he's now an impact player at both ends. And Butler has been seen taking shifts at every position but center, which is why Green -- despite his transformative emergence as a perimeter threat out West -- would have to make another leap in-season to close the gap on the guy setting the MIP pace.

The guy who won Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for October/November out of nowhere.

Rewind to Halloween and Butler was in the headlines thanks to his thoroughly unsatisfying contract extension talks with the Bulls, who were unwilling to offer more than $40-44 million over four years. Now? Butler and agent Happy Walters look rather wise to have opted for patience, with rival GMs routinely saying that Butler is on course to generate four-year max offers as a restricted free agent come July, a la Gordon Hayward last summer from Charlotte.

Best of all? Butler and Green have been so good that we don't even have to launch into our usual speech about how second-year players (like our beloved Dennis Schroder and Giannis Antetokounmpo) and high lottery picks who are supposed to keep developing toward stardom (like Klay Thompson and that Anthony Davis kid) really aren't the sorts of candidates we're looking for in keeping with the true spirit of this award.

An agony-free MIP dissertation?

Butler did it.

Jimmy Butler Is More Than Derrick Rose's Sidekick; He's a Star
by Sean Highkin

CHICAGO — “He’s a star.”

That’s the word Joakim Noah has for Jimmy Butler, and it’s the only appropriate word for what he’s become.

It’s safe to say we’re past the point of simply calling Butler a breakout player or a Most Improved Player candidate. He isn’t just a secondary scorer or a stopgap that kept the Chicago Bulls afloat during the early part of the season when Derrick Rose was sidelined with minor injuries, although he is both of those things. Rose is back now, and Butler is still the first option. It’s a hat he wears well.

As good as Rose has been during the Bulls’ winning streak, which was extended to six games after Saturday’s 107-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, the rock of this team has been Butler, who scored 33 points on Saturday. He’s the one getting the All-Star buzz, leading the team in minutes at 39.9 per game, averaging 22 points and shouldering the defensive load on the perimeter.

“He’s looking real comfortable out there and that’s huge for us,” Noah said after the game. “Jimmy’s a stud. Not only is he a great scorer but he’s a top defender. A Defensive Player of the Year-type of defender. I’m happy he’s on the Bulls.”

Butler emerging as a legitimate first option gives the Bulls a dimension they have not had at any time in the Rose era. This is still Rose’s team, and if the Bulls hope to contend for a championship, they’ll need the former MVP at the peak of his powers. But thanks to Butler, they don’t rely solely on Rose, and that gives them versatility.

Before his knee injury, Rose was the one whom the Bulls would turn to in the fourth quarter when they absolutely needed a basket. On his best days, that’s a role he can still fill. The difference is that now, the Bulls have two players who can. That’s why they went after Carmelo Anthony in free agency, to take the load off Rose’s back. It turns out that they had that guy in-house the whole time. And now, Rose and Butler are getting comfortable playing with each other.

Before this season, Rose and Butler had played together just 273 total minutes—75 in 2011-12 and 198 in 2013-14. This season, they’ve already eclipsed that total, logging 492 minutes together in 18 games, and they’ve grown into a deadly pick-and-roll combination.

“What you see in our fourth quarter is a (Rose-Butler) pick and roll,” Noah said. “And I have no problem saying it, it’s tough to stop. I don’t know what teams are going to do because we have two guys who are really confident down the stretch.”

“It’s a tough matchup for teams,” Butler added. “If I run into the post or Derrick takes someone off the dribble, it’s hard to match up with.”

In the four games he’s played during the Bulls’ winning streak, Rose is averaging 23.3 points on 54.4 percent shooting, looking like a semblance of his peak self. But the most encouraging thing for the Bulls is that even a near full-strength Rose isn’t the be-all and end-all of their offense anymore. When Rose gives them that kind of production, they look as dangerous as any team in the league. But even when he doesn’t, they have other options, Butler the most prominent among them.

And in Butler, they have a new closer, even if he doesn’t want that label.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m a closer at all,” Butler said after Saturday’s win. “I’d say that my teammates gave me the ball because I was open. It was the right play. If somebody else was open, I would expect that they get the ball.”

To Noah, Butler’s breakout isn’t a surprise.

“Jimmy’s as stubborn as they come,” Noah said. “He’s always believed in himself. Even when he was a rookie he always believed he was great. And guys like that, those are the ones that you have to look out for.”

That relentlessness has caught the eye of Kobe Bryant, who gave Butler a ringing endorsement on Christmas Day before the Bulls’ win over the Lakers, a game in which Butler scored 21 points along with six rebounds and five assists.

“When he first came into the league and we played in Chicago, I went out there early to shoot,” Bryant recalled. “At the time, he wasn’t a very consistent shooter, but he was working out early before anybody else got there. Looking at his game, the way he’s playing right now, it’s clear that he’s doing that consistently. It’s not an accident, it’s not a hot streak, these are shots that he’s consistently making. He’s expanded his game.”

Since it became applicable to him, Butler has actively resisted the label of star. He says he prefers to think of himself as a role player on a really good team. But the only role that fits him these days is that of a star. It’s becoming impossible to call him anything else.

Sean Highkin covers the Chicago Bulls for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @highkin

dude was shut down in the second half while jimmy was making pivotal shots in crunch time.

right today, jimmy better than klay.

http://i.imgur.com/S5Drahi.gif

https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/552301822015438850

https://vine.co/v/OdEuBt5UzWD

https://vine.co/v/Od05maOE9qZ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulLdRZTjf7I

https://vine.co/v/OdEKWx5XlBl

How Jimmy Butler and the Bulls shut down James Harden
Blog a Bull by Ricky O'Donnell

It wasn't a one-man effort, but Butler's defense against the league's leading scorer was tremendous on Monday

Coming into Monday night's game between the Bulls and the Rockets, all eyes were going to be on the matchup on the wing between James Harden and Jimmy Butler. Harden and Butler may be the two best wings in basketball this season with LeBron James easing into a new situation in Cleveland and Kevin Durant consistently stuck battling injuries. Harden is No. 2 in the latest SB Nation MVP rankings (dropping tomorrow!) while Butler is No. 4.

Harden entered this season as the consensus choice for the fictional title of "best shooting guard alive", and has justified it by turning in a career-year. It makes sense for a 25-year-old in his sixth season. He's the focal point of everything Houston does offensively, ranking No. 5 in the league in usage rate (where he's tied with Derrick Rose). He's leading the league in scoring at 27 points per game, has bumped up his assist rate to career-high levels and has finally started playing more attentive defense. Maybe he saw the Vines.

Butler's rise to become one of the best players in the league this year is .... stupefying? Astonishing? Literally unbelievable, to be the point where it is actually hard to believe even as we are watching it develop? It's all of that and more. Both Harden and Butler are posting true shooting percentages in the 59 percent range. Only Harden has drawn more shooting fouls than Jimmy. Both are incredible at converting two-point shots, with Jimmy making 51.5 percent of his twos this season, the exact same percentage that Harden made last season (this year Harden is just over 48 percent in that department).

The biggest difference is usage, where Butler doesn't even rank in the top 100 of usage rate (he's No. 101). Whereas Harden has 133 turnovers, Butler has 48 turnovers while playing only 30 more minutes than Harden on the season.

Because of Mike Dunleavy's injury, Butler and Harden didn't start out on each other early in the game. Tom Thibodeau let Kirk Hinrich try to defend his position, and the results were mostly unsuccessful. Harden created a ton of separation on a stepback jumper against Hinrich (image below) for a make his first attempt, drove at him for a made layup on his second attempt and used a screen to drain a three on his third attempt. Hinrich did get a block on a Harden drive in there, but before the first quarter was even over it was evident the Bulls had to stick Butler on Harden. The pace was simply too fast and the Bulls couldn't afford to let the game get out of control early.

The first three possessions with Jimmy on Harden in the first quarter went like this: Harden drives and misses a floater, Harden beats Butler left to the rim for a layup, and finally:

https://vine.co/v/Od05maOE9qZ

The only issue with this play is Butler didn't step over him like the reverse Allen Iverson on Tyronn Lue. Aside from that, it was perfect.

Harden would end halftime with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting and the Bulls and Rockets were tied at 62. From that point on, the Bulls defense took over.

Harden finished the second half 0-for-9 from the field for three points, while Butler was 5-of-12 for 16 points. Obviously it was not a straight one-on-one matchup because the Bulls play defense with five men on a string. Chicago was switching often, with Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol each drawing the assignment at times in the second half. For the most part, though, this was Jimmy and Harden going at each other and Jimmy having the upper hand.

Two possessions really stood out to me. The first came with the game tied at 75 with five minutes left in the third quarter. Harden looped around the halfcourt off two (poor) screens but Butler stuck with him to smother him on the wing. At this point Houston cleared out for him and it was basically an isolation. Harden drove to the middle of the floor but couldn't create any separation. Butler forced him into a miss.

https://vine.co/v/OpB3iZgxHU7

Letting Harden get to the middle of the floor like that is usually game over. When Hirich was guarding him on the first possession of the game and Harden drove to the middle floor and hit him with the stepback, this is what happened:

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2909780/Screen_Shot_2015-01-06_at_2.35.22_PM.0.png

Don't take this as a shot at Hinrich, either. James Harden is really good! It's a testament to Butler's defense that even one of the best wing scorers alive couldn't get space to shoot against him.

The second example came at the end of the game with the Bulls up by four. A simple 1-2 pick-and-pop was designed to get Harden the ball on the wing and let him go to work. He tried to do just that, but Jimmy wouldn't let him:

https://vine.co/v/OpBL7lbrWpj

Again: really terrific recovery from Butler against the stepback.

We've known Jimmy is a warrior defender ever since he logged five 48-minute games in the playoffs his second season in the league and held LeBron to 43.8 percent shooting in a series during a season when he shot 56.5 percent from the floor. The real improvement in Butler's game this season is obviously on the offensive end. Like everything else with Jimmy Butler this year, it's pretty mind blowing that as his offensive ability has taken a leap, his defense has remained as great as ever.

James Harden -- the NBA's leading scorer -- was just held without a field goal in the second half. Long live Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler isn't going anywhere
Blog a Bull by JayPatt

Butler has played himself into a max deal in the summer, and I fully expect the Bulls to pay up

Jimmy Butler bet on himself and won.

Instead of agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the Bulls in the offseason worth somewhere in the range of $11 million per year, Butler decided all that time he spent in the gym was going to pay off in the form of an even more lucrative contract in 2015.

When Butler and the Bulls failed to reach an agreement on an extension, there was some angst that this would be the last year we would see him in a Bulls uniform. That angst has risen for some since Butler turned himself into a bona fide star player and an MVP candidate.

Would the notoriously thrifty Bulls really shell out a max contract (or match a max offer sheet) for Butler with so much money already tied up in the rest of the roster? A max deal would likely push Chicago into the tax, and the tax is an area Jerry Reinsorf's Bulls aren't too familiar with.

The way Butler is playing, there should be no shortage of teams lining up to submit a max offer sheet. Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com has already mentioned the Knicks as a team willing to offer Butler the max, and there are sure to be others.

But honestly, I'm not worried one bit about any of these potential suitors, because I'm about 99.999999999% sure Jimmy Butler will be a Chicago Bull for a long time. And according to David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are preparing for that as well:

"No player means any more to his team at both ends of the floor than Butler does to the Bulls, who stand ready to show how much they believe that. Internally, the Bulls are planning to take a proactive approach to contract negotiations with Butler next July and secure the shooting guard for a long-term spot alongside Derrick Rose.

"They began preparing for that inevitability one year ago this week when they reset the clock on the NBA's repeater tax - which penalizes teams that pay the luxury tax three of four seasons - by trading Luol Deng to the Cavaliers. They fully expect to sign Butler to a max deal next July before another team even gets involved to tempt him with an offer sheet, which the CBA says they can after the moratorium ends. They accept that the size of Butler's contract will put the Bulls in position to pay the luxury tax, something Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf says he will do for a championship contender his team is."

I can't quite tell if Haugh is actually reporting something here because that magical "sources" word isn't used, but it sure seems like this is coming from somebody tuned into the Bulls' thinking. This doesn't just say that the Bulls are willing to match a max offer sheet, but it says they're willing to come out and sign Butler to a max deal before anybody else even comes calling.

The Bulls can offer Butler a five-year max (designated player rule doesn't apply because it wouldn't be an extension) with a first-year salary that would likely be around $16-17 million. It should be noted that Butler would be eligible for the Derrick Rose Rule bump if he won MVP this season, but as awesome as he has been, I don't think we have to worry about that.

Anyway, being proactive and offering a max deal (or near max) right out of the gate in the summer would be ideal, as it would help build good will with the player/agent and could help avoid any funny business with offer sheets. And by funny business I mean something like the Chandler Parsons contract that would allow Butler to opt out after two years in order to take advantage of the exploding cap.

The exploding cap is one of the reasons the Bulls shouldn't give a damn about shelling that cash out to Butler. Looking at the rest of the roster, the Bulls owe about $60.16 million to seven players next year. Throw in Kirk Hinrich's $2.85 million player option and that's right around $63 million for eight players. A max for Butler would put Chicago at about $80 million for nine players, which would likely be right around the tax line. There will also be a first-round pick (or picks?) to think about, in addition to decisions on Mike Dunleavy and Aaron Brooks.

So yeah, the Bulls would almost certainly go into the tax next year if they keep everybody that's under contract. But the repeater tax isn't an issue, and once that cap blows up, the tax won't be as much of a concern. It would be nice if it wasn't a concern either way, but this is the Bulls we're talking about here.

If the Bulls were to try and dump salary in order to fit Butler in under the tax, the obvious candidate would be Taj Gibson. I'd probably be more concerned about losing Gibson rather than Butler at this point, although if one HAD to go, the choice is obvious. But I'd rather just pay all these really good players, unless the team really needs some sort of shake-up. (And if we're talking MAJOR shake-up, that's when Joakim Noah's name starts getting bandied about in trade talks, but I digress.)

When it comes down to it, Butler has already earned himself a max deal with his extraordinary play this season. Yeah, he still has to prove it over the course of a full year and into the playoffs, but it's tough to look at him and think there's going to be some serious regression. Perhaps playing 40 minutes a night will catch up to him, but that shouldn't be held against him.

The Bulls have been searching for that secondary wing star to play with Rose for years, and now that they've found him, there's no way they let him get away. There would be fire and pitchforks at the Advocate Center if Butler wasn't a Bull next season.

I'd be willing to bet that Butler will be in Chicago for the long haul, and like Butler himself, I'm confident that I would win.

The Bulls fully expect to re-sign Jimmy Butler to a new maximum-salary deal in the summer, and they accept that the contract would put the club in position to pay the luxury tax, reports David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. Bulls officials are planning a “proactive approach” to have Butler put pen to paper with them before he entertains offers from other clubs in restricted free agency, according to Haugh. Butler will be eligible for a starting salary worth about 25% of next season’s salary cap, unless he wins the MVP and triggers the Derrick Rose Rule, which would allow him about 30% of the cap. The latest league projection indicates that the 25% max will come in at $15.5MM, though that figure won’t be set in stone until July.

Some described the negotiations between Butler and the Bulls this past fall as contentious, according to Haugh, but Butler made it clear in his remarks after passing on an extension offer that reportedly would have entailed $11MM salaries that he’s intent on a long-term future in Chicago. The 25-year-old swingman has since embarked on a career year, but fellow Tribune scribe K.C. Johnson wrote in December that it would be surprising if the Bulls didn’t match any offer that Butler was to receive this summer, seemingly indicating the team’s willingness to pay the max one way or another.

Several executives from around the NBA told Sean Deveney of The Sporting News last month that they believed that Butler would command the max if he kept up his strong start to the season. Butler continues to showcase remarkable gains on the offensive end, averaging 21.7 points per game and 47.8% shooting after putting up 13.1 PPG and 39.7% shooting last season. Butler and agent Happy Walters asked for $14MM a year in extension talks but would have been willing to settle for between $12.5 and $13MM, according to Deveney, so it’s becoming clear that Chicago cost itself when the sides didn’t close a deal.

The former 30th overall pick went from unranked in the first edition of the Hoops Rumors Free Agent Power Rankings, published shortly after the season began, to No. 5 on the latest list, which came out about a month ago. He’s maintained the strong defense that’s long been his hallmark and put up a 22.3 PER that’s the 14th-best mark in the league, according to Basketball-Reference.

Chicago already has nearly $60.2MM in commitments for seven players next season, not counting a player option of almost $2.855MM for Kirk Hinrich. The luxury tax line is projected to come in around $81MM, as Deveney also wrote, so while it seems conceivable that the Bulls could avoid becoming a taxpayer, it would be difficult. The Bulls have been eyeing a lucrative commitment to Butler since the Luol Deng trade a year ago, Haugh writes, noting that the swap helped the team avoid the tax last season and this season, which would have set up Chicago for repeat-offender tax penalties.

Better than Captain Kirk but still......

dem steve eyes tho, young?

http://i.imgur.com/2xYKMGu.jpg

Still 21 and 6 doe

>

I'll be damned if I take the side of Mississippi mechanic on a hot streak over the best SG prospect since Harden.

Klay just got it. And I'm upping this because all y'all went all Lex Steele with Belladonna and Avy when that basic-game ass nigga outplayed Harden ONCE.

Ebbs and flows.

Now Jimmy is learning how to adapt his game next to a confident and assertive Rose. Not every backcourt is lucky enough to play just about every game together for three consecutive years. Some teams face adversity and stuff, ya know?

But regardless, Klay is a better shooter than Jimmy. Can't argue that.

Guarded him about as well as you can hope

I'm not worried about it.

Klay is def. on another level, more specifically on offense...

But is it OK to point out that u were still wrong about Jimmy (who will be an All-Star this year) considering u were dismissing dude like he was THE HELP....?

Don't get your agendas mixed up, homie...

I dismissed him as a difference maker on a TITLE team and second ISO scorer to Rose. The Mechanic can be a perennial all-star for all I care. Nobody is worried about that guy come playoffs. Nobody.

And I'm a month away from pittin Shump against him, so you don't even need to worry about Klay. Worry about Shump.

>I dismissed him as a difference maker on a TITLE team and
>second ISO scorer to Rose. The Mechanic can be a perennial
>all-star for all I care. Nobody is worried about that guy come
>playoffs. Nobody.



Uh huh...That goal post moving got to be killing your back, homie....


>And I'm a month away from pittin Shump against him, so you
>don't even need to worry about Klay. Worry about Shump.

I'm not even going to dignify this shit^^^^But fuck it...This is what I'm talking about. U trying to pit an always injured role player in Shump against a dude that is one of the leaders in going to the FT line and rarely is out of the lineup...A guy that can give u 20 and 8 and 8 on any given night (as he did against the MAVS yesterday)...

Like I said, this is a major L for u. Don't try to switch shit up. lol... U outright dismissed dude beyond that "difference maker" bull shit...

Don't hide behind this Klay shit and paper words like "Difference Maker".... Klay is a hell of a player and is miles ahead of Jimmy offensively....

But you would have laughed me out of the room last year if I were to say that Jimmy would get his all-star PATCH, something that was a HUGE deal to u with Ky...Apparently Bulls fans can't feel the same about Jimmy....

u funny, dog....

>>I dismissed him as a difference maker on a TITLE team and
>>second ISO scorer to Rose. The Mechanic can be a perennial
>>all-star for all I care. Nobody is worried about that guy
>come
>>playoffs. Nobody.
>
>
>
>Uh huh...That goal post moving got to be killing your back,
>homie....

yet, you can't find where i said what that dude wouldn't be, all-star otherwise, save for NOT a competent second scorer when the lights come on in May.

>
>>And I'm a month away from pittin Shump against him, so you
>>don't even need to worry about Klay. Worry about Shump.
>
>I'm not even going to dignify this shit

good, because i never should have dignified the idea he was on klay's level. klay better on offense AND defense. period.

well earned.

http://www.blogabull.com/2015/1/29/7948101/jimmy-butler-selected-to-the-all-star-game

The Chicago Bulls will have multiple All-Stars for the third time in the last four years. Jimmy Butler has been tabbed as a reserve for the Eastern Conference after Pau Gasol was voted in by the fans as a starter in the front court.

ESPN sources say Jimmy Butler has been selected as a Eastern Conference All-Star reserve

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 29, 2015

Butler has put together an incredible campaign in his fourth season in the league. He's leading the Bulls in scoring at 20.1 points per game while adding six rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.77 steals per game. Butler is playing 39.5 minutes per game, which leads the NBA.

Butler has experienced quite the rise over the last few years. He went from junior college to Marquette to being the last pick in the first round in 2011. He's about to cash in big time this offseason as a restricted free agent, where the Bulls are reportedly willing to offer him a max contract.

Butler's numbers has dipped a bit in January -- averaging 16.3 points on 40.2 percent shooting from the field.

The All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

https://vine.co/v/OtKE6Xnzemt

https://twitter.com/CodyWesterlund/status/564253857933717505

@CodyWesterlund: Since missing Warriors game with illness,
Jimmy Butler is averaging 25.5 points on 48 percent shooting
and has gone to line 10 times/gm

vs orl: first 25 pt, 5 ast, 5 stl game in the league this season.

There is still a case to be made for Buckets :)

nice up

dude is out there eating all-stars lunch

congrats to this kid

when he gets maxxed it will be well deserved

First off, congrats to Klay on the ring. Good for him.

In regards to the question at hand, it's clear that Klay was NyQuil for the majority of these playoffs. And he was horrible in the Finals. With that being said, it must be noted that Bron checked Jimmy while Jimmy checked Bron for 40 minutes nightly in a playoff series. Jimmy didn't wither away under such a difficult set of circumstances. He played well.

Meanwhile, Klay out there looking like a NyQuil on Ambien. He's checking James fucking Jones while being defended by whatever scraps Blatt throws at him.

So, who would we rather have as of today? Lakers fans should say Jimmy cuz you'll probably have him in three years.

>First off, congrats to Klay on the ring.

while still getting theirs.

And Kawahi has some size/reach on Jimmy.

Easily the best two way two in the game today. Not even debatable.

same fast start happened last year and y'all got dumb.

but, klay settin scoring records, gettin titles and making all-nba don't matter.

SMH...the sports rules don't matter no more. y'all making it hard to end debates around here. see, i thought y'all had to shut the hell up until jimmy at least does ONE of those things.

i mean, didn't i shut up when rose won MVP and waited until russy made the finals to bring that back up?

my bad. i'll just ignore the rules and make kyrie best PG over steph soon as he drop his next 50. it don't matter what steph got.

And fast start?

Jimmy last season: 20ppg/5.4rpg/3apg/1.6spg, 46% FG, 38% 3ptFG

Not sure what you're talking about in that regard.

Klay > on O
Jimmy > on D

Jimmy allstar max player, future olympian...and he look like a mechanic (good call in post 28 by the way...you got that future vision!)

Klay better, but we can celebrate our guy. I mean if you believed Jennings was better than Rose when he clearly has never been, we don't have to operate in real world logic all the time either.

1. I did shut up about Rose. And then Russy happened.

2, I said a lot of high school players were better than a lotta NBA players who hadn't done shit. Rose hadn't done shit when I said Jennings would be better. He wasn't an all-star...ain't win shit...no records...NOTHING. But you KNOW all that and just needed to pull something out your ass for cover.

3. K picking shooters and scorers on the perimeter. SMH...fuck outta here.

>1. I did shut up about Rose. And then Russy happened.

No, you didn't. Never. Russy happened? Oh, he went to the finals in a lock out season as a sidekick (yes, Durant was better at the time) not putting up better numbers than MVP, team leading Rose did the year before?

Gotcha.

>2, I said a lot of high school players were better than a
>lotta NBA players who hadn't done shit. Rose hadn't done shit
>when I said Jennings would be better. He wasn't an
>all-star...ain't win shit...no records...NOTHING. But you KNOW
>all that and just needed to pull something out your ass for
>cover.

He won Roy...on 17/6/4, shooting 47.5% and went to the playoffs. So he had done something. You was loud and wrong. It's cool to admit it.

>3. K picking shooters and scorers on the perimeter. SMH...fuck
>outta here. Great, we'll see.

>>1. I did shut up about Rose. And then Russy happened.
>
>No, you didn't. Never. Russy happened? Oh, he went to the
>finals in a lock out season as a sidekick (yes, Durant was
>better at the time) not putting up better numbers than MVP,
>team leading Rose did the year before?
>
>Gotcha.

you pressed to lie. in 2012, russ was a 24, 6 and 5 guy. Rose didn't have better stats in 2012. And Russy wasn't a sidekick...he was option 1A. He's STILL option 1A.

You petty...like I wouldn't check the year OKC went to the damn finals.

Asa far as the Jennings thing, I said he'd be the best PG while he was still in HS, before rose won ANYTHING...so you still pressed and wrong.

>you pressed to lie. in 2012, russ was a 24, 6 and 5 guy. Rose
>didn't have better stats in 2012. And Russy wasn't a
>sidekick...he was option 1A. He's STILL option 1A.

You better look again bucko: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2012.html

Russ = 23.6/5.5/4.6 on 46% shooting
NOT better than MVP Rose

Secondly, when a dude on your team is doing 28/8/3.5 on 50% shooting, he is the CLEAR #1. FOH. Russ doing Pippen-next-to-Jordan numbers but you wanna give him Kobe w/Shaq status. FOH.

>You petty...like I wouldn't check the year OKC went to the
>damn finals.

You checked the wrong damn season. Again LOUD AND WRONG.

>Asa far as the Jennings thing, I said he'd be the best PG
>while he was still in HS, before rose won ANYTHING...so you
>still pressed and wrong.

And you continued that dumb ass cyse while he was in the league fam. Stop B. His first 2 years, you were all about that gunny ass scrub. All 39% shooting and sub 7 assist of his ass.

Swallow that. Can't re-write history.

>>you pressed to lie. in 2012, russ was a 24, 6 and 5 guy.
>Rose
>>didn't have better stats in 2012. And Russy wasn't a
>>sidekick...he was option 1A. He's STILL option 1A.
>
>You better look again bucko:
>http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2012.html
>
>Russ = 23.6/5.5/4.6 on 46% shooting
>NOT better than MVP Rose

rose had a GREAT year the season before, but um...russ was playing better than next year.


>Secondly, when a dude on your team is doing 28/8/3.5 on 50%
>shooting, he is the CLEAR #1.

i don't care about none of this. russ stats were better than rose's in 2012. he had surpassed rose before rose was injured. simple as that. y'all dudes ONLY worry about "Who so and so got" when they start winning. when bammas be losing next to scrubs, y'all always wanna blame them. nah, stay focused. head-up, russ had better numbers and made the finals. and he STILL better 3 years later.

>>>you pressed to lie. in 2012, russ was a 24, 6 and 5 guy.
>>Russ = 23.6/5.5/4.6 on 46% shooting

>rose had a GREAT year the season before, but um...russ was
>playing better than next year.

But you still lied^^^with them stats. Secondly, Rose was hurt THAT year (played 39 of 66 games with various injuries and ended the year with a torn ACL). Still put up 21.8/7.9/3.4 on 43.5% FG.

Outside of Pat Bev destroying his knee, Russ been super healthy. I still contend, a healthy Rose (no multiple back-to-back knee surgery's) is probably better than Russ right today. He spent 3 years rehabbing pretty much. Not working on his game, getting better.

>i don't care about none of this. russ stats were better than
>rose's in 2012. he had surpassed rose before rose was injured.
>simple as that. y'all dudes ONLY worry about "Who so and so
>got" when they start winning. when bammas be losing next to
>scrubs, y'all always wanna blame them. nah, stay focused.
>head-up, russ had better numbers and made the finals. and he
>STILL better 3 years later.

Rose = Lead
Russy = 2nd in command
Makes a difference

Rose = got an MVP
Russy = Doesn't have one
Matters

Rose = multiple season ending injuries
Russy = 1 season ending injury, healthy otherwise
It factors

Is Russy better right today...yes. Did he have a better 2012...eh, slightly. Was Rose hurt that year? Yes.

I get it...Deng karma...but the same pass you wanted for his injuries, I'm applying to Rose.

russ been better than him for a while now and it ain't gon change. i won that. period.

and russ STILL ain't better than KD, so you have no point AT ALL.

>>you pressed to lie. in 2012, russ was a 24, 6 and 5 guy.
>Rose
>>didn't have better stats in 2012. And Russy wasn't a
>>sidekick...he was option 1A. He's STILL option 1A.
>
>You better look again bucko:
>http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2012.html
>
>Russ = 23.6/5.5/4.6 on 46% shooting
>NOT better than MVP Rose
>
>Secondly, when a dude on your team is doing 28/8/3.5 on 50%
>shooting, he is the CLEAR #1. FOH. Russ doing
>Pippen-next-to-Jordan numbers but you wanna give him Kobe
>w/Shaq status. FOH.
>
>>You petty...like I wouldn't check the year OKC went to the
>>damn finals.
>
>You checked the wrong damn season. Again LOUD AND WRONG.


U learn something new everyday...
>
>>Asa far as the Jennings thing, I said he'd be the best PG
>>while he was still in HS, before rose won ANYTHING...so you
>>still pressed and wrong.
>
>And you continued that dumb ass cyse while he was in the
>league fam. Stop B. His first 2 years, you were all about
>that gunny ass scrub. All 39% shooting and sub 7 assist of
>his ass.
>
>Swallow that. Can't re-write history.

rip
big ben
tyrus
"best pg in the east" kirk hinrich
the mechanic

i woulda though losing to bron, delly, what was left of kyrie and tristan's second jumps would be enough to make y'all chill.

duly noted. rose seems perfectly fine, so i can stop pulling punches now.

see y'all soon.

lol

I have nothing to add.

We're about to be talkin bout Top Ten Jimmy. Klay done with.

You niggas and these small one-game victories have gotten old so I don't bother anymore.

Nigga got a historical footnote game.

>You niggas and these small one-game victories have gotten old
>so I don't bother anymore.
>
>Nigga got a historical footnote game.


Ring.....Small victories? lol

Come on homie....Nobody would have nothing to say if u wasn't screaming JIMMY MECHANIC....

U laughed when people said Butler would be amongst the best SG's in the league....

U laughed when people said he was the best defensive SG in the league....

And then U laughed when people proclaimed Butler was the best two-way SG guard in the league....

None of this^^^^is over-the top....At all...

I'm sure Butler would love playing next to the best PG (and MANY say BEST PLAYER) in the league who drops 40 in his sleep and seems to shoot 99.9 percent from behind the line.....Klay a mufucka and people been going a little too hard on him lately.....

But Butler is the best two way player in the league....Shit, don't Draymond usually get that Bron assignment anyway? What r we talking about here...

Y'all not winning anything and I don't take any of your players seriously . Klay is an all-nba player, nbs world champ and fiba world champ, with NBA bloodlines. Jimmy is a nice story...nothing more.

Now, this is really my last post on this because I flat out don't care anymore, as it's apparent Klay can achieve nothing to shut y'all up. There's nothing else in this for me.

>Y'all not winning anything and I don't take any of your
>players seriously . Klay is an all-nba player, nbs world champ
>and fiba world champ, with NBA bloodlines. Jimmy is a nice
>story...nothing more.


What does not "winning" and varsity jackets have to do with your Jimmy L?

They have nothing to do with one another....lol

U on your David Copperfield hard, Basa....Slight of hand like a mufucka....

U called Jimmy a over achieving mechanic who couldn't sniff Klay....That's the debate...Not a silly NBA bloodline....This ain't the Royals.....lol...Hell, Bulls fans have been holding back on this debate....

There's been only 1 or 2 heads who have said Jimmy >>>>Klay.....Mostly everyone else has been partying on the banana in the tailpipe of a L u got when u dismissed that kid like he was a joke....

Jimmy Butler is a problem....And the more he plays the more that L grows....Just accept it.....lol

because it hasn't been close so far this season.

http://bkref.com/tiny/aB2ln

JB:
20.2 P36, 5.1 R36, 3.0 A36, 1.8 S36, 1.5 TOV36, 7.1 FTA36, .569 TS%, 20.8 PER, 113 ORTG, 98 DRTG, 1.7 WS, .204 WS48, +4.9 BPM, 0.7 VORP,

KT:
18.1 P36, 4.5 R36, 2.9 A36, 0.8 S36, 2.7 TOV36, 1.5 FTA36, .541 TS%, 12.9 PER, 98 ORTG, 101 DRTG, 0.6 WS, .084 WS48, -1.7 BPM, 0.0 VORP

I hope it's the former

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler plans to ask Trail Blazers big man Mason Plumlee to pay his fine after Butler was called for a technical foul during the fourth quarter of Chicago's 93-88 win over Portland when the two got tangled up.

The play in question came with 4:17 left in the game and the Bulls leading 80-79. Butler tried to set a pick and it appeared Plumlee dropped a shoulder into Butler that knocked him over. Butler responded by tripping Plumlee and going head-to-head with him as the pair exchanged some heated words before being separated.

The referees reviewed the play, giving Plumlee a flagrant foul 1 and Butler a technical foul.

"He cost me $2,500," Butler said. "I'm not happy about that. I'm going to ask him to pay me back -- and I'm not playing."

Butler seemed more upset about the fine for the impending technical than he did about the actual play.

"He thought he was playing football for a second there," Butler said after the game. "It's all good though, man. I almost had to let the Fort Greene projects out of me, Brooklyn."

Butler's mention of Fort Greene was in reference to teammate Taj Gibson's hometown. Gibson was standing next to Butler as he spoke to the media. After a couple moments of laughter, Butler said, "Basketball, emotions -- that's part of the game."

Butler said he would ask for the money "nicely" at first, before taking a dig at Plumlee, a Duke alumnus.

"I'm going to tell my agent to email him or something," Butler said. "I know is MisterDukie@yahoo.com or something."

Making the Lions look like the pats when they play the jags

that try-hard game ass nigga ain't got the extra gear klay got.

Just like that Jimmy has another "superstar" game.....36 points, 7 rebounds, 12 for 24 from the field, 3 assists, 1 steal, etc, etc...

Listen.....You can't be throwing parades just because the light skin boy had his first I'M HERE TOO, NIGGA! game of the season....

Klay is the more fluid offensive player...He is naturally the more superior shooter than the Mechanic....

Nobody is discounting this^^^^

But the whole 2 way player thing is the discussion....Klay is not even the best defender on his own team....And some will say he's not even the second best player on his own team....

Jimmy though has to be Draymond Green AND Klay at the same time....

Just saying....But hey, I know u don't care....

you and other bulls fans just have no self-awareness. another beast game for klay, who IS getting over injuries he had to start the season.

Jimmy on top & Klay 2nd (while Wes Matthews recovers) w/ CJ/Barton on the rise. Beal is breaking down more than Wade/Rose so he needs to drink his milk before he's even in the discussion.

Wade/Monta/JJ are in the 30 & above group so that's another post.

I don't understand why this guy can't stay on the floor and be consistent. I'll wait a little while longer before I call him another disappointing Ernie G pick, but its not looking to hot right now.

http://i.imgur.com/ZjgjO6t.gifv

Jimmy Butler is a problem.....

That grubby ass Mechanic just dropped 40 on the Raps in one half to win the game for his squad...This kid is playing out of his mind on both sides of the floor....Not wide open catch and shoots....Just going to the basket, getting fouls, drawing double teams, bully ball......allowing him to work his jumper....Basically carrying the Bulls...

He good...

Klay good...

Jimmy better......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

it's like y'all have no respect for accomplishments. when rose won that MVP, i shut up about russ being better than him even though i thought russ was better. with all klay has done the past few years, you dudes come out the mouth EVERYTIME jimmy has a great game.

he not a franchise player. he and klay are BOTH secondary options, all things being optimal. the fact that jimmy is the bulls first option ain't comething to be cysin, dogg. it means y'all trash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdVbxHOWm8

Giving Bari all kinds of buckets so far
20 and 5 in the first half

>Giving Bari all kinds of buckets so far
>20 and 5 in the first half


Those 10 dimes r more impressive.....

and some of us are.

smh

"people"....lol

Jimmy Butler calls discussion of NBA's best shooting guard 'nonsense'

Fox Sports
By Brett Pollakoff
Jan 6, 2016 at 4:01p ET

The discussion of who the NBA's best shooting guard is has remained in the news cycle this season, mainly because the players near the top of that list have been keeping it there themselves.

Klay Thompson of the Warriors went on record as saying he was the best, while James Harden responded somewhat dismissively.

The only thing missing was a comment from Jimmy Butler, but he made it clear he had no interest in taking part in the conversation.

If we're looking at only this season, it's probably Butler and Harden in some order at one and two, followed by Thompson, who really isn't that far behind. But Butler's the only one of the three who is choosing to let his on-court performance speak for itself.

Sporting News

By Steven J. Gaither

Published on Jan. 6, 2016

Jimmy Butler had to know it was coming, especially once he broke one of Michael Jordan’s records.

The Bulls All-Star guard was asked Wednesday who he thought was the best shooting guard in the league. He wasn’t having any of it.

“You’re not going to draw me into that nonsense,” Butler told reporters.

Given the pushback that Warriors guard Klay Thompson received when he declared himself the best shooting guard in the NBA, it’s understandable that Butler wants to stay away from the debate.

But while he's keeping his mouth shut, his game has been speaking volumes lately. And it's saying that he belongs in the conversion along with Thompson and James Harden.

Harden has better numbers (28.1 points, 6.7 assists per game) than Butler this season, but he turns the ball over at a much higher clip (4.6 turnovers per game for Harden vs. 1.9 per game for Butler) and his shooting percentage is lower as well (41.7 for Harden compared to 45.9 for Butler).

Thompson shoots a higher percentage than Butler from the field (46.6 percent) and the 3-point line (43.5) but Butler has the edge in most other statistical categories, including scoring. Thompson also doesn’t have to worry about being the defense’s main focus as long as Stephen Curry is on the floor.

Butler had a breakout season last year, averaging 20 points per game, becoming an All-Star for the first time, and winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

He has continued his improvement this season, averaging 22.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Butler has been even better in the Bulls' past 10 games. He has averaged 24.9 points, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals during that stretch while shooting just under 49 percent from the field. The Bulls have won their last five in a row, including a 115-113 comeback win against Raptors when Butler scored 40 points after halftime.

Again, Butler may think the conversation about the best player at his position is nonsense, and that's fine. But as long as he keeps playing like he has of late, his name will be in it for the rest of the season.

is he gonna win a title? no? then, let's move on.

Nah...I'm just pointing out that it's not just a bunch of Bulls "people" saying that the Mechanic is in the discussion for best SG in the league....Don't throw me into one of your other seemingly endless agendas, BROTHER Basa...lol...I'm doing just fine here....

(Keep moving that goalpost....It's gone from "Dat nappy headed Mechanic ain't shit..." to "IS HE GONNA WIN A RING???!" )

U funny....

Sure...u called him worse things....

Looking forward to Jimmy B's next struggle 30

>Looking forward to Jimmy B's next struggle 30


Jimmy good, homie...When he's not scoring 30 plus or dropping 40 points in a half, he's racking up double digit assists two games straight and locking up his man on the other end....Anything to win....

I would not be shocked if Klay averages 30 points from here on out...The boy shoots with his eyes closed...I expect nothing less from him....He can have those scoring battles....

Butler is going to continue to be the best two-way shooting guard in the league....

He's def. the better all around player.....RIGHT NOW....Jimmy plays on both sides of the ball at a high level....

Last five games: 28.8 points and 7 assists....5 'bounds last 7 games.....And before having to score more with Rose down dude was averaging nearly 3 steals a game. Dat Mechanic just tied Pip's record for the longest steals streak (at least 1 rip in 42nd straight games), only second behind u know who....Dude plays that demonic defense.....That all around game be helping....

Klay is the superior scorer....Butler is the superior "player"....RIGHT NOW...

this is EXACTLY what happened last year. y'all partied early and then klay went nuts.

40 points in a half aint better than 37 in a quarter, so you can stop throwing that out like it's the best thing ever.

Dog...unlike u I don't spin...I don't move goalposts....

This is what I have always been saying...

Klay = Better Scorer, shooter....

Butler = Better all around player...Better defender....

So yeah..I will take the guy that can get you 21-25 AND drop dimes, AND rebound, AND lock up his man over the dude averaging 25 plus.....

It's really not hard to understand....But somehow u will continue to make shit complicated...lol

i don't romanticize struggle-points...nigga be workin hard as shit because he ain't a knock down shooter.

klay just better.

i bet rose would LOVE passing to klay and pau would love the extra space. the fuck jimmy gon bring to the warriors? NOTHING!

Hey...it's good to be playing next to the best player in the league ...Klay was hot and cold in the playoffs when they won that ring...He at times got outplayed by Iggy and Barnes...
What I'm saying is, good for Klay that he has a ring....But we all know that unless u show and prove while getting said ring u can't go around claiming to be the best at your position....

Klay is the best "shooting" guard in the league...Period...But if that ball is not falling in he's pretty much average...

>i don't romanticize struggle-points...nigga be workin hard as
>shit because he ain't a knock down shooter.

>klay just better.
>
>i bet rose would LOVE passing to klay and pau would love the
>extra space. the fuck jimmy gon bring to the warriors?
>NOTHING!


Jimmy would bring the same thing Iggy brought to the Warriors when he was outplaying your boy...Except much, much, much better....lol...

>
>
>Hey...it's good to be playing next to the best player in the
>league ...Klay was hot and cold in the playoffs when they won
>that ring...

and yet he averaged the second most points. i mean, we can ONLY talk FACTS, dogg, not your personal perception of what the fuck happened.

>He at times got outplayed by Iggy and Barnes...

and QUITE OFTEN jimmy is outplayed by Pau? AND?!?!?

>What I'm saying is, good for Klay that he has a ring....But we
>all know that unless u show and prove while getting said ring
>u can't go around claiming to be the best at your
>position....

nigga,you fuckin crazy...he played and they won. he contributed. you sound like a mad ass fool.

>Klay is the best "shooting" guard in the league...Period...But
>if that ball is not falling in he's pretty much average...

well, no shit. you actually think this qualifies as insight?


>Jimmy would bring the same thing Iggy brought to the Warriors
>when he was outplaying your boy...Except much, much, much
>better....lol...

jimmy would bring minimal spacing and they wouldn't be the same.

shut up, murph. you not reasonable right now.

>>
>>
>>Hey...it's good to be playing next to the best player in the
>>league ...Klay was hot and cold in the playoffs when they
>won
>>that ring...
>
>and yet he averaged the second most points. i mean, we can
>ONLY talk FACTS, dogg, not your personal perception of what
>the fuck happened.


Hey...I'm going to stop u here ^^^^, Brother Ba....

U can spin it all u want. But Klay was an afterthought during those big spots in the playoffs....Draymond was on one.....Iggy was on one....Curry was def. on one....And Barnes was at times even outplaying Klay....

This is all I remember when them rings was being handed out: Iggy = MVP.....

Stop crying....

>U can spin it all u want. But Klay was an afterthought during

am i spinning or are you. i got HARD FUCKIN DATA...you got unspecified anecdotal horseshit.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2015-nba-finals-cavaliers-vs-warriors.html

go ahead and explain away the numbers. and the game logs are there. i don't need you to brother basa me to death either, nigga. just be a normal fuckin human and back your claim with EVIDENCE.

>those big spots in the playoffs....

what big spots...LET ME KNOW, nigga!

Draymond was on
>one.....Iggy was on one....Curry was def. on one....And Barnes
>was at times even outplaying Klay....

when the fuck did barnes outplay klay?

some fuckin on one and them niggas shootin less that 40%...man, you really are becoming a clown with this shit, murph.

>This is all I remember when them rings was being handed out:
>Iggy = MVP.....

AND??!?!! iggy was the best player. you cysed fuckin draymond and BUM ASS BARNES. that's the shit i'm stuck on.

>Stop crying....

stop lying, nigga. the information is readily available.

Because getting a ring doesn't INSTANTLY = best at your position/better player....There's gotta be some meat on them bones...

Stop hiding behind that shit, homie...lol.....If u think Klay IS better than Butler, there are others who will agree with u...But they will agree with u because the Lite Bright can drop 30 in his sleep....not because he has a ring for a series in which a supposed role player (Iggy) was the reason right behind Curry that GS got a trophy...

Bottom line:...There was a time when even the mere mention of Dat Mechanic being in the discussion of the best shooting guard in the league would have been laughed out of the room by one Goalpost Basa....

Now, such a premise doesn't seem so funny....

>
>Because getting a ring doesn't INSTANTLY = best at your
>position/better player....There's gotta be some meat on them
>bones...

all-nba? better career numbers? i mean, why i gotta go by the two months of this season to bend the argument your way, dogg? WE DID THAT LAST YEAR and y'all caught another L.

>Stop hiding behind that shit, homie...lol.....If u think Klay
>IS better than Butler, there are others who will agree with
>u...

i do. i've said that. that's the point.


But they will agree with u because the Lite Bright can
>drop 30 in his sleep....not because he has a ring for a series
>in which a supposed role player (Iggy) was the reason right
>behind Curry that GS got a trophy...

so, you mad that the "ring" argument that DOMINATES sports and is used ALL THE TIME is also being applied to jimmy v. klay. nigga, please stop being weird. i don't have the time for this shit.



>Bottom line:...There was a time when even the mere mention of
>Dat Mechanic being in the discussion of the best shooting
>guard in the league would have been laughed out of the room by
>one Goalpost Basa....

and there was a time that suggesting that a guard outta colorado that none of you niggas knew about would be a STAR actually did get laughed at. BOO HOO, nigga.

>Now, such a premise doesn't seem so funny....

cool. he not better than klay and any team with him as the first option is not a serious contender. at least i know klay ain't a first option. you puffing your chest over over a struggle-scorer.

1. Yeah...right now? He is.....

....from the field....

Yeah....he shit...Just a Mechanic.....

Give me Kawhi/Jimmy over any duo in the league.

Don't be silly, dog...50 plus is 50 plus...A profressional team is a pro team no matter how many L's....

>Don't be silly, dog...50 plus is 50 plus...A profressional
>team is a pro team no matter how many L's....

>>Don't be silly, dog...50 plus is 50 plus...A profressional
>>team is a pro team no matter how many L's....
>

Chicago announcers were going in on Jah's lack of rim protection in the 2nd half.
"Meet me at the rim, mister Okafor and don't be late".

Yeah...that's cute...But I can take a look at Brewer's overall stats and they look puny next to Butler's....Plus Brewer can be hot and cold with his defense...The impressive thing about Butler is he dropped 50 plus at an exceptional clip AND still stuffed the stat lines AND still played hella D...

It ain't the same FILF....I mean, u called it...It was against fucking Harden...lol

no ring...no all-nba...just some shit willie burton did before, and much more efficiently, i should add.

*pacspit* on that tyler perry villain ass nigga.

>
>no ring...no all-nba..

This will be your refuge^^^^^

I love that it's come to this...lol

so, i love it more than you do. rondo outplayed him straight up in a series and y'all only talked about that MVP. it was proof he was better. cool.

klay has achieved more than jimmy. averaged more than him every year. but, yet again, i'm supposed to bow to a hot streak.

we did this last year. y'all lost. what do i get when y'all lose again, other than the satisfaction of knowing y'all gon be doing the same stuff next year and losing again?

Nah..that refuge be working.....FOR U...lol

And to be real about it MVP ROSE became a thing given how hard u were on that kid...I mean, u dismissed dude as a PG who couldn't even get over 5 dimes a game...So yeah, it was hilarious when the league pushed him as the BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE while u shitted on him constantly....

But as usual u mixing apples and oranges...

Nobody ever said Rose was better than your favorite point guard BECAUSE he won MVP......We said he was better because he was a franchise player who shouldered the responsibility of his team winning or losing AND thrived in that position....

I keep telling u. All-NBA doesn't mean a thing if others on your own team out performed u in big spots...And that's what happened with Klay in those last playoffs. Hell, if Klay was the no. 1 option and had to deal with being double teamed like Rose did then I would def. give him the benefit of doubt. But dude was very mortal even with Curry getting most of the double team assignments...

So no...It's not as simple as A + B = C... I know Klay got more NATURAL talent than Jimmy. That shit is clear as day...

But right now? In 2016....JIMMY BETTER.....

>I keep telling u. All-NBA doesn't mean a thing if others on
>your own team out performed u in big spots

you offered a false narrative and i offered hard evidence that you still haven't addressed.

rose ain't "shoulder" a damn thing...the bulls surrounded him with a great roster coming in. russ always been better. rondo always been better. i deferred to his MVP, because i respect achievements, unlike y'all. you up in here pressed me out to cyse your guy over a CURRENT champ and all-nba player 3 months into the season. you pressed, dogg.

Jimmy Better......

Palanqueta Mejor!

fair's fair.

:)

Nah...don't fall for the slight of hand...Basa going hard on that KLAY GOTTA RING tag....

I mean, this debate is far from over. Klay could go KLAY and just start averaging 30 points at any minute now....But it just shows how hot it's getting in this thread...

My DOGG Basa went from : JIMMY BUTLER???? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH....

to...HE AIN'T A FRANCHISE PLAYER....HE AIN'T EVEN THE BEST PLAYER ON HIS TEAM....

to...HE AIN'T DONE SHIT.....

to...KLAY BETTER...HE GOT JACKETS AND A RING!!!!!

That shit has gotten pretty funny...And interesting....

BTW DLo is an elite passer. He just has nobody to pass to.

y'all missed. GOOD!

i'm not dignifying shots against a goddamn NBA record. it's 37 in a quarter, not some shit people like willie burton and tony delk did. i mean, we've seen 50 before. so, no…fuck what shells talking about. it's stupid.

we have to draw lines around here. it's bad enough we've devolved into elevating muhfuckas whit no hardware, inferior career stats and achievements over dudes who have rings and better numbers. i mean, maybe it's my fault. maybe this agenda shit outta hand. but, it can't be me because i know how to shut the fuck up when i see a ring. maybe it's just some shit desperate mad niggas do to get a much needed W around here. we 3 months in and jimmy just BETTER…no questions asked. we JUST did this last year and klay finished with better numbers.

maybe i underestimate how aggy y'all get when I get a W around here. i see sooooooooo many shots thrown at klay…all the time. LMAO…y'all so mad i called it. nobody gave a fuck about that kid. and now y'all cysing some ol' try-hard nigga destined for 2nd round exits well into his 30s over a nigga who 25 WITH A RING ALREADY.

smh…the asses are hurt around here.

and crazy cuts sorry, dogg. straight up. clarkson better and everyone in the organization know it. they missed. cry your ass off.

The rest of this....?

I mean - Klay won a finals game going like 2-134 or something so...

PS - Clarksons good, DLos good, Nance is good, and Jah is getting arrested and Brook Lopezing.

>The rest of this....?
>
>I mean - Klay won a finals game going like 2-134 or something
>so...

and jimmy JUST scored four wack ass points in a regular season game. AND?


>PS - Clarksons good, DLos good, Nance is good, and Jah is
>getting arrested and Brook Lopezing.

Crazy Cutz a bum. a slow ass can't shoot bum.

his birthday is next week, mad guy.

Sure Harden can score better, I GUESS, but this dude's
offensive game is serious motherfucking business

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

>
>Sure Harden can score better, I GUESS, but this dude's
>offensive game is serious motherfucking business
>
>----------------------------
>
>
>
>O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"
>
>
>
>
>"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."
>
>(C)Keith Murray, "

>
>Sure Harden can score better, I GUESS, but this dude's
>offensive game is serious motherfucking business


lol harden is overrated..here & "in real life"

to me, he's just a McGrady reboot..a little more polished bc of those 2 years in college & a slightly better shooter.

http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/h/james_harden_vs_tracy_mcgrady.htm

Beard is a great scorer whom i enjoy watching (that step back jumper is prob the filthiest ive seen in a while), but I wouldnt want him leading my team & he will never win a championship (*as the guy, possible as a 2nd or 3rd fiddle on a team w good veteran leadership)

not to mention he's an undisciplined party animal

he'll finish with better numbers than T-Mac though..barring any nagging injury (back, knee etc) I think Harden is durable enough to last longer than 16 seasons (if he takes care of himself)

>lol harden is overrated..here & "in real life"
>
>to me, he's just a McGrady reboot..a little more polished bc
>of those 2 years in college & a slightly better shooter.
>
>http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison./h/james_harden_vs_tracy_mcgrady.htm

Harden is a chump if he isn't getting calls for flopping. I will take a motivated Baron Davis over Harden 10 out of 10 times.

>>lol harden is overrated..here & "in real life"
>>
>>to me, he's just a McGrady reboot..a little more polished bc
>>of those 2 years in college & a slightly better shooter.
>>
>>http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison./h/james_harden_vs_tracy_mcgrady.htm



>Harden is a chump if he isn't getting calls for flopping. I
>will take a motivated Baron Davis over Harden 10 out of 10
>times.


edit, i agree w this.

If Harden shattered his knee tomorrow his career would be in the same tier as Arenas rather than T-Mac.

>
>Sure Harden can score better, I GUESS, but this dude's
>offensive game is serious motherfucking business

What makes Jimmy a problem is he finds different ways to score....If the jumper ain't falling he goes to the line. If he's not getting the calls he can post his man up...When it all comes together dude really shows his shit with a surprising outside jumper...

He's not heads and shoulders better than Harden or Klay....But he's def. more than giving them a run for their money....

Dat Mechanic good....

hey, nigga...

enjoy your weekend.

and mirotic some shit.

http://www.cigars4dummies.com/uploads/bentley-humidor.jpg

or nah?

Quite petty. Wouldn't expect nothing less, though

Homeboy can only carry his lazy, slow team for so many games.

https://i.imgflip.com/xfyb9.jpg

that it is realtively easy to shut down a shooter with focused playoff defense.

>Quite petty. Wouldn't expect nothing less, though
>
>Homeboy can only carry his lazy, slow team for so many games.


Basa is petty as fuck...Damn the specifics....lol

It shows u how much that Butler kid is getting to him...Anything to say SEE!!!! I TOLD U!!!!!

That nigga funny...Ha!

klay was the second leading scorer throughout the playoffs and entered the finals coming off an ankle and a concussion, but i'm the one who ignores conext tho.

i don't care...no excuses...your man scored four. his jumper broke.

>
>klay was the second leading scorer throughout the playoffs and
>entered the finals coming off an ankle and a concussion, but
>i'm the one who ignores conext tho.


U go by hardcore numbers...I'm going by actual play....There were articles written about Klay's on and off playoff performance that championship run...I don't have to bring them up in the conversation...U know what I'm talking about...And as I've stated some of the criticism Klay got was overstated...But it was there...And when Iggy won MVP that noise got louder....It was reason enough for Iggy to remark that he felt Klay was worn down the second half of the season, following all those trade rumors and the minutes he was playing...That was Iggy supporting his teammate who was getting shit in the second half of the year and including the playoffs...Because he read those same articles, too...

>i don't care...no excuses...your man scored four. his jumper
>broke.

Trust...If Klay played 4 or five games in a row with several of them going to overtime...And if he didn't have Draymond or Curry during some of those games...And he was showing his ass, dropping 40 and 50 plus AND winning games and he happened to show he was mortal the final game in a string of match-ups?

I would shut the fuck up...lol...I would have NOTHING to say....

Please follow that path, homie...Don't be so....Petty?

You can't expect me to just concede your theoreticals because jimmy scored four points.

Thanks for admitting your're ignoring facts and going off a few articles.

that game got real exciting at the end


it was pretty ugly for the first 3 and a half quarters lol

Dude is on that Kyle Korver steez this season, I'm surprised that Basa hasn't even shouted him out yet.

You see him grab the rebound and attempt to dribble up the floor in crunch time vs the nuggets ?


His Low iq never ceases to amaze me at times


Dude probably reads with his finger on th page

................?

he locked that boring ass mechanic up. jimmy work hard, but he don't know what to do when faced with another country ass bamma who tries hard all game long.

Nah...nothing of the sort...Bulls fans right now r not much into the Klay/Jimmy pissing contest these days...This Bulls team, with Noah, Niko, and Dunny out, is struggling to keep that 4 spot in the East...We are not a credible playoff team at the moment...


WE ARE BULLS FANS....Which means when we take L's even when Jimmy has a good game we don't care....Jimmy recently had a game where he dropped 26 and 10 dimes, 5 rebounds and 4 steals...Nobody upped this post...Bulls fans didn't care....It's the same reason we didn't up this post when Jimmy dropped 20 and 9...Because we are looking at our team scuffling.....

Listen....GS is the best team in the league...And they were the best whether Klay is dropping 30 plus or not......Klay is a gifted shooter....He is def. one of the best SG's in the league...Jimmy, however, is an entirely different situation. He is our franchise player...And with that comes a lot more bullshit...

I'll get back to you when the Bulls can get their shit together as a team...Party on Basa....If Klay ain't working for u there's always Ky or Russy or whoever...What a time to be alive, huh?

>Nah...nothing of the sort...Bulls fans right now r not much
>into the Klay/Jimmy pissing contest these days...This Bulls
>team, with Noah, Niko, and Dunny out, is struggling to keep
>that 4 spot in the East...We are not a credible playoff team
>at the moment...
>
>
>WE ARE BULLS FANS....Which means when we take L's even when
>Jimmy has a good game we don't care....Jimmy recently had a
>game where he dropped 26 and 10 dimes, 5 rebounds and 4
>steals...Nobody upped this post...Bulls fans didn't
>care....It's the same reason we didn't up this post when Jimmy
>dropped 20 and 9...Because we are looking at our team
>scuffling.....
>
>Listen....GS is the best team in the league...And they were
>the best whether Klay is dropping 30 plus or not......Klay is
>a gifted shooter....He is def. one of the best SG's in the
>league...Jimmy, however, is an entirely different situation.
>He is our franchise player...And with that comes a lot more
>bullshit...
>
>I'll get back to you when the Bulls can get their shit
>together as a team...Party on Basa....If Klay ain't working
>for u there's always Ky or Russy or whoever...What a time to
>be alive, huh?

Nope...just stating facts....Bulls fans ain't thinking about this petty shit when our team is taking L's...We don't UP posts when Jimmy puts up numbers in losing games....

Do your thing, dog...Hopefully, the Bulls will be able to play one of your 4 or 5 teams u got on rotation....How great is THAT? What a country...

when it's my turn, it's suddenly beneath you.

whatever. klay better.

i can always depend on basa-haters who have no real stake in certain agendas showing they faces when things ain't lookin good for ol' Ba and vanishing like they're above it all when the cream rises to the top of my grande hot chocolate, while i'm checking boxscores.

Dog...U upping posts on injured players?....U on it like that?

Wow...

was he not injured with a whole rack of shit for bout two years? didn't your incompetent medical staff nearly kill him?

and haven't you haters been taking great pleasure in telling me klay ain't perform well last postseason from the moment ariza knee'd him in the skull and made him bleed from his ear?

didn't you party THIS YEAR when klay missed games with a shitty ankle and wasn't right until january? you prolly don't remember that, because when i kept saying klay ankle was fucked up, you seemed yo be too busy partying about the mechanic having some good games and declaring this whole thing OVER.

now, if i partied and said it was over while your guy all fucked up, i'd be the problem tho?

funny.

U keep sticking to that origin story...But Bulls FANS were not partying on no damn injuries...WE COMPLAINED ABOUT DENG BEING INJURED.

U see the difference?

There's a difference between saying Player A is not dependable and is always injured vs. upping a damn post when a player is injured. And who in the hell was partying when Klay got injured? What r u going on about? If anything, Klay was bone dead tired when he was struggling in the Offs....

Come on Basa...I know we get petty on here. But u should be able to see those two are not the same....

Show some chill. The BIG war is over.

Jimmy ain't have no major injury. He just out for a bit. Same as Klay.

>Jimmy ain't have no major injury. He just out for a bit. Same
>as Klay.


U sniffin' that Michael Jordan hard, my dude...U see slights that r not even there...

Jimmy going to be out another four more weeks. Show a little chill, dog....lol

you were talking shit when klay was fucked up and running around on a bum ass ankle and you said jimmy was flat out BETTER.

you ain't gettin no fuckin sympathy, champ.

and if that nigga don't come back 100% like klay ain't come back 100%...OH WELL!!!

>
>you were talking shit when klay was fucked up and running
>around on a bum ass ankle and you said jimmy was flat out
>BETTER.


NIGGA KLAY WASN'T STRUGGLING BECAUSE HE WAS HURT...

That dude was struggling because he was tired physically and pressing....No one...Not one Bulls fan was upping posts on some "our man is better than your man while he was on the bench hurt..."

U stretching dog...Cut this shit out...lol

Just say YOU on your PETTY BASA today and leave it at that...We all know u can troll with the best of 'em. I got no beef as long as I know u fucking around...

But on the real? There is no logical reason to be upping a post when our dude has been out damn near three weeks with four more weeks to go...

>NIGGA KLAY WASN'T STRUGGLING BECAUSE HE WAS HURT...
>
>That dude was struggling because he was tired physically and
>pressing....No one...Not one Bulls fan was upping posts on
>some "our man is better than your man while he was on the
>bench hurt..."

i don't care. he wasn't 100% and i told y'all he wasn't and y'all ain't give one fuck and keep partying.


>U stretching dog...Cut this shit out...lol
>
>Just say YOU on your PETTY BASA today and leave it at
>that...We all know u can troll with the best of 'em. I got no
>beef as long as I know u fucking around...

nigga, i am dead ass serious. he bleed out his fucking ear and had a bum ankle to start the finals and STILL scored 16ppg. there was a time when you were poppin bottles when that damn mechanic scored 16 in a GAME, let along the finals.

and y'all up this THIS SEASON when klay was fucked up again and declared the agenda OVER. well, nigga, if it's OVER, stop crying and stop responding.

>But on the real? There is no logical reason to be upping a
>post when our dude has been out damn near three weeks with
>four more weeks to go...

maaaaaaan, if you don't get all the way out my damn face. there is a logical reason. klay balling. if the mechanic had big games with klay out, i have NO DOUBT this thread would be upped. NO DOUBT.

Yep...Trolling...lol

I see u, dog....

starting next year. klay gon be top 5 GOAT at his position. i cannot be worried about comparing him to a contemporary. it's stupid.

There was that period in the beginning of the season when Klay was playing hurt. After that. This has been a laugher.

http://bkref.com/tiny/I86Z8

outside of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, O rating, D rating, PER, BPM, VORP and win shares, klay's got him beat everywhere!

>http://bkref.com/tiny/I86Z8
>
>outside of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, O
>rating, D rating, PER, BPM, VORP and win shares, klay's got
>him beat everywhere!

PPG, FG%, FT%, 3FG%, TOs for Klay

and all-NBA teams...bout to make it again and jimmy bout to not make it again.

Mad?

see how it looks like i'm the pressed one to bring this shit back up? i'm the asshole, right?

until next december, fellas. i'm sure jimmy will start hot again.

>starting next year. klay gon be top 5 GOAT at his position. i
>cannot be worried about comparing him to a contemporary. it's
>stupid.

So yeah, Klay is better at the moment.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jimmy-butler-could-be-headed-for-offseason-knee-surgery/

dunno exactly, but it ain't sympathy.

klay was ALWAYS better.

Never.

Ever.

Not. Even. A. Remote. Possibility.

Don't care if they lost. Everyone else sucked. Jimmy did everything. Literally.

Dude is the only All-Star/All-NBA player that gets a pass from the media when he disappears. Tony Parker in his prime is the only cat I can think that enjoyed the same luxury.

As they say, winning cures all.

Jimmy only had Pau and a cast of maybes last night against my Pistons and he had the ball in his hands the entire time.

If Klay had what Jimmy had last night he'd be able to do pretty much everything he does and he'd shoot better. Jimmy is dope and had me a stressed because he had the entire team on his back and a loss to would have really hurt.

>If Klay had what Jimmy had last night he'd be able to do
>pretty much everything he does and he'd shoot better. .

Klay couldn't even get open against the Celtics except when Bradley/Smart were on the bench.

But this post ain't signed sealed and delivered yet.

Now it barely merits a "Remember when...?" discussion.

Now that's he off to the Wolves, y'all going to finally own up to your L?

27 PPG
5.5 RPG
5.2 APG
Shooting splits of 50/30/92

Has the Wolves 10 games above .500 for the first time since 2004.

Minnesota Mechanic has a nice ring to it.

>27 PPG
>5.5 RPG
>5.2 APG
>Shooting splits of 50/30/92
>
>Has the Wolves 10 games above .500 for the first time since
>2004.
>
>Minnesota Mechanic has a nice ring to it.


It's no longer a debate.......

Win Shares
butler: 7th
derozan: 8th
thompson: 43rd
booker: 85th

VORP
butler: 11th
derozan: 20th
booker: 75th
thompson: 77th

BPM
butler: 19th
derozan: 34th
booker: 79th
thompson: 99th

PER
derozan: 19th
butler: 25th
booker: 45th
thompson: 68th

pretty clear hierarchy.