As the Chicago Bulls continue to build cohesion, there is an underlying urgency for starting shooting guard Jimmy Butler to up his level of play.
The former Marquette Golden Eagle is the third player to start at the 2 under head coach Tom Thibodeau and the first legitimate two-way threat paired with Derrick Rose.
Considering the strides he made last season, it is understandable to have high expectations for his current campaign; however, a sampling of the early slate of games shows that Butler has a way to go before he evolves into what the team needs him to be.
The Expectation
Butler’s mission in his new role is simple: Be productive enough on offense to keep some pressure off of Rose while staying strong as a perimeter defender.
The newly-minted starter has always shown the potential to be a formidable defender in Thibodeau’s system; it was not until late in the 2012-13 season that the upside to his offensive skill set became apparent.
In starting all 12 of the Bulls’ postseason contests, he averaged 13.3 points per game and shot 40.3 p ...
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Article written by James Davis
Chicago Bulls Need Jimmy Butler to Make the Leap, and Fast
November 9th, 2013 by James Davis Leave a reply »
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