Butler and Novak on the court in Chicago

[Marqevans]

Novak hit a 3. Jimmy missed a 3.

[jsglow]

Both are playing a lot of minutes and playing well.  Novak had a great post up shot and the ESPN announcers were able to tell a 15 second version of Jimmy's life story when he went to the foul line.

[AZWarrior]

Novak posted up?!

Cool!

[jsglow]

Novak posted up?!

Cool!

Yep.  Couldn't believe it.  He also had 2-3 rebounds during his Q2 minutes.

By the way, Bulls are done playing around.  Plus 16 now midway through Q3.

[timinatorx3]

Novak just fouled Butler on a fast break.

[SaveOD238]

Jimmy just scored on a fast break and was fouled by Novak (he missed the and 1 though).  "One Marquette player on another."   I like it!

[JoBo2756]

ohhh big move by JFB past Novak for score! Tirico says "One Marquette player on another!" Nice work Jimmy! Playing solid ball on National television right now.

[QuetteHoops]

Mike Tirico "One Marquette player on another" after Jimmy butler got a steal and a breakaway, Novak hacked him but JFB managed to finish and get to the line anyway

[QuetteHoops]

Got beat to it by a few of you haha

[jsglow]

Been a great game.  Man I'd love to add Jae to our Bulls team next year.

[Marqevans]

Been a great game.  Man I'd love to add Jae to our Bulls team next year.

Don't know that the Bulls would want another small forward.

[jsglow]

Don't know that the Bulls would want another small forward.

I can dream, can't I?

[Marqevans]

I can dream, can't I?

It would be so much fun! 

[Logi4three]

Awesome JFB Dunk!

[JoBo2756]

"Jumping Jimmy Butler"!!!

This is a great game. Jimmy's breakout game for sure. Should be on ESPN for all folks outside of Chicago but I'm sticking with Stacy King on Comcast.

[Marqevans]

Butler getting lot of love from the Bulls announcers:

"The rookie from Marquette!". The"butler" did it!"

[bdee29]

"Jumping Jimmy Butler"!!!

This is a great game. Jimmy's breakout game for sure. Should be on ESPN for all folks outside of Chicago but I'm sticking with Stacy King on Comcast.

break out game? the dude had 8 points, a dunk, and played good D. am i missing something?

[77ncaachamps]

Nice!




More...

[MerrittsMustache]

break out game? the dude had 8 points, a dunk, and played good D. am i missing something?

While breakout game is a bit of a stretch, Jimmy played the entire 4th quarter, D'd up Melo and was very active on both ends of the floor, tipping passing, gathering in loose balls, keeping plays alive, etc. He definitely had his moments where he looked like a rookie, but also definitely showed that he belongs.

[Tugg Speedman]

While breakout game is a bit of a stretch, Jimmy played the entire 4th quarter, D'd up Melo and was very active on both ends of the floor, tipping passing, gathering in loose balls, keeping plays alive, etc. He definitely had his moments where he looked like a rookie, but also definitely showed that he belongs.

+1

Breakout game in the sense that he's a rookie at the end of the bench and played extended minutes and was a contributor. 

[MerrittsMustache]

No wonder he missed that shot so badly.

[brewcity77]

"Jumping Jimmy Butler"!!!

This is a great game. Jimmy's breakout game for sure. Should be on ESPN for all folks outside of Chicago but I'm sticking with Stacy King on Comcast.

I cringe any time I see this the next day. You can't really classify any game as a definite "breakout game" for at least weeks, if not months. How often do bench guys come out, have a great game, then disappear back to the bench?

Like JFB's "breakout game" against Atlanta, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes with 3 boards to go with it. Then he scored a combined 9 points in his next 13 games, never getting more than 9 minutes in a single game and picking up 6 DNPs in that stretch. He had a good game, but it was a blip, not a breakout.

Or JFB's "breakout game" against New York, scoring 7 points in 21 minutes while adding 2 steals, 1 block, 1 assist, and 1 rebound, filling the scoresheet nicely. 8 of his next 16 games he got DNPs and never scored more than 4 points.

Maybe this will be a breakout game. Or maybe his breakout game was Saturday, when he put up 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in 28 minutes against Utah. If he continues to get regular (12-20 mpg) minutes off the bench and contributes regular numbers (3-8 ppg, 2-4 rpg, 1-2 apg) without getting DNPs in half the games, then it could be a breakout. But the next day? Not a breakout. Never a breakout.

[muwarrior69]

A lot of nice Marquette references throughout the game. With Steve Taylor comming in next year perhaps more Chi Town kids will consider Marquette.

[Brewtown Andy]

While breakout game is a bit of a stretch, Jimmy played the entire 4th quarter, D'd up Melo and was very active on both ends of the floor, tipping passing, gathering in loose balls, keeping plays alive, etc. He definitely had his moments where he looked like a rookie, but also definitely showed that he belongs.

And Melo completely disappeared into a hole in the 4th until someone told Tyson Chandler that he should start screening Jimmy off of Melo.

[Tugg Speedman]

I cringe any time I see this the next day. You can't really classify any game as a definite "breakout game" for at least weeks, if not months. How often do bench guys come out, have a great game, then disappear back to the bench?

Like JFB's "breakout game" against Atlanta, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes with 3 boards to go with it. Then he scored a combined 9 points in his next 13 games, never getting more than 9 minutes in a single game and picking up 6 DNPs in that stretch. He had a good game, but it was a blip, not a breakout.

Or JFB's "breakout game" against New York, scoring 7 points in 21 minutes while adding 2 steals, 1 block, 1 assist, and 1 rebound, filling the scoresheet nicely. 8 of his next 16 games he got DNPs and never scored more than 4 points.

Maybe this will be a breakout game. Or maybe his breakout game was Saturday, when he put up 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in 28 minutes against Utah. If he continues to get regular (12-20 mpg) minutes off the bench and contributes regular numbers (3-8 ppg, 2-4 rpg, 1-2 apg) without getting DNPs in half the games, then it could be a breakout. But the next day? Not a breakout. Never a breakout.

Here is the bottom line ... JFB plays on the best team in the NBA (record-wise).  He's not breaking into the rotation this year.  But when he gets to play becuase of injury (like now) he does well.

In the post-game they said as much.  The assistant coaches said JFB does well in practice but this team has no room for him in the regular rotation this year. 

They also noted that Tibbs hates playing rookies.