NEWSLETTER
Bears win. Cubs win. Fantasy football win. Hard to ask for a better Sunday.
• It happened, folks.
Wolves, Bulls and 76ers seeing Jimmy make the NBA Finals pic.twitter.com/ELHBIUFCPH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 28, 2020
• Which member of the early 2010’s Bulls have made it to an NBA Finals? Not Derrick Rose. Not Joakim Noah. Not Luol Deng. Not Kirk Hinrich. Not Carlos Boozer. Yes, Jimmy Butler. Who woulda thunk it? What Butler has done in Miami is astonishing. Yes, he’s had help from one of the best coaches in the NBA (Erik Spoelstra), but he still showed up to South Beach and turned a 39-win team into a dominant playoff opponent. The Heat have lost a total of only three games through the first three rounds of the playoffs, as they’ve easily looked like one of the best units in the league. In fact, the team Miami built around Butler is practically perfect. Not only did they surround him with some of the best young shooters in the league – Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson – but they found him a ragtag group of role-playing veterans that buy into his, oftentimes, intense personality … which begs the question, why couldn’t the Bulls do that!?
• I’d first answer that questions with two more questions. Why couldn’t the Minnesota Timberwolves do that? And why couldn’t the 76ers do that? In hindsight, yes, all three teams were wrong about Butler. Very wrong. Each organization gave up on him far too early, and each organization failed to see his true potential. However, at the same time, one could argue these organizations didn’t have the current version of Butler – especially the Bulls. Butler is a guy who has used the countless times he’s been counted out in his life as fuel to the fire. From an unstable high school experience to junior college to Marquette to the 30th pick in the draft to the Most Improved Player award to five All-Star games to the NBA Finals, Butler has only gotten better each step of the way. I’m not saying he needed to be counted out to find success, but it’s truly an incredibly valuable part of his success story. Who knows if Butler learns exactly what it takes to win a ring if he stays in the Windy City (also, let’s not pretend GarPax would’ve actually built around him correctly). Who knows if Butler learns how to truly lead a team if he doesn’t blow sh*t up in Minnesota. Who knows if Butler understands what a championship-caliber team tastes like if he doesn’t play for Philly. We can be bummed things didn’t work out for Butler in Chicago or we can be content with the role the Bulls played in this special NBA story. I’m glad the Windy City got their taste of Jimmy G. Buckets, and I’m glad he still appreciates the time he spent in Chicago. At the end of the day, though, Miami is where he was meant to be.
• I see you Shaq.
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1310595123793854475?s=20
• Harrison’s future in Chicago likely weighs heavily on what the Bulls decide to do with Kris Dunn. A solid defensive player with a high motor, Harrison could be a quality replacement for Dunn on the bench. Also, let’s keep in mind that Arturas Karnisovas and Billy Donovan has experience turning athletic, hard-working talent into very consistent role players. Could Harrison be their next success story? I wouldn’t be shocked.
• That ball movement is sexy.
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1309929280718147587?s=20
• Hello, KAT.
Karl Anthony-Towns confirmed to join the Chicago Bulls next season pic.twitter.com/nMEgOTNiyR
— Troydan (@Troydan) September 24, 2020
• Order your swag (do people still use that word?) before the Cubs start their Wild Card matchup against the Marlins!
The Cubs have clinched! Fly that dang W! Ivy Shop created a limited run, premium quality W Capsule Collection to celebrate. I want all of these: https://t.co/LaAmOxpx8Z pic.twitter.com/YqWRmi9IiO
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 28, 2020
