Game 2 did not come as easy as Game 1, although that was to be expected. The Bulls turned the ball over many times in the first half and couldn't hit a basket if their lives depend on it. Once the second half began, the Bulls turned a corner on offense and let the Bucks know just how much they're outmatched. The result was a 91-82 victory and a 2-0 lead in the series.
The game proved heated at times with a few skirmishes between players, but everything came together in the fourth quarter during a 13-0 run. Jimmy Butler led the charge with 14 points during that time, shooting 4-for-5 from the field and making all three of his 3-point attempts. He finished with 31 points, setting a playoff career high for the second time in as many games. All the Bucks could do was try in vain to defend him or simply tip their hats to him.
Derrick Rose went scoreless in the first half, but had 12 in the third quarter and hit the dagger late in the fourth to finish with 15 and nine assists. All four of Mike Dunleavy's field goals came from beyond the arc, so he scored 12. Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah led the rebounding charge with 16 and 19 boards respectively (Gasol also had 11 points for the double-double). The Bulls' presence on the glass has been felt all series and if that doesn't change, they might return from Milwaukee without the Bucks in tow.
If Butler isn't somehow honored for his work this season, it's going to be something of a tragedy. He should be among the candidates for the Most Improved Player Award or at least considered for the All-NBA Third Team. His game has become so refined, he just might have taken Rose's spot on the team as the man whom you want with the ball first. With each passing game, his agent contemplates throwing more money in the air in his office and the Bulls' front office feels lighter in the wallet.
Each year, Butler has improved to the point where he's become an All-Star. And for the second time in three years, Butler is using the playoffs to show how far he's come and how he'll continue to improve in the future. Maybe the Bulls won't win a championship this year, but they can say they have someone who will take charge when he feels necessary. Whatever they pay to keep him from going elsewhere, every penny will be worth it.
The man has confidence in himself and everyone can see it. If Rose or another teammate isn't setting him up on offense, he'll create an easy scoring opportunity for someone anyway. His mere presence has proven to be a nightmare for teams, who knows the Bulls have other weapons who can become hot at any moment. There has never been a more talented group offensively in the Tom Thibodeau era and Butler is at the epicenter. It's why Bulls fans should be more confident in playing a LeBron James team (next round) than ever before.
When I think about Butler's season, I typically think back to the game I attended in Indiana back in late December. The Bulls had blown a big lead, but Butler hit a big three with over a minute left and then, drew an offensive foul on the next possession. That desire to play well and win has been with him all year. As long as he has that, there's not much he can't do.
I mentioned rebounding as a reason this could be a short series, but another one is Butler being able to create his own shot. The Bucks have nobody with as big a reputation for doing that. Rose is shooting more clunkers than we'd like these days, but if he plays smart offensively, he's ranked 1a to Butler's 1. Although they're not the Splash Brothers like the ones with Golden State, they just have to play well together to make life miserable for opponents.
Game 3 will be the first of this series at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Although Bucks owner Mark Lasry is telling Bulls fans not to waste their time coming to Wisconsin, that won't be nearly enough to stop them from coming. People are loving this team right now and can't wait to see what Butler and Rose will do next. If the series so far is any indication, there's plenty more to come from this duo.
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