Fansided

NBA: Ranking the Top 5 Breakout Players

By Clint Pemberton

The Chicago Bulls will be without Jimmy Butler as they open their NBA season due to a thumb injury Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bulls will be without Jimmy Butler as they open their NBA season due to a thumb injury Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

No.1 – Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler, the 30th selection in the 2011 draft, came into this, his fourth NBA season perceived as elite defender who averaged 13.1 points on 39.7% shooting for the Chicago Bulls last year. The 25 year-old 6’7″ is rapidly changing that perception and just might be the second best two-way shooting guard in the NBA. Asked to shoulder an increased load in Tom Thibedeau’s offense with the Bulls suffering early season injuries Butler has flourished with the increased responsibility averaging 20.8 points on 49.7% shooting.

Butler is playing similar minutes to the 13-14 campaign but is much more involved in the Bulls offense, acting at times as it’s fulcrum. Butler is averaging carrer highs in points, FG%, rebounds and assists. He is taking more shots per game (14.1 up from 10.3) and converting more of them (TS% 60.1 up from 52.2% and ranking just outside the top 20 in the NBA). Butler’s PER has exploded from 13.57 to 21.79 which for context ranks 29th in the entire NBA and fifth amongst shooting guards averaging more than 20 minutes per game, behind only James Harden, Dwayne Wade, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler. Butler also fairs extremely well in the advanced metrics where he ranks 10th overall in Win Shares and 16th in Value Over a Replacement Player.

Jimmy Butler might see his touches reduce as Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol return to health, however with the Bulls operating near full strength, his efficiency should increase as the year progresses. Butler is the second best two-guard in the Eastern Conference and expect to see him in at the Garden in this years All-Star game and probably holding the Most Improved Player trophy at the end of the season.

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