Jimmy Butler blames himself for Bulls missing NBA playoffs
By Tom West
Jimmy Butler has said that he’s the reason the Chicago Bulls didn’t make the NBA playoffs for the first time in nine years this season.
In the words of Jimmy Butler, Jimmy Butler is the reason the Chicago Bulls didn’t make the 2016 NBA playoffs.
It’s hard to take that much blame. In a season where the Bulls were plagued with injuries, new head coach Fred Hoiberg failed to establish a successful offense, and Derrick Rose somehow played only one less game (66) than the team’s new best guard, it’s no surprise that Chicago was bogged down in the struggles and failed to surpass the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Of course, that new franchise guard is Butler, who has taken the blame for his Bulls missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08. It’s bold to take the fall when you’re the best player, but that’s how Butler holds himself accountable, despite almost everything possible going against him.
On top of the difficulties faced in Chicago, the East as a whole got stronger, finishing the regular season with more teams above a .500 record (10) than the West (eight).
“I’m the reason that we did not make the playoffs,” Butler said in an interview with Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune. “I’m fine with that. I’m not happy with it, but I’m fine with it. Because it’s only going to make me stronger and better.
Again, it’s hard to see how Butler is responsible. Only three players — Doug McDermott, Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol — played in 70 or more games, while the driving defensive leader that is Joakim Noah was ruled out after 29 with a shoulder injury. Through the offensive woes, the depleted roster, and the constantly changing rotations, Butler did what he could with 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, doubling as the team’s best scorer and defender.
As he said, though, Butler wasn’t without weakness. He was forced to miss a total of 15 games due to injury, he experienced some cold shooting spells and had a notable drop in three-point percentage for the season (37.8 in 2014-15 to 31.1 this season).
“I wasn’t consistent enough. I had good games, average games, decent games and some terrible games,” Butler added. “I don’t want to have terrible and decent games. Average games can get us over the hump. Really good ones can make us win.”
Ultimately, this is just a star taking the fall for his team, looking to push himself forward with motivation to improve both personally and as a team for the upcoming season.
If Butler can do any more than he did in a career-year through 2015-16, the Bulls at least have a little promise on the horizon.