Dec. 10--With every promotion comes a demotion.
Nikola Mirotic, who shot 32.6 percent from 3-point range while starting the first 18 games, said all the right things Wednesday about Taj Gibson taking his starting spot.
"I have to be positive and whatever is best for the team is best for me too," Mirotic said. "I need to stay focused and still play my game whether I come from the bench or start. This is a long season and I have to be ready for everything. I know my team needs me."
Mirotic scored 10 points in 22 minutes and played the majority of the fourth quarter in the Bulls' 105-100 loss to the Celtics.
"Of course I'm not playing at a great level right now," Mirotic said. "I'm trying to get back to playing with more confidence."
Coach Fred Hoiberg said he and his staff had long discussions and used plenty of statistical analysis over the last two days before making the change.
"You have to find the right lineups where you don't have the lulls," Hoiberg said.
Gibson, who finished with eight points and seven rebounds in close to 20 minutes, has made a career of contributing whether he starts or comes off the bench.
"I put the team first," Gibson said. "That's what makes it so easy for me to do both. I just have fun playing and worry about wins because I want to go deep in the playoffs. Coach told me I've been doing a good job and to just build on it."
Gibson, surprisingly, only played 35 seconds in the fourth.
"We felt we needed another floor spacer," Hoiberg said.
Take a seat: Jimmy Butler said he asked Hoiberg to leave him in at the start of the fourth quarter when the Celtics had a decisive 12-2 run but Hoiberg said he needed a rest.
"It's a learning curve for him just like it is for me," Butler said. "I understand what he's trying to do. I'm not mad at him for that. I wanted to play because that's when we give up those leads. Nothing against my teammates but I think if I'm out there, I can get their energy going the right way."
Butler scored a career-high 36 points.
"I don't give a damn about a career high," he said. "I want to win."
Layups: Butler tied his career-best streak by recording a steal in a league-high 27th straight game. ... Hoiberg said he got to know fellow NCAA-to-the-NBA coach Brad Stevens a little on the recruiting trail. "He always got the guys," Hoiberg cracked. "I settled for transfers."
