Dec. 03--Jimmy Butler's ridiculous offensive jump has demanded league-wide attention, and Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle touting Butler for Most Improved Player on Tuesday won't slow that.
But it's what Carlisle said later, on a day his Mavericks beat the Bulls 132-129 in double overtime, that underscored another storyline to this season.
"If you add (Taj) Gibson to the mix, they have a great roster here," Carlisle said. "They're going to be very hard to deal with. (Aaron) Brooks is playing really well. That gives them a quick attacker. (Kirk) Hinrich is shooting it great. (Nikola) Mirotic has been a really good addition. He plays like an NBA veteran. He's real skilled."
Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol were mentioned in the question, so Carlisle didn't overlook them. What he did was remind all just how many offensive options the Bulls now have. In other words, Rose, who slowly is working his way back from missing all but 10 games over two seasons, doesn't have to play hero ball as often.
In fact, Rose struggled with his shot before finishing with 18 points and 10 assists on 6 of 20 shooting, Though he forced double overtime with a banked 3-pointer as the first extra session expired, he missed desperation 3-pointers at the end of regulation and the second overtime.
"We have a post threat," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We have some guys off the dribble. We have some catch-and-shoot. The shooting is vastly improved."
It's why the Bulls cracked the century mark for the fourth straight game and 12th time in 18 games. It's why the Bulls weren't out of Tuesday's wild, high-scoring, see-saw affair despite once trailing by 13 and by seven with just more than eight minutes left.
After ranking last in scoring and shooting last season, the Bulls have a legitimately deep and varied offensive attack.
"We're getting more fast-break baskets. We're attacking the basket better," Thibodeau said. "We have a good balance between inside and out."
Gasol has been a rock, posting his 10th double-double in his 15 games with 29 points and 14 rebounds. The Bulls' improved up-tempo attack produced 23 fast-break points. And Butler has been Butler.
"It's as hard a physical matchup at (shooting guard) as you're going to find in this league in terms of strength," Carlisle said. "There's nobody quite like him (at shooting guard) in terms of just brute strength. You can't completely stop him."
Just like most in the Bulls' revved-up offense.
McDermott sits: Rookie Doug McDermott, who has played sparingly lately, unexpectedly joined Taj Gibson on the sidelines with a right knee injury the rookie called "very, very minor." McDermott didn't need an MRI, merely iced it after experiencing some swelling and soreness Monday and said he may play Wednesday at Charlotte.
"It's very random," McDermott said, who added he never missed a game at Creighton. "Just wear and tear over time. I already feel better (Tuesday)."
Layups: Thibodeau said Rose and Noah are scheduled to finish the back-to-back Wednesday in Charlotte, but that was before Noah appeared to roll his right ankle late in regulation. Noah played afterward. ... Carlisle, on the Mavericks' re-acquisition of former Bull Tyson Chandler, who helped them win the 2011 NBA championship: "He's a better player now. He's more skilled, shoots the ball better, is more experienced. He's having a great year. Categorically, he's a leader. And he's doing all the things he did for us back in 2011." ... Butler said the team had fun with Kevin Garnett's attempted bite of Joakim Noah on Sunday. "During the timeout on a free throw, Derrick was like, 'Hey man, watch your hand.'"
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
