April 04--Last season, the Bulls went 28-17 with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler playing together, and both players averaged 20-plus points in a two-round playoff run.
At his introductory news conference in June, coach Fred Hoiberg talked about how beautifully the guards complement one another and expressed excitement over their potential in his offense.
But while there have been flashes of chemistry, too much of this season has featured my-turn, your-turn performances. And the Bulls enter Tuesday's game in Memphis just 28-25 with Rose and Butler playing together.
With Rose officially listed as questionable with a left elbow injury, Butler could be running the show again, as he has the last 21/2 games with Rose sidelined. Even with Rose playing, it was Butler pointing Rose to flatten the defense and head to the corner as Butler sank the game-winner last Tuesday in Indianapolis.
"Yes and no," Butler said when asked if Rose sitting frees him to take control. "With Derrick out there, I get a couple more breaks so I'm not as gassed as much. Even when he is out there, I still have to be aggressive and make the right plays. Because on any given night, it could be him that's on a roll or it could be me."
Forget talk about whether the two like one another. Rose bought Butler an expensive watch before training camp started, his low-key nod to his respect and appreciation for Butler's ascension.
"I look at Jimmy like a little brother. I wish him nothing but the best," Rose told the Tribune in October. "I encourage him every time he's in the game and want him to have that confidence like he has."
Butler reached his breaking point on the subject during training camp.
"I'll try to keep my cuss words to a minimum, but it's making me mad," Butler told the Tribune in October. "I love having Derrick as a teammate. I think we can be one of the best -- if not the best -- backcourts in the NBA."
That's more the issue than whether Rose and Butler break bread together on the road, which they don't -- not out of animosity but just going separate ways. Butler typically travels with his trainers, relatives and friends. Rose mostly keeps to himself.
Rose has had to adjust his game because of not only three knee surgeries, but also Butler's rise. They have logged just 98 regular-season games together since Butler developed into an All-Star-level player.
"I don't think so," Hoiberg said when asked if it's better for Butler without Rose. "We've gone with Derrick to finish off some games and obviously Jimmy to close out a lot. When they have played together, it's basically whoever has the better matchup or whoever has it going. We're obviously a better team when Derrick is out there."
With Rose heading into a contract year, his chemistry with Butler will be an ongoing storyline moving into next season. That's unless management makes the bold decision to try to move one player. No signs have surfaced to this point that that route is in play.
The Bulls were fully prepared to draft a point guard last June before Bobby Portis unexpectedly slipped to them at No. 22. Those plans likely will be put back in motion this summer, either to safeguard against Rose's departure in 2017 free agency or perhaps to move Rose to off guard and Butler back to small forward.
Either way, there's only one basketball to share.
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
