Efficiency Top Of Mind For Butler After Bulls' Addition Of Wade, Rondo
By Cody Westerlund--
CHICAGO (CBS) – Hanging around the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and other stars on USA Basketball as they train for the Rio Olympics, Bulls wing Jimmy Butler has taken a few mental notes. Among them: their focus on being productive with every possession.
"Watching these guys go at it every day in practice, I've picked up how efficient you've got to be," Butler said. "It's working on this move, this move, this move – that's what you want to be comfortable with."
Efficiency is as good of a theme as any for Butler to take into the upcoming season. After the additions of point guard Rajon Rondo and shooting guard Dwyane Wade in free agency, the Bulls have a trio of ball-dominant playmakers who aren't afraid to speak their minds either. As the team's best player and leader of the "three alphas" – Rondo's term – Butler will still get plenty of touches, but he might not get the ball on command.
So making the most of every possession when he's the central focus should be top of mind. In 2015-'16, that was the Bulls' collective downfall. Coach Fred Hoiberg was hired to bring his pace-and-space offense to Chicago, but it faltered as the Bulls ranked 23rd in the NBA in offensive efficiency. Butler averaged 20.9 points on 45.4 percent shooting with a player efficiency rating of 21.33, which was 28th in the NBA.
Rondo, Wade and Butler are each subpar 3-point shooters in their careers, so concerns persist. Those come to the chagrin of Butler, who doesn't care about the how as much as the end result.
"D-Wade has put the ball in the basket for a numerous amount of years," Butler said Thursday before a Team USA practice at the United Center. "He's a great player because of the way he scores the ball, obviously. I don't think you can call him a non-shooter, because he can definitely shoot the ball. Rondo, call him what you want, but he's effective at what he does. Same with myself. You can say we got to be able to knock down the open shot, but I think most definitely (we can).
"As long as I put the ball in the basket, I don't think it matters if it's from the outside or in the paint – as long as I'm productive or efficient whenever I do so."
Having played and won two championships with LeBron James and Chris Bosh on the Heat, Wade is no stranger to the puzzle of divvying up possessions among three strong playmakers. It did take a season and devastating NBA Finals setback, but the Heat eventually figured it out. That was in large part to the direction of coach Erik Spoelstra, who in a move that doesn't get the credit it deserves sold James, Wade and Bosh on the idea of valuing efficiency over point totals.
On a lower-profile scale, Hoiberg will have a similar challenge. One person who believes it can work is Hoiberg's predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, now the president/coach of the Timberwolves.
"You're talking about three guys that are going to add a lot in terms of experience, intelligence and having been in big-game situations," said Thibodeau, a Team USA assistant. "I think when you add that to the mix – great players always figure out how to play with each other. They're going to be very difficult to match up with."
Butler and Thibodeau remain close, with Butler on Thursday acknowledging his "love and respect" for Thibodeau in helping push his career to this point – two-time All-Star, leader of the Bulls and an Olympian. That said, Thibodeau did mention the addition of Wade and Rondo will change the equation for Butler.
"This is good for Jimmy because it'll be about how quickly can you adapt?" Thibodeau said. "And Jimmy's a very bright guy, and I think having Dwyane will be a big plus for them along with Rajon. Jimmy can fit into any situation. He's got the ability to make other people better. He knows how to fit in. He knows how to play to strengths. He understands the game. He knows how to play off people. He knows how to make plays for people. I think Jimmy won't have any problems with that."
In Las Vegas recently, Butler made clear he's "still going to be the player I am." He views himself as the best player on the team, but he also believes he has much to learn from Wade and Rondo, both of whom have won championships.
"I have to catch up to them, so to speak, in that aspect of it," Butler said. "With their winning mentality, I think I can learn a lot from those guys and what it takes to win each and every day. Obviously, D-Wade with multiple championships and Rondo bringing in his intensity, that's something I need to get better at. Those two guys can show me."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. He's also the co-host of the @LockedOnBulls podcast, which you can subscribe to on iTunes and Stitcher. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.