Butler vows to step up in Game 6 for Bulls
Bulls forward Jimmy Butler was slightly defiant after Wednesday's practice, a day before facing Milwaukee in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.
One question began with the qualifier, "As much as you like Milwaukee ...," which seemed reasonable since Butler spent three years at Marquette and the Bradley Center.
"As much as who likes Milwaukee?" Butler responded.
Uh, you?
"Nah, I like it because I went to school there," he said. "Other than that I just go and visit my few people, go eat some breakfast and stay in my room. My brothers are coming up to kick it with me, so we'll have fun in the hotel."
OK, then what about some of the Bucks suggesting Butler and Derrick Rose seemed tired at the end of Game 5? Butler played 46½ minutes and Rose played 42½ Monday.
"They don't know how I feel," Butler said. "They're not in my skin or my shoes. I'm in great enough shape where I can handle the heavy minutes. I never complain. And I've got to produce, heavy minutes or not. I've got to make shots, make plays happen."
Maybe that's the right attitude for the Bulls going into Game 6. After jumping out to a 3-0 series lead, they've dropped two in a row. If they don't end the series Thursday, they will face Game 7 Saturday at the United Center.
No team in NBA history has rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series. There have been three that came back to tie a series, then lost Game 7. So one potential storyline is the pressure closing in on the Bulls against a young Bucks squad with nothing to lose.
"It's basketball. It's what we love to do," Butler said. "Obviously we want to end the series. We can't sit here and keep saying that. We've got to make it happen.
"We don't want to make history in the wrong way. But I think we'll be fine. If we take it one game at a time, don't look forward to the next series or don't look forward to a Game 7, we're fine."
There was a focus on Butler and Rose after Monday's 94-88 loss in Game 5 because they shot a combined 10-for-41 from the field, while Bucks guards Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton led their team in scoring.
All things considered, Butler has been terrific in this series. Over the first four games, he averaged 28.3 points while shooting 54 percent from the field. Rose was good, too, averaging 21.5 points and 7.5 assists in the first four games.
It safe to say Butler and Rose must play better for the Bulls to finish off the Bucks. Regardless of whether this series ends in six or seven games, Round 2 begins Monday in Cleveland.
"I'm not the type of player that should shoot 5-for-20," Butler said. "I have to be a better leader. I think I'm shying back on some aspects of the game. I'm in a completely different role than I was the last few years. I think this team looks to me to score, facilitate and to lead. Emotionally and mentally. And I didn't do that. And it will change."
Milwaukee's Jared Dudley talked after Game 5 about the Bulls wearing down in the fourth. None of the Bucks played 38 minutes Monday.
"Defensively, I'm not saying we figured them out, I wouldn't go that far, but we're very confident of slowing them down and playing good enough defense to win the game," Dudley said. "We're not as talented (as the Bulls). We don't have a three-headed monster. We have to muck the game up, get physical."
The Bucks' top three scorers - Middleton, Carter-Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo - made their NBA playoff debuts in Game 1. With Milwaukee's confidence brewing, finishing off the series figures to only get tougher for the Bulls.
Bulls: Round 2 begins Monday in Cleveland