Butler starts for Deng, who sits out vs. Grizzlies
Forward Luol Deng sat out the game Saturday against the Grizzlies with a right hamstring injury.
Deng originally injured the hamstring in the victory Wednesday over the Raptors. He tried to play despite the injury Friday in the Bulls’ overtime win in Boston but had only three points on 1-for-6 shooting before leaving in the third quarter.
Perhaps to honor the Blackhawks’ season opener earlier in the day, coach Tom Thibodeau was even more vague than usual when asked for a specific diagnosis. He wasn’t forthcoming when asked about the severity of the injury to his team’s leading scorer and one of its most versatile defenders.
“Day-to-day,” he growled. “Lower body.”
Jimmy Butler made his first career start in Deng’s absence.
The former Marquette standout played sparingly as a rookie last season but has slowly gained Thibodeau’s trust. He was averaging 5.4 points in 17.2 minutes.
“Jimmy has shown good, steady progress,” Thibodeau said. “He continues to improve. He has played at critical moments this year. He has been given extended minutes, and whenever he’s been given extended minutes, he has played well.”
Thibodeau said Deng’s hamstring had improved since Friday night and that he had not undergone an MRI.
Thibodeau is impressed with what he has seen from former Crane standout Tony Allen.
The two know each other well. Allen spent the first six years of his career in Boston, where Thibodeau was an assistant under Doc Rivers.
The eight-year veteran has played a significant role in Memphis allowing the second-fewest points in the league.
“Tony Allen is one of those guys under the radar, a great player who impacts the game with his defense, his hustle and his energy,” Thibodeau said.
When asked where he would like to see his team improve most, Thibodeau gave a very Thibs-like answer.
“There’s nothing we’re perfect in,” he said. “We have to take care of the ball. We need to do a better job in that area. And we have to play for a full 48 minutes. You can’t have lulls.”
When Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins was asked how his team has “evolved” while going 11-10 after a 14-3 start, he seemed to take offense.
“It has evolved into we have the best record we’ve ever had as a franchise,” he said. “We’re 25-13, fourth in the West. I think it has evolved pretty good.”