BUTLER THRILLED WITH HOW WELL TEAM HAS MESHED
Butler says players’ work ethic, chemistry should keep Bulls on winning track
Bulls star Jimmy Butler’s work ethic is now his teammates’ work ethic.
That hasn’t always been the case and definitely wasn’t last season, which featured dysfunction on and off the court.
Butler proudly pointed out all the Bulls still in the gym Tuesday after practice, working on their shots or taking part in a three- point contest.
‘‘ I think of it like this: I don’t see what else you have to do all day,’’ Butler said. ‘‘ Like, the job that we have is incredibly lenient. Like, you practice for an hour and a half, what do you do the rest of your day? Why don’t you come in here and work on your game? Shoot? Watch some film? All you’re going to do is sit at home and play some video games on your phone anyway.
‘‘ But these guys are buying into that, which is great. And when you fall in love with the process, you find out that your confidence only comes from the work anyway.’’
That’s all Butler wanted from the Bulls last season. He wanted the veterans to buy in, and if that meant following his lead— whether they liked it or not— so be it.
It turns out the ‘‘ not’’ won. Then came the frustration and fingerpointing.
That is all gone this season. Like Butler, guards Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade are workers. So while the Bulls started to fade last season, Butler thinks this team will be immune to that type of nosedive.
‘‘ I know what I think we’re going to continue to do,’’ Butler said. ‘‘ I think we’re going to continue to win games. We’re practicing extremely well right now, and the saying goes that if you’re practicing the way you play . . . I think we we’re going to win.’’
December will test that, especially the first week. Yes, the circus trip is behind the Bulls, but they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday before kicking off a stretch of four games in five nights
by hosting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
What Butler is banking on is that the chemistry the Bulls have built so far carries weight.
‘‘ As much as you see guys around each other, you’d think we live in a dorm together,’’ Butler said. ‘‘ We all leave the building at the same time. We all eat together or are at somebody else’s house. You would think, good or bad, that we are a college team. . . . There’s something about this group of guys that we always want to be around each other.
‘‘ We realize we’re all we have when we step out onto the United Center floor or an away game. It’s us, these coaches, this organization.’’
It’s a nice sentiment, but Butler also knows winning is what matters. And up to now, the Bulls are 10- 6.
By comparison, they were 11- 5 in their first 16 games last season and 22- 12 through Jan. 7. But as the chemistry wilted, so did the winning.
‘‘ I told y’all that all last year,’’ Butler said. ‘‘ It’s all fine and dandy when you’re winning. You lose a couple of games, it seems everything goes to [ bleep].’’
NOTE: Coach Fred Hoiberg said forward DougMcDermott ( concussion) still hasn’t been cleared for contact. His timetable for that next stage is still day- to- day. Follow me on Twitter @ suntimes_ hoops.