A couple of the keys for the Chicago Bulls entering the season were for Jimmy Butler to continue his ascension into superstardom and for Derrick Rose to get back toward MVP form. Butler, despite some injuries, has certainly taken another step forward this season, while Rose may not be fully back to MVP form, but he had himself a pretty good season.
Even with those two things going right for the Bulls they will still be watching the playoffs from home, which is unfathomable considering how much talent this team has. Throughout the year many people have suggested an issue with the team is the chemistry between Rose and Butler. They both had good individual seasons, but it did not translate into team success.
Both players have avoided questions about the chemistry and have said that there are no chemistry issues between them. Earlier this week Butler said that he is sick of fielding questions about his chemistry with Rose and blames it on the fact that the team has been losing. Butler has said all along that this wouldn't be a story if the team was winning, and he may be right, but it is also possible that the team isn't winning because of this story.
While neither Rose nor Butler have been willing to acknowledge the chemistry issues, Fred Hoiberg might have done just that. The first-year head coach said that headed into next year he will consider staggering his two stars' minutes more so that they don't have as much time together on the court. This is likely a good idea basketball-wise, but it will only get the media to ask more questions which will frustrate Butler even more than he already is.
Before Butler emerged as the superstar he has become, Rose was the guy in Chicago. Rose's injury issues, though, allowed Butler to step in and take over as the guy. Now that both are healthy they both want to be the alpha male, and it just hasn't worked. Butler just signed a five-year deal before last season, and Rose is under contract for $20 million plus next season, so both should be back. Of course the Bulls could trade Butler, like has been rumored recently, but the likelihood is that both will be playing with the Bulls next season.
Both players will likely continue to start and finish games for the Bulls, but Hoiberg is likely thinking of ways to give one of them rest while the other is still on the floor. It's a smart idea by Hoiberg, so that whichever star is on the floor at any given time will be the featured player on offense, but the problem is that Butler plays so many minutes that Rose may not be afforded much on-court time with Butler on the bench. The plan to stagger minutes is good in theory, but it will be interesting to see how Hoiberg implements it next season.
