In preseason win, Jimmy Butler scores 23 points in 25 minutes
Here’s the Bulls.com blog reporting on the squad as they learn to play under new head coach Fred Hoiberg:
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No one called it Freddie-ball yet. But the Bulls Tuesday seemed to be having a ball in a 105-95 preseason opening win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
“You’ve got the freedom to shoot it when you are open,” said Jimmy Butler, who had 23 points in 25 minutes and was matched by Doug McDermott with 23 points, McDermott’s all after halftime. Nikola Mirotic added 18 points as the Bulls were 13 for 39 on threes, more threes attempted than in any game last season. The Bulls also attempted 99 shots, just short of last season’s most, which Tuesday was 22 more than Milwaukee’s as the Bulls dominated the backboards even with their perimeter emphasis and had 24 offensive rebounds.
The shots were quick and frequent as the Bulls scored 68 second half points to pull away even with Derrick Rose, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson and Kirk Hinrich all out with injuries or rest.
“The second half I thought we got out and moved it,” said coach Fred Hoiberg. “I thought we rebounded the ball extremely well. Anytime we can get it off the glass and push it down the floor generally good things happen. We gave up too many transition points (22-14 Bucks fast break edge). Overall, first game especially, that second half I liked what I saw.”
