Chicago Bulls: Detroit Game Perfect Opportunity to See More Jimmy Butler

After a beyond-lackluster performance in Atlanta Saturday night, the Chicago Bulls are looking to get back to their winning ways at home against the Detroit Pistons.

This game is the first of a three-night consecutive stint that is bound to push the Bulls to their conditioning limit.

Looking back on the loss in Atlanta, there aren't many positives the Bulls can take away, except for the exception of the performance of rookie guard/forward Jimmy Butler.

Butler made the most of his playing time in Philips Arena, scoring twelve points in twelve minutes on 3-3 shooting from the field and 6-6 from the charity stripe.

If there were ever a time to see exactly what this kid is capable of, it would be against the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit is still looking for their team identity, and at 2-6, they don’t seem to be finding it.

They are on a three-game losing streak, their starting point guard Rodney Stuckey is nursing a sore groin and versatile big man Charlie Villanueva has a sore ankle. Detroit is vastly undermanned.

The fact that Chicago thoroughly trounced Detroit last week, coupled with the Pistons being short on players, opens up a grand opportunity to give Jimmy Butler some extended time on the floor.

When the Chicago Bulls selected Butler as the 30^th pick last year, they were hoping they had found another late-round steal much like they did with Taj Gibson back in 2009. Given his performance in the preseason and the flash he showed against Atlanta, it certainly looks like the Chicago Bulls franchise found another gem.

It would be great to see Coach Thibodeau use Butler more against the Pistons. And not even in the garbage minutes capacity. Thibs should put Butler in early and let him get a real taste of what NBA basketball is all about.

Let the kid run the floor and play some defense. Put the ball in his hands and see what kinds of decisions he makes. Call sets for him and see how he handles the regular season spotlight.

With Hamilton being day-to-day with a groin injury of his own and with Thibodeau taking a little heat in the court of public opinion for his managing of Rose and Deng’s playing time, Jimmy Butler is the perfect remedy for both roster maladies.

Given the caliber of opponents in the Detroit Pistons, the risk of playing Butler is minimal in terms of adversely affecting a chance for a win.

It goes without saying that Jimmy Butler is part of the long-term vision of the Chicago Bulls’ continuing success, so let’s see what he is really capable of.