The Chicago Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, putting them one victory away from qualifying for the NBA Playoffs. It was an amazing performance. Following up on a fantastic performance by Bulls standout Coby White, he and his group discussed their upcoming opponent, the Miami Heat, who will probably be missing Jimmy Butler.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Butler sustained an injury near the conclusion of the first quarter during the Heat’s Wednesday loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. It is thought to be an MCL injury, and the star player may miss several weeks of action. But, it’s crucial to note that the report—rather than the actual findings—is what people are afraid of, as Butler is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday at 3:30, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
In any case, Bulls supporters shouldn’t get too enthused about their team’s prospects of defeating Miami because they have overcome similar obstacles in the past. The same would be said by White regarding their next opponents, citing the team’s renowned “culture” and stating that, in Butler’s absence, they will “play hard” and “they always keep coming and bringing energy,” via NBC Sports Chicago.
“They have a culture,” White said. “Whoever steps up in his spot, they’re not going to bring everything he does because he’s an All-Star. But Miami is one of those teams that when you play them, you know what to expect. They play hard. They play physical. They don’t quit. They always keep coming and bringing energy.”
White was not the only player that talked highly of the Heat as Bulls star Ayo Dosunmu brought up the style of play they embrace which is mucking up the game and making it physical. He scored 19 points in the win as he brought up the potential full circle moment as Miami beat Chicago last season in the second play-in game.
“We know what they do,” Dosunmu said. “We know how physical the play. Both teams are hungry for a spot in the playoffs. We know last year we came up short. Now we have another opportunity. We’re going to embrace that and try to make that happen.”
There’s no doubt that Butler is a highly respected player in the NBA as even Bulls star DeMar DeRozan said that “it sucks to see anybody get hurt.” The 34-year old scored 22 points, recorded nine assists, and collected six rebounds in the play-in game win where the team is trying to get the eighth seed.
The Bulls are also dealing with the possible absence of Alex Caruso, while the Heat are coping with injuries to Butler and even point guard Terry Rozier, who has missed the last five games. Following the game, Caruso commended Butler’s competitiveness, saying they were in much the same boat.
Leave a Reply