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Jimmy Butler and the Chicago Bulls will take on a tall task on Sunday, tipping off their best-of-seven matchup with Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics.
Butler is particularly eager to test his defensive mettle against the third-leading scorer in the league. Thomas is also proven to be the most lethal player in the fourth quarter, hovering around 10 points per game during crunch time.
“I look forward to that matchup,” Butler told ESPN's Nick Friedell after Friday's practice. “Especially what he's done this year for that team. I know that it's going to come at some point in time. I don't know when — but I'm going to make it tough for him.”
“For anybody that I'm guarding. Not just me, it's going to be a team effort. I'm going to get beat at times, I'm going to need guys to be there. If not, then we'll do it over and over again 'til somebody is there if I'm beat. But I look forward to that challenge. I want that.”
There's a vast size 10-inch difference between Butler and Thomas, but the latter has the uncanny ability to separate and create his own shot in the most dire of circumstances — making him a tough defensive assignment regardless of who is in front of him.
Thomas' knack for drawing fouls also can't fly under the radar: he's getting to the line 8.5 times per game and knocking down free throws at a 90.9 percent clip this season.
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Butler, an elite defender in his own right, was ultimately complementary of his first-round rival and has no intentions of underestimating him in a one-on-one scenario.
“He's been that height for a long time now, so he's mastered it,” Butler said of the 5-foot-9 dynamo. “He's really good at what he does. Coming off, pulling up, shooting shots. Getting to the rim, getting to the free throw line. 5-8, 6-8, whatever it is, the guy knows how to put the ball in the basket.”
While he likely won't be tasked with guarding Thomas through the majority of the game, the two will certainly meet through phases of the game — moment that the Bulls All-Star is embracing wholeheartedly, without forgetting there are capable pieces around him as well.
“He's a big part to what they do,” Butler said of Thomas. “We all know that. I think they know that. But you can't take him out the game and think that you can win. Because they got a lot of other really good players, role players that make shots, create for others. They guard, they rebound, pass the ball. They got a really good team. They're really good at what they do.”
