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Butler expects to see more point duty with Rondo shelved

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

The Chicago Bulls' received a sudden jolt Friday - that Rajon Rondo is out indefinitely with a fractured shooting thumb - which means a point guard-by-committee will be used for the foreseeable future.

While Jerian Grant will start Game 3 against the Boston Celtics with Michael Carter-Williams backing him up, other Bulls like Jimmy Butler know they'll be called upon as facilitators.

"I've been doing it all year," Butler said after shootaround Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.

While Rondo has been an unexpected revelation for the Bulls in two playoff games so far, his rocky regular season saw him outright benched in January and not brought back into the starting lineup until mid-March. The difference between regular-season Rondo and playoff Rondo has been staggering.

Rajon Rondo On Net Off Net
Regular season (69 games) -2.1 2
Playoffs (2 games) 14.6 -5.4

When Rondo was benched for four games between Dec. 31 and Jan. 7, Butler averaged 6.8 assists, all in wins.

"It's definitely a loss for all of us," Butler added. "But damn. I mean, we wish we had him, but we don't. There's not too much more to say."

Rondo's absence will also see Butler switched onto Isaiah Thomas more frequently. Thomas had an especially tough Game 2, and Rondo's defense was a major reason why. Still, Butler said before the series began that he looked forward to checking Thomas.

The Bulls will also activate reserve point guard Cameron Payne for Game 3. Payne hasn't played since April 6.

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