Jimmy Butler collects first career triple-double in loss to Pistons
If two's a coincidence, three's a trend.
Jimmy Butler posted his third terrific performance against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, collecting 28 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists for the first triple-double of his career. However, like the previous two, Butler's gaudy stat line wasn't enough to lift Chicago over its division rivals, as the Bulls fell 94-90.
This is not to say that Butler has been a negative for the Bulls (Chicago is just 5-11 in his absence), but rather a microcosm of how their season has gone. Often, Butler has been forced to carry Chicago on both ends of the floor, failing to get the necessary help to lead the Bulls to victory.
Chicago's season can be best epitomized on Dec.18, when Butler scored a then-career high 43 points, only to see his Bulls lose to the Pistons in quadruple overtime.
Pau: "Jimmy was great; unfortunately we could not get the reward (to) go along with his triple double; he was all over the place."
— Sam Smith (@SamSmithHoops) April 3, 2016
Despite his personal success, the 26-year-old appears fully aware of his own flaws, stating earlier in the year that he needed to be a better leader for the Bulls to succeed. While injuries and a new system have played a large part in Chicago's struggles, it's also true that the best season of Butler's career has also been the Bulls' worst.
Whether they rely on Butler or a balanced attack down the stretch, Chicago (38-38) will need to put together a string of wins in its next six contests if the team has any hope of playing postseason basketball this spring.