© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Two reasons to watch the NBA Finals if you're a Chicago Bulls fan
By the time the NBA Finals tip off on Thursday, the Chicago Bulls have long been eliminated from title contention after they were defeated by the Miami Heat in the NBA Play-In Tournament. But that doesn't mean a Bulls fan can't enjoy the drama and excitement of this year's championship series. Here are two reasons why Chicago Bulls fans should tune in to the action:
Jimmy Buckets
It's hard not to root for the underdog, and it just so happens that the Miami Heat has the ultimate one in Jimmy Butler. As the final first-round pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, the cagey veteran wingman has turned from a rarely-used reserve to one of the pre-eminent two-way players in the NBA today.
After toppling the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, Butler and the Heat continued on their rampage, defeating the New York Knicks in the second round before outlasting the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Butler is averaging 28.5 points, 7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 17 games so far in this year's playoffs.
Max Strus
Another former Bull, Max Strus has worked his way into an important role for the Heat, thanks to his dead-eye shooting and gritty defense. A local high school star at Amos Alonzo Stagg, Strus went on to play for DePaul before signing a two-way contract with the Bulls in 2019. However, Strus tore his ACL while playing in the G League and soon made his way to the Heat, where he's now the starting small forward and averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 boards in this season's playoffs.
