The Bernstein Brief: Jimmy Butler Comment A Window Into Bulls' Issues

By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist

(CBS) Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg's offense includes what he calls "triggers" -- predetermined actions based on personnel and floor spacing that give the ball-handler specific options as he surveys defenders. Point guard Rajon Rondo will be in charge, usually.

But leave it to wing Jimmy Butler to remind us that any of that can be compromised by feelings, something that happened far too much on last year's petty and disjointed team. We saw turn-taking and freeze-outs more than the kind of free flow and efficiency of high-scoring teams, and Butler may now be telling us why.

"I feel like if you don't like a guy, you're not going to pass him the ball," Butler said.

So Hoiberg needs to understand that if the passes he's expecting aren't made, it might be due to some kind of resentment or jealousy or other relationship problem. It's not exactly what a pro coach wants to hear, because he might have assumed that players at this level have long been paid handsomely to set all that silliness aside when it comes time to follow instructions and do their respective jobs.

Butler wants the ball. Dwyane Wade wants the ball. Rondo will have the ball.

Consider this a "trigger warning," then. Potentially distressing content to follow.

Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter  @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.