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You’d be hard pressed to find a Bulls fan whose heart cords haven’t been torn by the news that Tom Thibodeau and Derrick Rose will be reunited in New York soon after the Knicks traded for the former Bulls MVP.
Jimmy Butler had a moment of slight nostalgia when asked about the Thibodeau-Rose reunion after the Miami Heat’s win over the Knicks on Sunday.
“Thibs brings the group together!” Butler joked to reporters before laughing out loud. “He puts the band back together. They’re missing a few songs, but I think they’ll find out.”
What they have are Rose, Thibodeau and Taj Gibson after the Knicks signed waivers on the latter in January. Three essentials from the Bulls teams of the early 2010s that mark the franchise’s best success since the dynasty.
This line is unlikely to bring the magic of the Championship – or the playoffs – to Manhattan, but the Knicks ’11-14 record and Knicks’ sixth defense just over a quarter of the season exceeds the expectations of the pre-season. After playing under Thibodeau and with Rose for five years in Chicago and two-season games with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Butler is excited to see the tandem again.
Especially since the Knicks and Heat are closing a two-game mini-series at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday (although it would be a surprise if Rose was dressed).
“Thibs is a hell of a coach. I have so much respect for him. D-Rose is a hell of a player – then, and a hell of a player now,” said Butler. “He’s going to go with that winning mentality and keep playing like he’s played the last few years.
“It’s inspiring and it’s really, really impressive to watch. So I hope he (Rose) in the uniform that we play on Tuesday.”
RELATED: Tom Thibodeau & Derrick Rose Reunited For Third Time With Knicks Trade
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