Dwyane Wade Compares Jimmy Butler to LeBron James After Game 1 vs. Celtics

Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler thrived in Sunday's 106-102 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the teams' first-round playoff series, and teammate Dwyane Wade compared Butler to one of the all-time greats in LeBron James on Monday, per Nick Friedell of ESPN.com.I had the luxury of playing with a guy named LeBron. And we did the same thing when we played -- to Derrick Rose. You have a point guard who guards him but when you need a guy who's longer, who's just as fast, and all those things, it helps. It gives them a different look, it kind of throws off things. You're not going to slow down Isaiah Thomas from getting the looks and getting opportunities. The guy can score as good as anybody in this game. But just to give them a different look, if you get their offense out a little further, if it takes a little bit more time off the clock, all those things help. It's good to be able to have a guy like that to say, "get us 30, and then go guard the guy that's got 30."Butler finished with 30 points and nine rebounds to go along with his strong defense on Thomas down the stretch.Thomas scored 33 points and dished out six assists, but Chicago switched Butler on him with the game hanging in the balance in the final quarter. Mark Strotman of CSN Chicago highlighted how effective the three-time All-Defensive team member was against the point guard:Wade referenced the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, which are likely still a sore spot for plenty of Bulls fans. The Bulls had Derrick Rose in his league MVP season, but James consistently thwarted Rose's efforts in the closing moments of gamesmuch like Butler did to Thomas on Sundayand the Miami Heat won the series 4-1.On the surface, it may seem like basketball blasphemy to compare Butlerwho has never been past the second round of the playoffsto a three-time champion like James, but Wade has played with both. He also compared Butler to other players such as Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green who impact the game on both ends of the floor, so the parallel was not about legacy.If Butler continues to perform like he did in Game 1, his No. 8-seeded Bulls will have a golden opportunity to upset the No. 1-seeded Celtics. For more news, rumors and related stories about Jimmy Butler, the Chicago Bulls and the NBA, check out the NBA and Bulls streams on Bleacher Report's app.
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