Jimmy Butler downplays Friday's Timberwolves
Zach LaVine
Jimmy Butler told reporters after the Timberwolves’ loss in overtime Wednesday in Cleveland that Friday night will be just another game.  Zach LaVine  doesn’t agree.
“Of course it means a little bit extra ”  LaVine  said.
 LaVine   along with Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen  is one of the faces of the Bulls’ rebuild. Butler  with his indefatigable  two-way  All-Star talent  is the piece that has pushed the Timberwolves into playoff contention  which would end a 13-season drought.
“I didn’t care ”  LaVine  said about the widespread public reaction. “I know what I can do and what I bring to the table. So I hold up my end of the bargain and public eye doesn’t really affect real basketball people.
“I’m going to be  the best Zach LaVine ; that’s who I am. I’m not here to replace anybody but to become the next young guy for the Chicago Bulls  work my butt off and take this back to where it should be. You can’t replace a guy when you’re not that person. I’m  Zach LaVine . I’m going to play like me  act like me. That’s just how I carry myself.”
 LaVine  had nothing but positive memories from  his  time and relationships formed with the Timberwolves. Former teammates like Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins reached out to  him  when  he  returned from ACL rehab. And  he  still remembers the late Flip Saunders handing  him  a slip of paper to emphasize the bond  he  would be a part of as the team’s young core.
Until  he  wasn’t.
Jimmy Butler told reporters after the Timberwolves’ loss in overtime Wednesday in Cleveland that Friday night will be just another game.  [TGT]  doesn’t agree.
“Of course it means a little bit extra ”  [TGT]said.
 [TGT]along with Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen  is one of the faces of the Bulls’ rebuild. Butler  with [TGT] indefatigable  two-way  All-Star talent  is the piece that has pushed the Timberwolves into playoff contention  which would end a 13-season drought.
“I didn’t care ”  [TGT]said about the widespread public reaction. “I know what I can do and what I bring to the table. So I hold up my end of the bargain and public eye doesn’t really affect real basketball people.
“I’m going to be  [TGT] ; that’s who I am. I’m not here to replace anybody but to become the next young guy for the Chicago Bulls  work my butt off and take this back to where it should be. You can’t replace a guy when you’re not that person. I’m  [TGT] . I’m going to play like me  act like [TGT]. That’s just how I carry myself.”
 [TGT]had nothing but positive memories from  [TGT]  time and relationships formed with the Timberwolves. Former teammates like Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins reached out to  him  when  he  returned from ACL rehab. And  he  still remembers the late Flip Saunders handing  him  a slip of paper to emphasize the bond  he  would be a part of as the team’s young core.
Until  he  wasn’t.