

THE CONTEXT

There were few backcourt pairings that were more talented than Butler and Rose, and a team should benefit from having two guys who can handle the ball and make plays. When the initial action doesn't go anywhere, the second guy can attack the rotating, weak-side defense.

But Butler and Rose were never able to make each other better. In each of the last two seasons, the Bulls were much better with just one of the two on the floor than with both.

Last season, even with much higher usage rates playing without the other, both players were more efficient when the other was on the bench. Butler had a true shooting percentage of 57.5 percent with Rose on the bench and 55.3 percent with Rose on the floor. Rose, meanwhile, had a true shooting percentage of 51.8 percent with Butler on the bench and 46.2 percent with Butler on the floor.