Looking down the postseason road, Cole’s quickness and newfound offense could continue to come in handy against Memphis (Mike Conley, Jerryd Bayless), San Antonio (Tony Parker) or Golden State (Stephen Curry).
JIMMY BUTLER: Much has been made of Chicago’s courageous playoff run despite debilitating injuries to Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich. While many continue to marvel at Noah playing through plantar fasciaitis or Robinson returning to games after vomiting and taking stitches, the Bulls would be watching the playoffs without the indefatigable Butler.
Since Deng was sidelined with complications from a spinal tap for possible meningitis, Butler has played 223 of a possible 240 minutes, going all the way four times and averaging 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He was primarily responsible for neutralizing Joe Johnson in Chicago’s Game 7 road win over Brooklyn and has done a more than credible job in preventing Miami’s LeBron James from having an explosion game thus far.
ANDREW BOGUT: During the season, the Warriors were slightly better when Bogut played (19-13) than when he sat (28-22). But at 24 minutes per game, his impact was 
difficult to quantify, especially since he wasn’t entirely healthy and averaged a career-low 5.8 points per game.
Lee’s injury raised even more questions because Bogut had played just 68 minutes this season without Lee on the floor. And while Barnes has done a terrific job of compensating for Lee’s missing offense, Bogut has done just as well replacing Lee’s rebounding and facilitating.
In just 28.7 minutes, Bogut is averaging 11.8 boards, most among players still active in the postseason. He also is sixth in blocks at 1.8 per contest, helping limit Tim Duncan to 41 percent shooting and screening well for Golden State’s perimeter players while contributing 8.1 points.
TRIVIA: Including playoffs, LeBron James has played 887 career games and has been shut out in the first half just twice, both against the same team. Which team? Answer below.
THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT: During a late break in Saturday’s Grizzlies-Thunder game Saturday, a fan seated behind announcers Mark Jones and Jon Barry made repeated vulgar vagina signs with his mouth and hands.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Miami Heat superstar LeBron James, explaining why he didn’t retaliate when Chicago’s Nazr Mohammed shoved him to the floor:
“If I get kicked out and Nazr Mohammed gets kicked out at the same time, who wins?”
LINE OF THE WEEK: Klay Thompson, Golden State at San Antonio, May 8: 47 minutes, 13-26 FGs, 8-9 3-pointers, 0-0 FTs, 14 rebounds, one assist, three steals, one block, one turnover, 34 points in a 100-91 win. Thompson set career highs for both points and rebounds. His 29 points in the first half were the most ever in a half against the Spurs in a playoff game, breaking the mark shared by Kobe Bryant (2001), Kevin Durant (2012) and teammate Stephen Curry (Game 1).
LINE OF THE WEAK: Nick Collison, Oklahoma City vs. Memphis, May 7: 15 minutes, 0-1 FGs, 0-0 FTs, zero rebounds, one assist, zero steals, zero blocks, four turnovers, six fouls, zero points in a 99-93 loss. We don’t expect Collison to pick up the scoring slack for Russell Westbrook, but we do expect him to do the little things. In this game, he did next to nothing.