The Chicago Bulls were feeling good. The team was coming off a dominating performance against the Houston Rockets that saw both Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic return from injuries. With every game a playoff game for Chicago as it sit sin the No.8 spot in the standings, the team looked poised for a second-half run. However, that hope was weakened on Monday after Butler sat out the win against the Milwaukee Bucks with more knee problems.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg told the media that Butler had developed swelling in his knee after Sunday's practice and they deemed him not healthy enough to play on Monday. Butler had just returned to the lineup after suffering a knee strain on Feb. 5. Hoiberg said the shooting guard will undergo more treatment, and the team would take things from there, but they did not want to rush his return.
"Obviously, there's concern," Hoiberg said. "Jimmy's a warrior. He's going to try to play through anything. He just developed swelling around that knee, and he's got a lot of soreness in there. So [it's] just too early to tell how long this one will be. He's optimistic he'll be back soon in talking to him, and I'll never doubt him."
Injuries have been a huge issue for the Bulls all season. Joakim Noah has been lost for the year with a shoulder injury. Mirotic missed time for an appendectomy. Derrick Rose has been in and out of the lineup. Taj Gibson is dealing with a hamstring problem. Butler's re-injury is the latest setback for the team aiming to make the playoffs. Getting the swingman healthy will be the X-factor in determining how the Bulls finish out the season as Rose made it clear that Butler provides a needed spark.
"It's huge," Rose said. "Whenever he's got the ball, you got to stick both of us. It's hard to pay attention to both of us when we're on the court. And we get to catch the ball with a live dribble so that helps the team out a lot."
Until Butler is back, the Bulls will continue to make changes to their rotation. E'Twaun Moore is the favored starter when Butler is out. Justin Holiday and Tony Snell are fighting for time on the court while Aaron Brooks is seeing more playing time as well. This will continue as injuries remain an issue for Chicago. While no one is laughing at the Bulls' bad luck, Mike Dunleavy is trying to keep positive about the situation.
"At this point, it's borderline comical," Dunleavy said. "We just can't stay healthy for whatever reason. It's unfortunate. It's disappointing, but it is what it is. So we got to continue to battle with who's out there, and we will."
