The Chicago Bulls have lost three consecutive games and are fading fast out of the playoff race. With just 10 games remaining on the schedule the Bulls are two games behind the Detroit Pistons for the eighth spot, and it is looking more and more likely that they will be on the outside looking in.
One of the major factors that has put the Bulls in this position is injuries. Chicago has had plenty of people hurt this year, but none of the injuries were more significant to the team than Jimmy Butler's when he hurt his knee. Butler missed 15 games over the last two months, but he has been able to play in the team's last eight contests.
Since Butler has returned to the lineup full-time he has clearly not been the same player. The two-time All-Star has said his knee still doesn't feel right, and because of that having offseason surgery is an option for him. The surgery reportedly being considered would be an exploratory procedure, and Butler has acknowledged it is an option but wouldn't commit to it.
Since coming back Butler has admitted several times that he doesn't feel the same as he did before the injury. At the same time, Butler has also said that he wants to play and that he needs to learn to play through the pain. Butler's numbers since coming back have backed up the notion that he is still hurt. Over his last three games he is averaging just 12.7 points on 42 percent shooting. For the full season he is averaging 21.3 points on 45 percent shooting. so clearly something is up.
While Butler has said previously that offseason surgery is a possibility he is leaning more towards not needing surgery. It is unclear exactly what type of procedure is being discussed here but if it is something minor it may be worth it for him to get to ensure that he is fully healthy for next season. If it is a major surgery and isn't 100 percent necessary than it would make sense for Butler to stay away.
No matter what Butler decides, these past couple of months have shown just how important to the Bulls he is. The 26-year-old guard hasn't been the only one to miss time, but when he isn't on the court the Bulls are a completely different team. The good news for the Bulls is that this stretch has clarified that Butler is worth all of the money they gave him. Another positive is that Butler is an extremely hard worker and is also very tough, so he isn't likely to become a major injury concern in the future.
