GET BACK ON DEFENSE
Bulls are desperately awaiting Butler’s return to rescue lost ‘D’
There’s very little Jimmy Butler hasn’t done for the Bulls the last two seasons. But can he be their savior?
While good friend/actor MarkWahlberg might have no problem casting Butler in that role, it won’t be as easy a sell for some of Butler’s teammates.
This season, he has gone from the building block of the future— signing a five-year deal as a free agent last summer— to promoting himself into a leading role in something of a hostile takeover. With veterans rolling their eyes and members of Derrick Rose’s camp less than thrilled about Butler’s ascension, the reality is the Bulls need him more than ever over the final 22 games.
Since Butler’s left knee went from sore to strained on Feb. 5, the Bulls have gone 3-8, falling to .500 and slipping out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. It’s foreign territory for some of them.
‘‘This is the first time I’ve gone through this,’’ Rose saidWednesday night after the Bulls’ 102-89 loss to the Orlando Magic.
If Butler is the star he believes he is, he’ll make sure the Bulls aren’t going through this much longer. His 22.4 points per game before his injury would be an obviously welcome addition, but his defense is essential, with opponents all but running layup lines on the Bulls lately.
Butler is considered one of the premier defenders, not just on his team but in the NBA.
‘‘Teams come in and see us struggling— they know we’re struggling, and they see opportunity,’’ center Pau Gasol said. ‘‘They’re smelling blood, and they’re going for it. It doesn’t make things any easier, but at the same time, we’ve got to step it up.’’
While there was resistance to Butler as a leader at the start of the season, only the coaching staff has been vocal toward the locker room in his absence. Gasol said there have been no player-only meetings and no tirades from anyone in the last month.
‘‘I think the coaching staff is trying to send those messages as we try and acknowledge them and understand them,’’ Gasol said. ‘‘But at the same time, you’ve got to bring it on the floor and make it happen.’’
No one is better equipped for that than Butler. Coach Fred Hoiberg said the plan was to have him in the Bulls’ full practice Friday, see how he feels afterward and possibly play him against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at the United Center.
If his return can save a sinking ship, he’ll have backed up his tough leader talk with action. If the Bulls fall short of the playoffs with him, Butler should be at the front of a long line of players looking in the mirror.
Leadership comes with a price that, one way or the other, he’s about to find out.
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