WELL, THAT’S SWELL
ROSE PICKSUPSLACKASBUTLERSITSWITHINJURED LEFTKNEE
Coach Fred Hoiberg has admitted to peeking ahead.
Not far enough to recite the remaining 20 games on the regularseason schedule, but he knows that if each game isn’t met with a certain urgency, 20 games is all his team will have left.
“Right now, the way we’re looking at it, it’s a one- game playoff series,’’ Hoiberg said of each game.
Starting with the one Monday at the United Center against the Milwaukee Bucks, which the shorthanded Bulls won 100- 90.
After declaring the Bulls were healthy after the morning shootaround, Hoiberg announced before the game that Jimmy Butler was out with swelling in his left knee. Not the best of news, especially after Butler had just returned after missing 11 games.
“Obviously, there’s concern,’’ Hoiberg said. “Jimmy is a warrior. He’s going to play through anything.
“We’ve had the last month playing without Jimmy. With Jimmy and Joakim [ Noah] out of the lineup, we’ve obviously struggled at the defensive end.’’
Check that: Without Butler, the Bulls ( 32- 30) have struggled on both ends.
They were able to get by the Bucks, but in the 11 games Butler missed with the knee strain, the Bulls were 3- 8.
With Butler, their best allaround player, headed for further testing the next few days, the Bulls have games coming up against the San Antonio Spurs ( road), Miami Heat ( home), Toronto Raptors ( road) and Washington Wizards ( road).
Meanwhile, almost lost in all the Butler injury talk is how the organization has done a 180 on the injuries narrative.
The front office used back channels to build their case in the eventual firing of former coach Tom Thibodeau by making it known that his supposed heavy minutes led to a lot of the injury problems plaguing the team.
If Thibodeau had played Butler 34 minutes in his first game in more than a month like he was cleared to play Saturday against the Houston Rockets, he would’ve been crucified.
Instead, the numerous injuries this season have been attributed to bad luck. Bad luck that isn’t going away. Besides Butler’s absence, Aaron Brooks ( right patellar tendinitis) and Bobby Portis ( left orbital bruise) were knocked out of the game and did not return.
“Just being tough,’’ Taj Gibson said of yet another short- handed victory. “Just having the will to win. Guys have been battle- tested. Even in those games where we got beat up a lot and took a lot of tough [ losses].
‘‘ Everybody has to do whatever it takes to get the win. Get the loose balls, just be scrappy. Any small little play can help you go far and help you win games.’’
Not that the Bucks offered much resistance. Pau Gasol had his second triple- double of the season ( 12 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists), and Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 22 points and shot 9- for- 18 from the field.
Hoiberg was more impressed with the Bulls’ quick start for a second consecutive game. They outscored the Bucks 25- 16 in the first quarter.
“We came out of the gate with the right mentality, especially holding them to 16 in the first quarter,’’ Hoiberg said. “That was a big emphasis in this one, getting off to a fast start.’’