March 26--Jimmy Butler isn't even listed on the Bulls' injury report for Saturday's game at Orlando, which underscores that the two-time All-Star received clearance from two doctors that there is nothing structurally wrong with his left knee.
The eye test, not to mention the statistical one, confirms that Butler hasn't been himself in his seven games since returning from missing 14 of 15 to an injury originally suffered on Feb. 5 in Denver.
Whether that's a mental or physical issue, only Butler knows.
But if he's headed toward offseason surgery, a possibility he didn't rule out in a Sun-Times story, that's news to those two doctors -- team physician Brian Cole and renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews -- as well as Butler's inner circle.
"There's no way he would be on the floor if there was anything (structurally) wrong," one member of Butler's camp said.
Butler is averaging 14.6 points on 38 percent shooting since Andrews confirmed the initial diagnosis of Cole, also a noted orthopedic surgeon, on March 10. Butler returned for the Toronto road game four days later.
Butler is averaging 5.7 free-throw attempts since his return, 1.9 less than his average, which ranks sixth in the NBA. And his lack of defensive thrust has been noticeable.
"It has nothing to do with the knee. My body's fine," Butler said Wednesday night, 24 hours before putting the knee back in play as an issue. "It's mental. I can't overthink it.
"I know how much work I put in. It's has to show sooner or later. I'm never going to say I'm not a confident player. I have to help this team win. Nobody is going to feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for myself. I'll be all right."
The Tribune previously reported that Andrews had the results of Butler's original MRI exam from the Bulls for weeks before Butler sought the in-person consultation because swelling and pain developed after he played in one game following an 11-game absence. Butler then missed three more games before returning for good.
During Butler's in-person consultation, Andrews didn't even feel the need to conduct his own MRI exam. According to a Bulls' statement from March 10, Andrews "gave a confirmatory opinion and supports the current management of Butler's condition."
Butler has cited Luol Deng as a mentor, and Deng's distrust of Bulls' management and medical staff after his spinal tap debacle that knocked Deng out of the 2013 playoffs has been well documented. It's certainly feasible that Butler sought Andrews' second opinion to soothe skepticism and achieve peace of mind.
"(The knee is) probably in the back of his mind a little bit," coach Fred Hoiberg admitted Thursday in New York. "I think the thing that gave him some reassurance was when he went down and saw Dr. Andrews and got a clean bill of health that everything was OK in there structurally. For him and all players, you're much better off if you're just reacting as opposed to thinking."
Slumps happen. Heck, the Bulls, who entering Friday trailed the Pistons by 11/2 games in the race for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot with 11 games remaining, are in one collectively.
And they could be without Pau Gasol again, who is questionable with swelling in his right knee.
Butler no longer has swelling in his left knee. What he does have is soul searching as he weighs issues both physical and mental.
He knows as well as anyone he has to play better if the Bulls are to avoid the embarrassment of missing the postseason.
"Everybody goes though this, has some tough games," Taj Gibson said. "Like I told him, 'Don't worry; you have to work your way out of it.' The NBA is about having a good rhythm to go out and make your normal shots. He just has to get back in the gym and work his way out of it. He'll be fine."
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
