Feb. 14--Derrick Rose hasn't been to All-Star weekend since the 2012 game in Orlando, Fla., but his influence made it north of the border this year.
Jimmy Butler said Rose has been texting him support and sharing advice for Butler's left knee injury.
"Just to listen to my body. Don't come back too fast because you don't want to make it worse," Butler said when asked what Rose shared. "Obviously, he knows because he's had knee surgeries. He was just telling me, 'Look, make sure you're right because when you're not using something, something else shuts down and you don't want to get hurt doing that either.' He's been a big help, truthfully."
Surgery has been ruled out for Butler, who even took the court to make some casual passes to his East All-Star teammates during Saturday's lighthearted practice at Ricoh Coliseum. But Butler is walking with a slight limp and said he hasn't been cleared for conditioning work, though that could start next week.
The Bulls estimated Butler's absence at three to four weeks. Butler, who won't guess at his return date other than to say during the regular season, said he heard a "pop" in his knee capsule when he suffered the injury Feb. 5 in Denver.
"You can say I'm a hard worker and fast healer," Butler said. "I just try to come back early and deal with a little bit of pain. That's part of being part of a fast healer. Maybe you're not healed up all the way. But I want to come back as soon as possible and help my team win."
Butler said he's looking forward to playing with Rose. Their on-court compatibility, or lack thereof, has been a seasonlong storyline.
"We play together well," Butler said. "Everybody has their own opinions. But Derrick and I obviously have no problem with each other. He always has been in my corner."
Head honcho: In his annual address at All-Star weekend, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he's "beginning to feel a change needs to be made" regarding intentional fouling, the so-called "Hack-A-Shaq" strategy. He said data shows the practice is being used 5 1/2 times more this season over last. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has used it often.
However, two-thirds of owners must approve any rule change.
Silver also voiced support for an overseas All-Star game and said length of the preseason is being discussed with the players' association.
Layups: Butler declined to sing his favorite Taylor Swift song "Shake It Off" when asked about his fandom for Swift and country music during an interview broadcast on the video scoreboard above Saturday's practice. ... USA Basketball hasn't lost an international game since falling to Greece in the semifinals at the 2006 FIBA World Championships. In a surprise, Chris Paul referenced three with Bulls ties when asked about the strength of the current pool of available players for USA Basketball. "A lot of people couldn't name that (2006) team if you wanted to," Paul said of a roster that included him, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony and still lost. "We had Kirk Hinrich, Elton Brand, Brad Miller. Us losing, we got some grief. Us losing is why we haven't lost since."
