March 15--Jimmy Butler is back from his left knee injury for the Bulls and is in the starting lineup for Monday night's game in Toronto, the site of his franchise-record, 40-point second half on Jan. 3.
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about," a playful Butler said following the morning shootaround at Air Canada Centre. "I don't even remember it."
The Bulls may need amnesia, too, to forget all the injuries they're experiencing. Pau Gasol remained in Chicago to get treatment on his swollen right knee, which coach Fred Hoiberg said improved overnight. Mike Dunleavy missed the shootaround because of a stomach virus and spent pregame resting on the trainer's table. Derrick Rose participated in most of shootaround but missed his second straight game with a sore left groin.
Returning Butler is a start for a team fighting just to make the playoffs after lofty preseason expectations. Butler has missed the last three games and 14 of the last 15 with a left knee injury that he originally suffered on Feb. 5 in Denver.
Butler spoke for the first time since traveling to Pensacola, Fla., to get a second opinion from noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews on his nagging injury.
"I was worried. But not too worried because it didn't hurt as bad as Feb. 5, back in the day," Butler said about the flare-up after playing against Houston. "Yeah, I was nervous. But I gotta get over that now. I think we have a couple games we have to win. How many we got left, 18, 19? We need all 18 of these."
Hoiberg said Butler is "on a plan" for his playing time but wouldn't reveal what it is or if Butler is under a minutes restriction.
"I think that that's on them to try to trick me into thinking that I'm playing more than I really am," Butler said, smiling. "If I know that I want to play, there's ways to disguise it. I think they'll do a great job of that and keep me focused in the game and not worry about how many minutes I'm playing. While I'm out there, I have to be as productive as possible on both ends, no matter if it's 48 minutes, 38 minutes. Hopefully it's not eight minutes though."
It won't be that low.
Nikola Mirotic worked with the starters at the shootaround in Gasol's absence and started up front with Taj Gibson. E'Twaun Moore, Justin Holiday and Butler rounded out the lineup.
The Bulls have defeated the Raptors three times this season and eight straight overall.
"I hope so," Butler said, when asked if he feels the issue is behind him. "I need it to be. Because I think my team needs me to get us into the playoffs.
"I gotta do whatever it takes to help my team win. I let the coaches know that. I let Gar and Pax (executives Gar Forman and John Paxson) know that. If I'm stepping out on that floor, I'm giving my all for as long as my team needs me."
