Fansided

Bulls’ Jimmy Butler will return Monday vs. Toronto Raptors

By John Buhler

Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 120-93. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 120-93. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmy Butler will make his return to the court for the Chicago Bulls Monday versus the Toronto Raptors after dealing with a month-long left knee strain.

All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune that he will play Monday night versus the Toronto Raptors after missing 14 of the last 15 games for the Bulls because of a left knee strain he suffered on February 5th against the Denver Nuggets in the Pepsi Center.

Butler has been the Bulls’ best player the last two seasons and his team has fallen on hard times since his knee strain. Chicago has dropped to .500 at 32-32 entering play Monday night and would be out of the Eastern Conference Playoffs if the season ended on March 14th.

Chicago enters play Monday night against the No. 2 seeded Toronto Raptors in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has won three straight, are 44-20 leading the Atlantic Division, and are an impressive 26-7 at the Air Canada Centre. Chicago is ninth in the East, fourth in the Central Division, and are a poor 11-20 away from the United Center.

While the return of Butler seems promising for the Bulls to make a playoff push in an otherwise disaster of a season, head coach Fred Hoiberg may not have the luxury of having Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol, or Derrick Rose available for the Bulls’ crucial road contest with the red-hot Raptors. Dunleavy has a stomach virus, Gasol has a swollen knee, and Rose is experiencing groin issues.

If Chicago wants to turn this season around, the Bulls will have to lean on their All-Star shooting guard, but even that may not be enough. Butler did try to play on March 5th, but rushed back to the court prematurely and had to miss the Bulls’ next three games.

Chicago is in free fall and Butler will have to carry this limping team into the Eastern Conference Playoffs. His return on Monday night is a step in the right direction, but will it be enough to catch Central Division rivals like the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers in the standings?

Teams one through six in the East (Cleveland, Toronto, Boston, Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta) entering play March 14th seem like locks to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Chicago will have to play spoiler to make it with their often-injured roster.

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